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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  I just bought the CC - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By KarenF - April 13 - 8:50 am

  I bought the V6 CC. It has loads of power and grips the road on sharp turns. The interior design is beautiful. Its all leather (2-tone) and has wood trim. I love it. The sound system is great. No complaints. And in spite of the power, it sips fuel. I think my old 4 cyclinder G6 used more fuel.

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  The car speaks for itself - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Sood - April 12 - 11:46 pm

  We waited several months for this car after ordering it because we couldnt find one with a 3.2L candy white, beige leather, DynAudio, technology package with nav and iPod adapter. It was well worth the wait. The car is unlike any other I have ever driven, even though its really the wifes car. :) I have owned a 3 series and G35 coupe and the Eos is on par or exceeds factors on those cars. People pay a lot of attention to it since there arent many around.

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  2005 Touareg V8 Review - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By gabbott - April 11 - 10:33 pm

  I absolutely love this car and cant wait for the V6 diesel to reach the states. I have driven the Touareg V6 diesel (overseas) and all I can say is wow. 30+ mpg and lots of torque. I compare my Touareg to my brothers 2 X5s (both diesel, 2006 & 2008). The interior layout of the Touareg is far beyond the BMW. Even my brother agrees. The newer larger X5 is a disappointment compared to the older body style. The Touaregs styling is better than both X5s. The Touareg coming in as a overweight still handles very well. The suspension does a very good job of keeping the car at its optimum performance level. The sound of the V8 is quit p;easing. I have gotten 20 MPG on the hwy at 72 MPH.

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  Volkswagen Owner for Life! - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By Amber - April 11 - 8:26 pm

  I absolutely LOVE this car. It was my first VW, and it has been great! There was a recall on the window motor and they kept breaking which was a pain, but overall that was my only problem!

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  Cant Love it Enough! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Rose Garden - April 11 - 2:00 am

  We could not find another car like this one. As an SUV it has everything I want.

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  question of reality - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Don Wallis - April 11 - 2:00 am

  Where do your get your "True Market Value" prices from?. As you know, dealers have additional fees (not included in t he published "invoice prices" because they vary from region to region) These include port fees and advertising. What Dealer is going to sell the 2004 Passat at Invoice? Are you just trying to stir up discontent between the buying public and the dealers. Theres enough of that already. If you really want to do your readers a "favor," get real. Tell them what they REALLY should expect to pay.

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  VX Passat - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By mark1212 - April 11 - 2:00 am

  this is an excellent car. it handles like a dream i love my car.

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  Das Auto!!!!! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By carrao33 - April 11 - 12:50 am

  My wife and I have owned a couple big ole piece of chevys, and this is our first VW, we absolutely love it! For a small car it has enough power to make the car fun to drive, the handling is good, the tan leatherette interior makes the car feel luxurious. We also love being a part of the VW family, and find ourselves unconsiously parking next to other V-dubs in parking lots. I will probably never own another american car now.

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  Fun and Powerful car - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By dyma82 - April 10 - 5:56 am

  I used to own a Mercedes 300D. I was amazed with what 40 years have done with diesel technology. Compared to my old Mercedes my new Passat does not vibrate at all, and the noise…what noise…I couldn’t believe it was a diesel. Amazing how this car takes off with this little power plan. My old Mercedes took for ever to pickup speed from standing still. However, my new Passat…oh man…it will easily skid it’s from wheels with three people inside if you push it to hard. In fact, the Passat TDI serves as a fresh reminder of this: After driving torque-rich diesels awhile, gas engines, even very powerful ones, seem anemic, as if theres a hole in their power curves. Diesels, thus, are addicting. Watch out!

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  Volkswagen Phaeton V8 - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By pharm108 - April 9 - 3:00 pm

  My Volkswagen Phaeton V8 is a great car. I considered a BMW and Mercedes but this car was love at first sight. Its uniqueness and rarity adds to the special feeling experienced driving it.