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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  Unlimited Smiles per Mile - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By davepete - May 20 - 7:03 am

  Ive owned my Rabbit now for a little over a month. Each and every day I look forward to the commute to work because the Rabbit is so much fun to drive. No problem merging onto the highway, or passing slower traffic. The ride is firm but smooth, and engine response is immediate. I test drove the Scion tC, Mazda-3, Toyota Matrix, Ford Focus, Subaru Impreza, and Chevy Cobalt. None of them could touch the Rabbit in terms of overall feel, and build quality. If youre looking for an inexpensive "fun" car, dont pass up test driving the Rabbit.

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  One week in GTI and all is well! - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By krisko - May 20 - 2:43 am

  I traded in my 2002 M3 when it hit 100K miles as I new maintenance would start to get expensive. I have NO regrets downgrading to the GTI. I gave up a good bit of power but the GTI is more nimble and fun to drive. The interior features are perfect to me, elegant and highly functional without tech gizmos that are usually not worth the time it takes to learn about them. We love the cloth interlagos (plaid) seats, funky and very comfortable. The exterior styling is a big upgrade from the 2009 model. The car looks more conservative than last years car, while looking more muscular. And the car is a bit lighter which is always welcomed. This car is a great bargain!

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  Great car - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Povvy - May 18 - 2:00 am

  I love driving this car. It is a complete joy, peppy, and reliable, easy to steer with no play in the wheel. Ir turns corners at almost 90 degrees and brakes beautifully.

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  jetta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By punkstar220 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  The Jetta is the best car out there. I love every thing about it the speed, body style, interior, the quality and preformance, and the price. If you are looking for a great car at a good price the JETTA is the best of the BEST.

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  Handles well while being struck by cows - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Clark - May 17 - 11:43 pm

  If you drive near free range cattle this car handles exceptionally well while being struck by a cow. The sound system is just ok though.

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  An Outstanding Luxury Vehicle - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By RAD - May 17 - 10:30 pm

  This is a great car. I have owned BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Lexus etc. Undoubtedly, this is the most luxurious, elegant, unpretentious (which suits me), best riding, quiet car of all. I wanted an all wheel drive luxury car and VW has come through in spades. I am looking to a Bentley but when comparing it to the Phaeton find it difficult to justify the higher price and cant imagine the build quality could be that much superior.

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  Best in its class - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Mohammad Bari - May 17 - 10:00 am

  I have never seen a car in this class to have such stylish interior. It feel like you are in those expensive german cars. The performance is great and driving the car is so much fun and you will never get enough with this car. Once you experience its luxury its hard to go to other types of cars in its class.

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  100,000 Miles and still fun to drive - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Moo Man - May 17 - 10:00 am

  The Passat is my first experience with something other than a Japanese built in 14 years. For the past four years maintenance has consisted of oil changes every 3,500 miles, brakes and tires at 45,000 and 90,000 miles, and gas every now and then. (Around town the Passat gets about 27 MPG, with longer trips about 31 MPG.) The funny thing about the car is that its still a hoot to drive. In hindsight, Im glad I went for the 5 speed stick instead of the automatic. I plan on keeping the car until my oldest gets his license (about 5 more years). Maybe Im an optimist, but this car continues to delight the 20 year old in me (Im 42 now).

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  What a Great Drive!!! - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jen Blake - May 17 - 10:00 am

  We have had our Passat for 4 months now and have thoroughly enjoyed it. It drives wonderfully- brakes quickly when needed and provides a smooth, quiet ride. We are looking forward to our firs long road trip in this car!

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  2002 Jetta GLI - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rmay483 - May 17 - 10:00 am

  Ive got about 3200 miles on my 2002 GLI. The new VR6/6-speed combo is almost perfect. I was going to buy the GLS 1.8T until I tried the new 24v VR6, and I was hooked. By FAR the best VW manual ever offered. Build quality, ergonomics, and comfort are generally excellent. Nearly everyone that has commented on the car thinks its much more expensive than it really is. The only thing Id change is the soft suspension.