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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  Good car!! - 2016 Volkswagen Passat
  By Xu Li - March 4 - 5:33 pm

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  Feels very premium and is fun to drive - 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By lgt5 - March 4 - 2:47 pm

  I bought a 2014 Tiguan SEL 4motion and it is the best car I have owned to date. I have owned other crossovers such as the Nissan Rogue and the Mazda CX-5 and they cannot compare to my Tiguan. The Tiguans engine is really quiet and smooth and works really well with the transmission. I leave the car in sport mode most of the time and acceleration is quick. The new upgraded Fender stereo is amazing. One of my biggest issues with my Mazda CX-5 that I traded in for this car was the terrible stereo. This stereo is truly a premium stereo with perfect surround sound. The inside of the car has a very premium feel, the seats are very comfortable with excellent lumbar support.

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  Downsized and loving it - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By happygardener - March 3 - 8:44 pm

  I was reluctant to trade in my highlander limited, but wanted something more economical that would still accommodate a family of 4. The sportwagen diesel fits the bill. Ive now driven 3000 miles and am very pleased. Averaging 38 mpg per tank, about 42 mostly highway and a little less with all 4 of us in the car. I havent changed driving style at all and still get great mileage. The car is zippy, surprisingly quick for highway entrances, and takes corners well. The storage room is exceptional, and my kids (7&9) fit just fine even with my 62 husband in the car. My only complaints are that the dash knobs are too small and the car sits a bit too low for a tow hitch for a bike rack.

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  A Great Value For The Money! - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By George Townsend - March 2 - 6:26 pm

  I purchased this car because Im selling my 2011 Jetta Diesel back to Volkswagen as part of the emissions lawsuit where VW "gamed" the emissions tests and got caught. I loved my diesel Jetta but it had 135,000 miles on it and the lawsuit offered me a $15300 buy-back deal. For an additional $10,000 I bought a brand-new 2017 SEL with a 1.8Liter turbo engine and all the bells and whistles. It doesnt get the mileage of my diesel (up to 53mpg) but it rides terrifically and has all the options one could want. The car is fast, with great acceleration from the turbocharged engine, and its nimble in the curves and in braking. Theres plenty of room for 5 persons and the trunk is roomy and spacious! Unfortunately, VW isnt offering the 36,000 mile free maintenance warranty anymore, but this car is reliable and steady, needing only oil changes in the short term.

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  Outstanding in Every Way - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By MaD HuNGaRIaN - March 2 - 11:40 am

  This is simply the best car I have ever owned. The DSG transmission is awesome. Forget about it, I use the automatic mode when I am tired/lazy or stuck in traffic and the manual mode when I want to play. The shifts are lightning fast and the ride is outstanding. This cars fit and finish matches the excellent design both inside and out.

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  Cool Ride - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By Right - March 1 - 8:16 pm

  My wife LOVES the Routon and its cool enough for dad too. Great layout in seats and consoles. Quick, smooth and excellent visibility with reasonable value. It is a family cruiser with class.We have had brakes replaced by VW at NO charge and no hassle. VW people are good to work with

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  Super Safe - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Megan - March 1 - 1:40 pm

  After three months of driving my 5-speed, two door Rabbit I was in love with it. That is until last week when someone t-boned me at about 60 miles an hour. After the car spun 360 degrees, I got out and walked away. I work at a personal injury law firm and have seen plenty of similar accidents where people have permanent injuries, and all I ended up with was seatbelt burn. For the money, you cant get a better quality or safer car. I can guarantee when I get my settlement check from the insurance company Ill be buying myself another Rabbit.

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  Great SUV - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Steven - March 1 - 12:56 pm

  It is a fun SUV to drive. It handles great and acceleration is also great. I was drivng a CLK320 for a few months and once I started Driving the Touareg the CLK felt like it had slow acceleration atleast from a low speed to a higher speed. The car will fly from 45mph to 80mph in a matter of a lite touch on the pedal and a few seconds. This is the V8 engine of course. People are allways surprised how well this 5,400lb SUV can takeoff. Sport mode and the triptronic tramission really makes the car fly. Off Road ability is the best of any Unibody Truck sold on the market it can match up with Jeep, Hummer, Benz and Land Rover. The interior is great just as good as any Ranger Rover. The Touareg is a great vehicle.

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  love it - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By mersault - March 1 - 7:23 am

  Ive put a little under 3000 miles on mine and love it so far. After hearing everyone here rave about the sunroof I kinda wish I wouldve bought the next trim level up, but it was a little pricier. Also I think the bigger wheels look better. Fuel economy is good for this size vehicle, but if they ever bring the TDI version, that will be awesome... I dont know what the MPG would be on that, but the TDI Jetta gets close to 44 MPG! I would consider trading the gas for the diesel with those kind of numbers.

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  Great design for the price - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Edwin - March 1 - 5:43 am

  Traded in 06 Accord Coupe EX 5-Speed. Great value for 6-Speed sport. Little details with regards to interior and exterior styling make it feel like a luxury vehicle. Also considered Accord EX-L, Subaru Legacy, Mazda6, Malibu, Fusion, & Acura TSX. This was the best value based on 4-Door Sedan, 6-Speed Manual Transmission, styling, leather seats, etc.