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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  The Touareg-fantastic car - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By sides - January 24 - 10:00 am

  This car IS all that it is cracked up to be. The drive is excellent and and so is the luxurious inside. The GPS is great and really comes in handy. It is a a fantastic car due to its versatility. It is a fantastic luxury SUV as well as an excellent offroad car (Ive taken it offroad). The car has a very smooth drive and a lot of power. 310 horse! When you shift it into Sport mode (S) it really can fly. I think this car beats the FXs and the RX330 due to its versatility and price. You get a lot more for the money. The major downside of this car is the fuel efficiency.

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  Still happy one year later - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By clekezarke2 - January 24 - 10:00 am

  We picked up our wagon last June and have been very happy with it since then. It is a solid drive and much more fun to piot than a station wagon ought to be. I dont regret replacing my Trailblazer with this car one bit. It has better handling, braking, responsiveness, and gas mileage than the Chevy did, and that was the older model. I found the newer Chevy to be sloppier in these categories. We have had no problems with the vehicle other than a recall for a problem that would probably never happen.

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  Gentlemen only, please - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sir Henry - January 24 - 10:00 am

  The wagon is ideal for both city and country. It parks easily, and looks great. With the V6 it has a smooth acceleration, and manouvers quickly in tight situations. It has an understated and unpretensious appeal, with surprising luxery and comfort. I personally like the feeling of superior workmanship, and distinctly german attitude.

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  Happy with my VW - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By DWP - January 24 - 10:00 am

  3 months so far and no problems. Really enjoy the way it drives and handles. Tiptronic is great! The safety record and features really give me peace of mind. Heard mixed reviews about Monsoon sound so bought a model without it and have no complaints, sound is excellent unless you have to have car shaking bass.

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  Love my new Jetta Sportwagen - 2012 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By leftcoastwolf - January 23 - 9:23 am

  I just bought my second VW TDI Jetta. This car is larger and more refined than my 2003. The handling for the 2012 is first rate. The German engineering that went into this vehicle makes for a fantastic drivers car. The dealership has treated me well and answered all questions. This is the second car Ive purchased from this dealership.

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  Great Car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ScottE - January 20 - 10:33 am

  Ive been really pleased with this car. I wanted econo, but my wife wanted all the bells and whistles, so we got all the features available and it is a very nice. Comfortable, fast enough (not a rocket ship, but pulls hills effortlessly), and nice things like heated seats and good sound system. I put 17" wheels on, and have an automatic, and get about 42 mpg. I love that. Have two small kids and with car seats it is pretty tight in back, but managable. Fate is dropping an 02 Mercedes in my lap, so I am selling, but otherwise I would consider this a great long term car.

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  2009 VW Jetta TDI 6M - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By M - January 18 - 9:03 pm

  Purchased this car in October 2008 and have put 12,000 miles on already. So far, it has performed perfectly and my mileage continues to improve the more the car is broken in. Had a small rattle from the seat belt but it was quickly replaced at the dealer. Installed studded snow tires to battle the Utah snow and it never misplaced me. First gear with a manual trans is a bit touchy around town but quite fun otherwise. If you are in stop and go traffic, go for the automatic. Dont let the fake leather stop you from buying, it actually looks pretty nice and no one ever questions otherwise. Would definitely buy over again.

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  Better than Subaru - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Erik Nordheim - January 18 - 4:30 am

  Paid $32k (plus tax and license) for Passat 4Motion wagon with Luxury Pack 1. AWD and enough room for gear are my primary buying concerns and this car has a good balance of that and luxury and performance. More expensive and more luxurious than a Subaru. I would highly recommend Edmunds Inside Lines review of this wagon. Definitely consider the increased cost of maintenance and premium gas when compared to the Subaru before you buy. Also there is an odd throttle delay on launch, but you can easily adapt your driving to this oddity. Tinting the windows is all the car needed to kick up the comfort and style to a serious level of unostentatious class.

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  2002 Gold TDI - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By DieselFan - January 17 - 10:23 am

  This is a fun to drive, very economical and reliable car. Its hatchback style converts the trunk into a huge cargo area relative to the size of the vehicle.

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  Excellent Ride! - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Victor Cortez - January 17 - 10:00 am

  I love driving this car!