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:

• 

  outstanding - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Michael De La Rosa - March 23 - 2:00 am

  my experience with the passat was a great experience. getting in i felt i was in total control and at the same time felt so comfortable and safe. a car i would never get tired of driving.

• 

  I LOVE MY JETTA GLS 1.8T!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kpchica - March 23 - 2:00 am

  this car is sooo cool, i love it!! my parents bought a new 2003 jetta for my birthday. yup, brand spankin new!! i used to drive a honda; but unfortunately, it died out on me. practically everyone i know including my whole family all drive japanese made cars. but let me tell you, i do notice a difference...the quality is sooo much better!!! .. im especially excited about the heated seats!!!..turbo! ..automatic daytime lights!..how the interior lights up blue!!..spacey trunk!!, i can go on and on ..aaaaah, i love my car!!! ^____________^ YAY!!!! only got 300 miles on it, and had it for just about a week now.. he he :)

• 

  Round 4 a reason - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By TEE - March 22 - 9:46 am

  This is my 2nd turbo Beetle, but my 1st turbo S. I love the beetles period!!! My lil car is fun to drive, fun to look at! It draws attention like no other car on the road!!! Owning and driving a new beetle is like having a love affair . . . with a car ! lol

• 

  Love My Passat - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sonkota - March 22 - 3:00 am

  I have owned four VW Jettas since 1997 and in 2005 I decided I needed something with a little more room and AWD. I looked at the VW Passat and fell in love. The 05 Passat 4Motion handles and feels a lot like an Audi A4 with a much lower sticker price.

• 

  She Likes It - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jetta - March 22 - 1:50 am

  I brought the car home to my wife she hated 4-door cars until I put her in it and she wanted it. In the past she has always had coupes.

• 

  Undercover Lux - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Catalano - March 21 - 10:00 am

  We love the car and can easily compare it to our Merc S430 we drove for 3 years. This car is much beter for interior room and comfort. I am very tall and I can comfortably fit behind a tall driver. What is included for the base price is beyond what Mercedes offers.

• 

  FUNCAR TO DRIVE! - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By madmbutterfli - March 21 - 10:00 am

  I DROVE A suv FOR 12 YEARS AND WASNT SURE IF I WANTED A CAR, TO LOW TO THE GROUND. THE 5 SPEED PASSAT WAS THE FIRST CAR I DROVE AND NOTHING ELSE IN THIS BRACKET COULD COMPARE. AUTOMATICS WERE TO BORING. THIS CAR DRIVES LIKE A SPORTS CAR WITHOUT PAYING THE INSURANCE ON ONE! COMFORT,RELIABILITY, SAFTY AND FUN TO DRIVE, WHAT MORE COULD A PERSON NEED.

• 

  Fun, dependable car - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By Seamaster - March 21 - 10:00 am

  I am retired and enjoy taking road trips on back roads. The car handles very well and helps make my trips fun. This is the 6th TDI that I have had and I have had no problems with any of them. I do not even look at other models when I go to buy a new car!

• 

  Buy It - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By Maxwell the dog. - March 21 - 10:00 am

  I have 83000 miles on my TDI Golf - I am original owner and put all mileage on it myself. I average 46 miles per gallon - 52 if cruise is set on 72 for 3 hour+ drives! Extremely comfortable, fun to drive, reliable, - still in love with the car after 80K miles - thats a feat for me! Love the car - what else can I say.

• 

  ok - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By traniman - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Hard to read overhead info center