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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  Lovin It!! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By srduncan31 - January 9 - 5:43 am

  Have only had this car about a week. Had a 97 Jetta and loved it and love the new one just as much so far. It is fun to drive even though it only has a 5cylinder engine. Standard equipment is great for the price. The rearview mirror is a pain to adjust and the side mirrors whistle above 50mph, but overall, love the new Jetta!

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  BPs GTI review - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By big papa - January 7 - 12:46 pm

  The gTI is a sleeper for sure. People are so suprised with this cars performance. Everyone thinks its like a Sentra or Civic. No way, its a tuner car for adults.

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  2016 Passat S class - 2016 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lorna Lumpris - January 7 - 10:07 am

  A great deal of technology, have dealer go over all technical features.

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  I have a smile on my face every time I drive this turbo beauty and the beast - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ondrej Stonawski - January 7 - 12:46 am

  I purchased my black 2007 Passat with the 2.0 T engine with the manual 6 speed transmission and the sport package with black leather seats in 2010 as a certified vehicle with about 31K miles. Right now I have just over 120K on it and it runs just like new. The car corners very well, acceleration is great, breaking is great, I love the manual 6-speed, when you are in a mood and there is a good curvy, hilly road Oh man... As you will find out later on, the car is more expensive to run due to premium gas and to maintain than an Accord or Camry, but what I can say is it delivers 5 tons of joy to me everyday I drive it.I installed a hitch to it as well and it pulls 2,000 lbs like a breeze.

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  Great Experience - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By MRod - January 6 - 9:06 pm

  I bought the car in February but waited to put a few thousand miles on the car before writing the review. The car runs like a dream and the 4 cyl turbo is all the engine great around town and on the highway. The interior is a key component of any car I purchase and I have to say I absolutely love the interior. It rivals the interior of any Audi. The exterior is beautiful and turns heads everywhere. I bought the shadow blue with the two tone interior and its a real pleasure to have in my driveway. I regularly drive 200 miles between NY and Pennsylvania and can only say the car is rock solid at speed (autobahn like). Around town smooth and responsive. Previously owned 2004 Acura TL. Buy it.

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  Sports car, SUV, city runabout all-in-1! - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Bob - January 5 - 6:20 pm

  This car acts as: (1) a sport scar because it is a blast to drive, (2) an suv because it hauls lots of people/stuff and is very user friendly/utilitarian, (3) a city runabout due to small size/easy to park and good on gas (31-35 mpg on highway depending on speed). This car is as fun to drive as my boxster S. Not overly flashy or showy but still looks "hip". I think VWs leather is plasticky so I got the cloth. Can be chipped for around $600 to get about 40 more hp if so inclined. The weak points of this car are well known due to tuners upgrading them to 300+ hp and no major issues if left stock or slightly modified. DSG is amazing and satisfies both automatic and manual drivers.

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  Its no kids car - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Steven A - January 5 - 2:00 am

  The R32 feels like a car VW built just for me. I purchased my first GTI is 1985 and I loved that car. I took the long way home every chance I had. This car is everything that first GTI was and more, way more. There are many vehicles in its price range but none have the the same performance and exclusivity that the R32 does. I could have paid less and I could have paid more but I couldnt have gotten more for less. The R32 is VWs S4. Its that good. Compared to the Japanese competition neither felt like they were right for me just too Pep Boys/Fast and Furious. The R32 simply is so much more refined they dont feel like they are direct competition to it.

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  Highly Recommended - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By KellyOConnor - January 4 - 9:50 am

  The Rabbit is a very enjoyable car to drive. Ive put 8000+ miles on it so far and find it both comfortable and fun. The torque supplied in the low range is a great change from most newer cars that save the power to above 5000rpms. My wife and I fight over driving this car daily, rather than the SUV we have.

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  As good as an Audi - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Guide Dog - January 4 - 12:03 am

  Wonderful car. My wifes second Golf Diesel, and one of the best cars we have owned. She takes Guide Dogs in Training everywhere and the extra large crate fits easily when needed. Very comfortable and quiet. We get 60mpg when cruising on the highway. Very difficult to tell its a diesel. Quiet, peppy and almost no smell, even when cold. I think the quality is as good as my own 2007 Audi A4 Avant, just without the wood. The way in which the switches and instruments are lit at night, along with the red night lights, is superb.

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  Best Car Ever - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By David Cowan - January 3 - 5:16 pm

  After one year of considering buying the Phaeton, I finally decided to actually purchase a W12 Phaeton. It now has 1000 miles on it and I find absolutely no problems with it. Sure, I wish it had a DVD navigation and a phone, but still it is a very well built car. The fit and finish exceeds all other cars Ive owned. The paint finish is superior to all cars Ive purchased under $120,000. This car needs to be advertised more as its destiny is uncertain. No matter what happens, this car will always get attention. Everyone that sees it wants to have a closer look and they have a fit over it. While you still can, buy one. It is a great car that is so underrated.