Overview & Reviews

Volkswagen is an automaker based in Germany. Its products typically command a higher price than those of competing models, but the return is a more upscale driving and ownership experience.

In 1934, Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to build a small, inexpensive car at the request of Adolph Hitler. His answer -- a beetle-shaped sedan that was called a Volkswagen (German for "people's car") -- debuted two years later. Hitler had a town built near the plant for factory workers; he named it Kraft durch Freude Stadt (derived from the Nazi party's motto, "Joy through Strength"), and soon decided that Porsche's creation should be named the KdF-wagen (short for the "Joy through Strength" car). This upset Porsche, who was not political.

World War II delayed production of the vehicle; the factory suffered extensive damage during combat, and was ultimately taken over by the British Army. The company was renamed Volkswagen, and the town at the factory was renamed Wolfsburg (after Werner von Schulenberg of Wolfsburg, who had been forced to surrender his land for the construction of the town and factory). By the end of the 1940s, mass production of the Volkswagen Beetle had begun. The model made its first appearance on U.S. shores in 1949.

The 1950s saw Volkswagen broadening its product range, adding the Bus (Type 2) to its lineup. The Bus, especially, proved quite popular due to its versatility. And the Beetle, which went on to become the best-selling car of all time, quickly showed signs of being an enduring favorite, with more than 1 million models produced at the Wolfsburg factory by 1955. This decade also saw the debut of the Karmann Ghia sports car, which featured a sleek, Italian-designed two-seater body atop a Beetle platform.

Volkswagen's star rose during the 1960s, its success fueled largely by the breakout success of the Beetle. The car benefited from an effective advertising campaign and from an appearance in a popular Disney movie. By the close of the decade, Volkswagen's yearly output of Beetles topped the 1 million mark.

In 1972, with more than 15 million units assembled, the Beetle topped the world production record set by Ford's Model T. Mid-decade saw the launch of a new era of Volkswagens that had front-mounted, water-cooled engines driving the front wheels. The Passat (Dasher in the U.S.) was the first of the new breed and was built using standardized components that could be used interchangeably among other models in the manufacturer's lineup. The Passat was soon joined by the Golf (Rabbit in the U.S.), which met with immediate success. By the end of the decade, the manufacturer's lineup had grown to include the Scirocco sport coupe and the performance-oriented Golf/Rabbit GTI. The Beetle, however, was discontinued for the U.S. market.

The Golf grew in popularity during the '80s, becoming Volkswagen's most popular model. When a second generation of the car was built in 1983, it was crafted in a mostly automated process using robots -- marking the first time robots had been used in vehicle manufacture. By the mid-'80s, the U.S. version traded the Rabbit name for "Golf." The higher-performance Golf GTI helped the manufacturer make waves on the rally circuit. In 1986, Volkswagen Motorsport nabbed the title of Group A World Rally Champions.

Volkswagen saw its sales in the North American market tumble during the early '90s, but by the end of the decade, refocused marketing efforts and an increased emphasis on new products had brought about a turnaround in the company's fortunes. The popular New Beetle helped put the company back on the radar in the United States (though it fared less successfully in European markets). The body style was based on the classic Beetle, and it struck a chord with consumers who still had a place in their hearts for the iconic, cheerful-looking "love bug."

The new millennium saw Volkswagen moving into the luxury segment with the launch of the pricey Phaeton sedan and Touareg SUV. Though well-designed and executed, the Phaeton was a disappointment sales-wise, perhaps signaling unwillingness on the part of consumers to shell out premium dollars for a brand that lacks the cachet of established upscale names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Luckily, Volkswagen has seen success with other vehicles in its lineup, which currently includes everything from family-oriented sedans to roomy SUVs. Today, the automaker enjoys a reputation for crafting vehicles that offer refined handling and upscale accommodations.

User Reviews:

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  Awesome new Jetta, wish gas was cheaper - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Irene - June 23 - 6:16 am

  First time buyer of a VW or any German car, and I must say that the reputation of the performance and handling of the new Jetta stands strong. The car is very sturdy on freeways, the tiptronic kicks in smoothly when accelerating between speeds for that extra oomph of power and you hardly know when you are going over 70 mph. Handles superb turning and lane changes. Ive never been issued a speeding ticket before, but I just might now! Love the color (got the Graphite Blue). Great, modern interior and exterior look, LOVE the new chrome grill, super speakers, moonroof. Just wish that the fuel efficiency was better - Ive been filling up about $35/week which is a dent...but decent.

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  LOVE my Passat - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By SFM - June 21 - 6:56 pm

  Great car with great fuel economy. Whenever I am on the highway I get around 30 mpg. Mine has 95,000 on it right now and is still running great. The exterior is a little boring but greatly improved on in the new Passats. The body is very sturdy, I have backed into my garage door after slamming the gas and it barely has a scratch. Great for a first car or anyone who is on the road a lot.

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  Go Get One... NOW!!! - 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
  By Lance - June 21 - 12:57 am

  Look, you are reading this review because you care about what others think. If you have an active family and need storage space for kids and stuff, the VW Atlas is for you. The storage capacity is amazing! If you have more than two kids, the VW Atlas is for you. You can actually use the third row with the VW Atlas; imagine that! You might be wondering why we bought the VW Atlas. When it comes to driving experience (ride, handling, braking, seating comfort, infotainment), the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander dont compete. I dont know what it is about the Japanese car makers, but they werent in tune with that for which I was looking. VW nailed it! Im 62" and weigh in at 215; I fit in the VW Atlas. I felt cramped in the Pilot and Highlander. Could have that spoiled my driving experience? Sure. Ill concede that point, but take a corner in the Atlas and the same corner in the Pilot; you will know exactly what Im talking about. If you are looking for navigation and rear seat entertainment, all you need is a decent smart phone and a couple of tablets. Youll save thousands on your car purchase by avoiding Nav systems and DVD players. Worried about real leather? Maybe you should be looking at Acura or Lexus. You have kids, and you want the best for your money. If you dont buy the VW Atlas, you have other priorities that I simply dont have. You want three useable rows of seating? You want incredible storage capacity? You want state of the art safety technology? You want a solid, safe ride? You want all of that in one package? You want a VW Atlas!

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  phat rabbit - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Jae Hyun Park - June 20 - 2:33 pm

  This car brings out the true meaning of peoples car. The quality, the performance and the PRICE! Makes me want to drive more.

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  Best non-luxury sedan - 2014 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Abraham Padilla - June 20 - 8:18 am

  Quality and Style that surpasses any competitor.

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  Best Bang for the Buck - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Bobby Williams - June 19 - 10:00 am

  This is the most fun in a car I have ever owned. I have owned everything from old big block Chevys to small cars and this is my second VW Golf and I dont think I will ever want another car. The Japanese and American car builders could learn something from the Germans if they would buy one of these cars and drive it. The power, all wheel drive and fun ratio is Awesome!

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  The best fun car - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By Jorge Santaella - June 19 - 10:00 am

  It is a very comfortable car. Perfect performance, the engine is fantastic. Very powerful and fun. The car has very cool style and is fun to drive. The price is excellent for what you get. It is a lot of a car with a very affordable price. If you want a car with style, power and afordability, this is the one for you. Jorge M . Santaella (Chicago)

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  i love my jetta - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jettaIIIglxvr6 - June 19 - 10:00 am

  this car has been everything i expected and more

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  Love the Golf - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By GolfChicK101 - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Very economic on gas, runs smoothe. Very comfortable, and very cute for any college kid.

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  Great Little Car - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bob Phillips - June 19 - 10:00 am

  I previously owned a 99 VW Jetta and heard that VW had made big improvements in the newest model. The VW Jetta is a little car with a big car ride. They added power locks, power windows, in dash cd player, cruise control and other features which make the VW Jetta a mini econo-luxury car. I have had no problems with either VW Jetta model. Oh, and the full size spare tire is a bonus, if you ever get a flat.