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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  fantastic car - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By radouane - May 3 - 10:43 am

  Its a lovely car. I had one for the past 2 years and I cant say anything disappointing about it. Very fun to drive. I love the interior, especially the at night when I turn on the lights and see the blue and red well designed dashboard. I think its the best in its class!

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  crazy good gas mileage - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By matt - May 2 - 10:31 am

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  My first manual! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Benbo - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I was very apprehensive about purchasing the Passat because of the horror stories I have heard on this site about its engineering. I researched the IS300, Mazda 6, Altima and 05 Legacy GT extensively. I also drove each several times. The Passats razor sharp handling at 85-100 mph, smooth shifting and potent acceleration won me over. The overall build quality is superb inside and out. Ive only put 5,000 miles on it so far and am PRAYING nothing serious goes wrong! I would strongly recommend purchasing this car as a manual, for good acceleration- about 7.3 secs 0-60

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  VW is Excellent - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Oinker - May 2 - 10:00 am

  The New VW Beetle is a great car it is great on gas, quick if u want it to be, and roomy for 4 people and cargo space. The beetle can be luxurious and sporty. Depending on your style. It is great in the snow, and rain.This vehicle should be one of the hottest vehicles around!!

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  2003 Bug - Sunroof - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Bragi - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed driving my 2003 bettle ever since I purchased it. The interior and exterior are both great and it is a lot of fun to drive. The interstates in Louisiana are often warped because of the hot temperatures and the bug does not handle the bumps well at high speed, other than that I dont have any complaints. It is a very reliable vehicle. The bottom clearance is low for the vechicle so you have to watch out for that. The trunk space is small but adequate and the fold-back rear seats provide more room if necessary. I enjoy having the windshield further away from the driver as it gives a more spacious feeling.

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  excellent - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By panzer mann - May 2 - 10:00 am

  EXCELLENT CAR. I LIKE TO DRIVE IT IT HANDLES BETTER THAN ANY FREAKIN HONDA.

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  Like the old body style better - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mic - May 2 - 12:20 am

  Love the car. My only issue is the interior knobs dont wear as well as they should. Ive had to fix several of them. I dont like the old antenna style. The rubber boot fell off years ago and they want to drop the headliner to replace.

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  An underrated gem!! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Karl Muggenburg - May 1 - 4:16 pm

  As a 6 4" enthusiast, my requirements are elbow room and fun to drive. This car fills the bill! I have had several VWs,and many others in the compact class since 1955, and this 2007 2.5 is the best overall! Solid and secure at ANY SPEED. By far the best overall combination of features and useful sophistication per dollar. This car is better than the maker says it is. Brakes and handling as delivered are outstanding, the engine and driveline give performance well ahead of its price class. If this 2.5 were available with the 6-speed manual, it would be a best buy by far!

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  Awesome...Will be missed - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Jeremy - April 30 - 11:13 pm

  I love this car...it has been nothing but fun and excitement. It gets great gas mileage yet has strong turbo power when needed. It is a real hoot to drive no matter where you are going or what traffic is doing. I am moving up to a BMW Z4 3.0si so this will need to get sold. I will miss it, but hopefully it can make someone else very happy!

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  Love It! - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ProudJettaOwner - April 30 - 11:56 am

  This is my second VW Jetta. I traded in my 2000 Jetta for the 07 Wolfsburg and WOW, what a difference! I actually bought the car, not loving the exterior, I bought it for the interior and everything it had to offer but since I have had it, I have grown to LOVE the body as well.