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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  Excellent choice for compact SUV - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By xeuropn - July 27 - 8:40 am

  My wife always wanted the VW Toureg, but could never afford one. After watching the development of the Tiguan since 2006, we decide to check one out this past summer. My wife had to have a manual, so we went for the Tiguan. With the 2.0 L Turbo and matching 6-speed, she has not been disappointed. All of the other competitive models (Tucson/ Sportage/ RAV4 and CR-V)seem bland and common compared to the VW. The extra details Auf Deutsch just seem to put it on a different level. This is our first German auto while living here in the US, so hopefully we will have a long a lasting relationship with it. We keep cars for a very long time, so this should be a good test of VWs durability.

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  My first VW - 2014 Passat 1.8L T - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jeff D. - July 25 - 4:53 pm

  I have test drove several used or certified VW vehicles in last month (Passat diesel 2.0L, Passat 2.5 L Manual, Passat 2.5L Auto, and Jetta 2.5 L Auto). I was able to test drive the 1.8L Turbo automatic - and I was sold as soon has I hit the gas pedal. It has great acceleration. After my first week of driving I was able to drive +400 miles for city and some highway driving. I filled up with 1/4 tank of gas and it cost me less than $24.00. The electronics (cluster, radio, and Hvac are decent). I picked the VW becuase of the simple styling. I chose the Passat over the Jetta due to additional space. I am very happy with my purchase. I hope to be a VW consumer for a long time. :)

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  Best Jetta Yet! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Michael B - July 25 - 12:56 pm

  I have had many VWs in the past and the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 is by far the best Jetta yet. I came from a Golf TDI and was weary of going back to a gas enginem but so far it is a great, solid engine. Its gas mileage is comparable to previous models, which is impresive since the 06 Jetta is more powerful and a bigger car. I will reccomend this vehicle to everyone.

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  Its all good - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sandoz1938 - July 24 - 4:59 pm

  Great little car. I bought it with 166000km and now have 300000km. In the 134000km/5 years of owning it Ive only had to replace the breaks, alternator (I blew the alternator by not replacing the battery when I should have), and the rear wheel bearing. The car now needs a front wheel bearing and muffler but thats not all bad for 166000km of driving. I tow large loads all the time and generally dont take care of the care of the car like I should but it still takes care of me, kow. I do change the oil every 6000km with synthetic (5w40?) and replace the oil filter with every change. I also run premium fuel.

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  An Audi in hiding - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ajl - July 24 - 3:13 pm

  For those of you looking for a "drivers" small car, look no further. We bought our Jetta Wagon used with 39k on the odometer. It has been trouble free with about 56k miles as I write this. This car is fun to drive, whether around town or on the highway. Not a sports car, the handling is more then adequate for fun and the ride is firm, but not harsh. This car is basically an Audi (shares a lot with the Audi A4), not an Old Beetle. Parts and service can be pricey,especially if you dont do some things yourself. German cars are fussy about being maintained. If you dont MAINTAIN, you will have to FIX. True of all cars, very true of German makes. Keep that in mind and enjoy your Jetta!

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  Doodlebug Girl - 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Amy - July 24 - 2:30 pm

  I like this car because it is so very comfortable and very attractive.

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  Styled and well built German sedan - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jorge - July 24 - 9:36 am

  Purchased in 2006 from a private party. I have previously owned a Mercedes 230S, Audi 80 and Volvo 240, V70, S80s and a VW Sirocco. I would consider this a well behaved, fairly high quality, fuel efficient mid-sized sedan. I looked at Camry and Accords before I purchased it. I liked the styling and performance on the VW better, plus the Toyotas and Accords looked "blah", and had little driving personality. No problems in three years of ownership, regular maintenance and two VW recalls serviced at the dealer. Gets 31 MPG+ on a 27 mile highway trip to work. VW is the master of small engines: Hits 100 mph+ effortlessly on a 1.8L. Currently costs $35 to fill the tank. Upgraded tires to Yokohama

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  A Manual in an Automatics Clothing - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By yuray - July 24 - 5:03 am

  The DSG transmission is awesome. Somehow (maybe double clutch) it smooths out driving at low speeds while retaining the juice. It feels taut inside (apparently it is assembled in Germany in contrast to almost all other VW models). Unfortunately, the stereo display is third world and the Sirius trial is worthless because you only have a sample of channels. The sunroof could be bigger. The interior trim is spare, bordering on cheap. I see part of the reason why the A3 goes for more. I have the cloth, which is alright, but the seats dont feel like theyd treat me well on a long drive. I am glad that I chose the 4-door. It is not bigger than the 2-door, but seems to get more out of the rear row while maintaining near identical trunk space.

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  Great Car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By TSF - July 23 - 6:43 pm

  Maybe Ive been lucky, but I have put almost 90k on the vehicle since purchasing used in 05 (now 119k miles), and havent had a single problem. Fun to drive, great mpg w/ the 1.8t and 5-spd. (avg. 33 mpg on the freeway), looks good, unbeatable interior design and looks with the leather seats. Matches or exceeds the 01 Acura TL it replaced in every respect except horsepower, and it has been far more reliable to boot (2 trannys, new dash, other issues w/ 01 Acura).

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  Not suited to the weaker sex - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By gebrimner - July 23 - 10:00 am

  The convertible top is the reason to buy but it is not easy to use. The handle to pull and latch the top is hard for a woman to use. Likewise when the top is down the cover boot for the top is required to be in place and it too is difficult to latch. The cover boot was replaced for a better fit but still suffers from difficulty to push the latches into the locking slots. Dealer suggestion to place the boot cover on while heated up is a joke!