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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  Best value and safety - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By itqaanalyst - August 1 - 6:00 am

  I wanted a hatchback and this is the best game in town. The car has a very upscale feel and the fit and finish is superb. The car has great safety features and great cash test scores. We have a 2007 Jetta and love it... it sold me on the Rabbit idea.

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  Head rests - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Stu2401 - July 31 - 9:00 am

  Lot of fun to drive off road. The head rest for the back seat are in the way so they are the first thing to take out of the car.

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  I have gotten my moneys worth! - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Emilee - July 30 - 11:16 pm

  Bought my bug used on Ebay for $6500 with 75,000 miles on it. It now has $130K miles and is still going strong. I have maintained this vehicle and it only broke down once when some board fried out and cost me $238. The AC Compressor did go out and the dealership quoted $1200 to replace it. Instead I bought a compressor on Ebay for $200 and my mechanic put it in for $200 and its been working fine. It seems like the headlights and brake lights go out a lot and are very expensive to replace. Poor design that allows water intrusion. The trunk latch and gas cap latch stopped working at 100K and the alarm has never worked right. Minor issues overall! I still love it & would buy another.

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  VW GTI - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By altimateimports - July 30 - 2:13 pm

  Overall, this is a great car. The engine is smooth and powerful. And the car feels very solid. A little too much performance is sacrificed for comfort.

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  German Quality, German Engineering! - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tibor - July 30 - 8:53 am

  I bought this car 3 years ago and since then absolutely no problem at all. I had AUDIs before, so I stayed in the "family". This is my first brand new car and I feel happy, except the dealerships prices. They should give us more break. I study how to fix brakes, and other minor repair jobs so I reduce the costs.

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  LOVE VWs - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By vwanted215 - July 29 - 5:43 pm

  Im still young and my last car was a 2001 vw gti vr6 which was fast and luxury, I decided to grow up and try the new passat. I was a little cautious getting into a big sedan from a coupe, but this car has power, comfort, performance and a gorgeous look. I have it fully loaded and wouldnt have it any other way. Its a german engineered car made to perform and for it to perform it needs good fuel... with that said the car is great and so was my last VW so I plan to stick with them.

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  Consumer Reporting on Vehicle - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Joy Jones - July 29 - 10:00 am

  The only thing I dont like is that snow and dirt easily get caught up in the wheel area and make the car shake until you have washed them out.

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  looks good but poor quality - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Henrylin - July 29 - 10:00 am

  my passat has had numerous parts and quality problems (>10) since ive owned it

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  Davydee - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Davydee - July 29 - 10:00 am

  Nice size, excellent performance, 25 mpg avg. Great car until coil packs and mass airflow sensor failed at 35,000 miles. Dealer returned car after repair. Car failed again within 175 miles. Car has now been with dealer some 9 days awaiting parts. VW of America support is poor. Buy extended warranty if available.

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  Love it! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By r32752 - July 29 - 10:00 am

  I really love this car! It handles exceptionally well and is quick. The color selection was great and the vehicle is a winner in my book.