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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  Classy Ride - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By HTEXBB - March 16 - 2:26 am

  I was going to reward my self with a new car and thought I would go with the Sky but after driving decided too small. Happened upon the VW EOS by accident and so happy I did. I even thought about going Certified Pre- Owned Mercedes but kept going back to the EOS. After I test drove the car, I was hooked. Its such a beautiful car and it is fun to drive. Im not use to not having more storage but Im sure I will get use to it. The car is amazing!

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  Better than expected - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Chance the Gardener - March 15 - 12:06 am

  I didnt have much expectations when I leased this car. I just wanted a nice car for a good price. This car exceeded my expectations a thousand fold. Every time I drive it I find something else to like about it.

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  I Love My Car! - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sheila - March 13 - 3:23 am

  This is our 4th VW. The Jetta is our first "new" VW. It handles beautifully and has enough power to get into traffic. Test drove a Corolla and Camry the same day we tested the Jetta and the Jetta won hands down just due to the fun factor. Only problem so far is the door latch on the drivers door catching, and the outside temp gauge. It uses a little more gas than we expected, but the alternative wouldnt be much fun to drive. The sport shift is great.

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  Solid Car so Far. - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By V-DUB - March 12 - 12:40 pm

  So far this diesel has been an unbelievable purchase. I wanted to give it a month or so before I reported on anything. I bought the car used with 122 000 KMS on it. I had the timing belt replaced as well as the transmission oil changed and a new fuel filter so there would be know surprizes. I gotta tell anybody who is reading these reviews.....everything I have read about this Passat TDI is bang on correct. This is the smoothest car I have ever driven, very similar to the Audi A4, excellent on fuel, just PURE enjoyable. I am averaging 45 miles to the gallon or 6.4L/100KMS and better on long trips. I have now owned 5 diesels this is the best so far.

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  VW Rocks - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Matt the VW Lova - March 11 - 11:36 pm

  The new GTI comes now in a four door model. The 2006 and 2007 modles have the new 2.0L turbocharged engine with 200 HP insted of the old 2006-2002 modles which had the 1.8L turbocharged engines with about 170HP. The turbocharger adds a lot of gas milage and gives it a lot of all around power. The exterior looks awesome, it looks very fast, dont you think, even the new 4 door version. The new Honda Civic Si is cool, but it does not have the turbocharger and the GTI gives you a lot more space for luggage. The rims avalible on the GTI are also way better than the Honda. Thats what I think anyhow. I am not saying that the Honda is a is bad or anything, in fact Hondas are great cars but the Volkswagen GTI is the way to go.

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  A reliable, high-quality car - 2005 Volkswagen Golf
  By David - March 11 - 7:50 pm

  This is the first Volkswagen I have owned, and I am an very impressed with the overall quality of the car. I spend a lot of time on the freeway each week. The ride is smooth and quiet, and the engine power is more than adequate for passing at normal freeway speeds. Also, I am very impressed with the Monsoon stereo system. The seat and dash materials are all very nice and seem to be of high quality. I have had no problems with this car. As far as the fuel economy goes, I average about 35 mpg all the time, and I dont really try to go slowly or not accelerate too quickly. My previous car was a Ford F-150 that got 15 mpg on a good day, so 35 mpg seems great to me.

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  I LOVE MY JETTA!!! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lv2Laff - March 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Jetta new in 1999 and have put over 100k on it. I was in an accident last week where a semi lost its drive shaft and I had to go over the top of it. There was a lot of damage underneath, but due to its great engineering, the car KEPT US SAFE. After getting fixed for about $2k, it rides as good as new. Im giving this car to my son when he turns 16 and have not been happy with any other cars Im looking at for myself. They should have designed the Touareg to be as comfortable as the Jetta. I will probably buy another Jetta!! Hint - after the warranty is up, find a great import mechanic and skip the dealership!!!

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  My new wagon - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Manhttnbch - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Just bought a GLX, 4mo and so far its great. ESP is now included standard in 2004. Too early to tell anything related to service but car has been out there a while.

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  2003 Passat - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By tucson - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Ive enjoyed owning this car. Ive had it four months and it has performed perfectly. I look forward to using it every day. I enjoy the looks and style of it. It rides great, has a tight feel and seems to have quality workmanship and engineering. I recommend this car.

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  Just shy of a Perfect 10 - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Pulleydog - March 11 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd Passat. Opted for the V-6 this time around. Just like the first, this car is quiet, comfortable, fun to drive, and a joy on the highway. I can barely hear the V-6 unless Im hammering the accelerator, but the gas mileage did suffer by about 4-5 mpg over the 4 cyl Turbo. I would probably get the 4 cyl if I could do it all over again...the 4- turbo is very peppy, except for the slight hesitation on takeoff. Controls are well placed and well lit at night - the blue & red dashboard lights are great. Between the build quality and overall features - it feels like Im riding in a much more expensive vehicle.