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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  Fly By the Seat of Your Pants - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By dannyboy - September 7 - 7:16 am

  Ive put the first 1000 mi on my GTI and I have to say I have no regrets in purchasing this machine. The list of standard features is too long to write. The performance is all around. Great kick starting at about 2k rpms. I average around 30 mpg. The cabin is quiet with the windows up. You only hear the engine when you really push it. I myself have experienced no rattles up to now. Seats hold you in place but the bolstering also makes it hard to get out. Brake pedal feel is a little too soft for me. Ride is a little harsh, but its a sport tuned suspension, its expected. I do have a problem with the radio. Bass erratically jumps up really high. Service dept is trying to isolate the cause.

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  Too many squeaks and rattles - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By heplar - September 6 - 11:20 pm

  Vehicle has 3400 miles and is only 10 months old. Every time it is driven over slightly rough pavement, it develops squeaks in the instrument panel or rattles originating from most of the doors. Inasmuch as it has very low mileage, I will return it to the dealer for an oil change and complaint session when it get close to its first birthday.

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  DONT BUY IT!!!! - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By saabturbocoupe - September 6 - 6:19 am

  At first look, you may think that the jetta s is a great buy. For what your getting, and the price your paying, youll probably think its a no brainer (if you like the new style). That was my mistake. I was looking for a car that was good on gas, didnt requier premium fuel, and was an overall good car. After driving this, I thought it was great. After 2 weeks, I now realize I made a terrible choice. Even with the manual transmition, this car is extremly slow, and shifts very clunky. When you use the wipers, something clicks when the wipers go up, and again when they go down. The seats arnt as comfortable as they first seem either. All I can say is, I miss my honda, will trade this in soon.

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  Great Car - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By RyanNess - September 6 - 2:00 am

  I love this car, my only complaint is the milage, but this can probably be expected because of the powerful VR6. My next car will be a TDI, hopefully VW will trickle down some of the GTI options to the TDI golf!! that would be Great.

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  LOVE this car - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By BlueyedBoi69 - September 6 - 2:00 am

  This car is amazing! Every day I look forward to getting into it and speeding off to work, or out to play in the mountains.

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  Nice Ride - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By weauxd - September 6 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car. Very comfortable, plenty of room and very fun to drive. Gas mileage leaves room for improvement considering premium is recommended. Features of this car rock. Seat adjusters on GLS are archaic, no electronic adjustments there. Cruise control in awkward position.

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  V-6 is worth it - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By gabesmom1127 - September 6 - 2:00 am

  When youre looking for a car that looks and feels good, it is easy to overlook engine performance. This bad boy has some awesome pick up. It truely is a dream to drive. I love my car!!!

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  excellent vehicle - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By rob1234 - September 6 - 2:00 am

  great handling, powerful, beautiful design, great triptronic transmission but would have liked a manual, 6 speed maybe. Safe with AWD, plenty of airbags, ESP

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  What a car! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By youbikim - September 6 - 2:00 am

  Frankly speaking, I worried about Jettas small engine (2.0, only 115 hp). Now, after having it for a month, I am totally satisfied with my Jetta. I think this car is slightly small for a big individual, but its performance is awesome. At only $22000(GLS+leather seats+monsoon sound system), this car has alot of features of luxury cars.

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  Andys Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Andy - September 6 - 12:40 am

  Just a wonderful vehicle. Drives well, is very comfortable, performs really well, and a great family car.