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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  Great for the price - 2015 Volkswagen Jetta
  By David Smith - March 28 - 1:07 am

  Shopped around and looked at many different models both import and domestics. This one by far is the best bang for the buck. Very quiet and handles like a dream! Very impressed!

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  Best GTI Ever - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By thom - March 26 - 4:30 pm

  I think the GTI is very versatile. It is great at running around town in traffic, etc, and it fantastic fun when no one else is around and you "open" it up. It loves to go fast! The quality of the interior is awesome. It is hard to believe you can get such a great car at this price to me.

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  I love my GTI - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By fussa - March 26 - 10:00 am

  This car has been everything Ive hoped it would be.

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  WORTH THE MONEY - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By HOPE - March 26 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS AN EXCELLENT CAR FOR BOTH DRIVING AND PASSENGER RIDING. IT IS VERY SMOOTH AND QUIET. IT HAS A GREAT AUDIO SYSTEM AND EASY TO USE AND REACH BECAUSE OF THE DIALS ALSO BEING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS SAFER TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN BECAUSE OF THE ASR THAT IS AVAILABLE. THE CARGO SPACE IN THE WAGON GIVE YOU PLENTY OF ROOM FOR TRAVEL STORAGE AND EVERYDAY USE.

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  I love this car - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By amberrae - March 26 - 10:00 am

  I test drove this car and many others before finally making a decision. I loved the way it handles, all of the security and safety options. I would recommend this car to ANYONE. and I actually have a few friends who have since purchased the same car.

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  Beetle, a Classic! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Terdan - March 26 - 10:00 am

  Great car!

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  Awesome Car! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By savxms - March 25 - 6:03 pm

  Ive had the rabbit for just about a year and it has been awesome. Everything about the car is great. Have not had any problems and made a trip a long road trip and the ride was very comfortable and smooth. definitely prefer this car.

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  Loaded Beetle w sun sound nav - 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
  By chowchow - March 24 - 3:47 am

  Like the first generation CCs- this car was not designed to resemble a bar of soap and so the design immediately captured my interest and that of wife and well the interior was as nice as our CC and it had a hatch like our old SAAB and a turbo as well so out went the SAAB 2.0 4 cylinder turbo and in went the premium feeling VW Beetle - some would say 28K for the care was a lot loaded - but my 1999 SAAB 9-3 was 27K and was argubaly a much less refined ride with an interior and sound system that did not compare. The Fender sound system in the Beetle really rocks - wish I had it the 2012 R Line CC. The seats in the Beetle are very upright like chairs and very comfortable like those in SAABs.

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  Only car Ive bought two of back/back - 2013 Volkswagen GTI
  By b211 - March 24 - 1:08 am

  With over 2 dozen cars in my personal history, the 4-door GTI is the only one Ive bought two of in a row. I usually like to "try the field", but found my level of perfection with GTI. Bought a CPO 07 in 10, and had no hesitation with replacing it with a top-of-the-line Autobahn model in 2013. $30k does put you in a different altitude for car choices, but a 4-door GTI is unique and perfect. Fits 4 adults, fun, useful, and respected by those who are higher up the food chain. I get several compliments from BMW and Porsche owners on mine. The DSG transmission really "makes the car". Sure, manual is probably best for the purist. But the DSG is simply fantastic.

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  2003 GLX with Tiptronic - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By MPZMBA - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Having been a sports car owner for several years (Porsche, S-2000, and Corvette), the move to a sedan was a major shock. Not wanting to blowup the bank account, I narrowed my choices to the GLX, an Accord V-6, Maxima, and G- 35 Infiniti. Well the G-35 was almost immediately eliminated, due to the fact that Im moving from So. Fla to CT (rear wheel drive). I tested the others mentioned--BORING!!! When I got to the Passat, my eyes lit up. Nice looking car, German engineering, and a decent price tag.