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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  Fun to drive, tons of space! - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By S. Hernandez - December 25 - 10:00 am

  I have had a really good experience with this car. No major issues at all. The trunk space is wonderful, specially if you put the back seats down. You can fit your bike, a 32" TV Set or any other big stuff you will not be able to fit in a regular sedan trunk. The car has good fuel economy, which matters a lot these days with the gas prices. The car is fun to drive and even with a standard engine (2.0) the acceleration is quite good.

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  I highly recommend buying a Passatt! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By dannysal2004 - December 25 - 10:00 am

  The Passatt is a beautiful car. The ride is powerful and solid (for lack of a better word). The sightlines are great. I was surprised how much leg room there is in both the front and rear. The sunroof is a nice extra (standard on the GLS).

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  Very Happy Customer - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Stubman - December 25 - 6:26 am

  Style, reliability, great mileage and a top that disappears under 30 seconds without leaving the car are just a few reasons I love my EOS. Getting 33 mpg on the highway was a pleasant surprise. Press the gas and this beauty will fly. When the top is down people are always questioning me on what kind of car I drive. One elderly man told me it did not look like the VWs we was use to in the 60s. Even in the dead of winter I stay toasty warm and dry. This car is tight. Nothing seems to ever go wrong. My main problem is I find myself looking for an excuse to "go out for a spin". Very high quality throughout. Thank You VW.

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  VW at its best! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tony Fields - December 24 - 7:20 pm

  The 2006 Volkswagen Passat Value Edition is wonderful! It has a smooth ride, great handling, so many safty features, and great gas milage!

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  Problematic - but I still love it! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mangonoggin - December 23 - 5:46 am

  Ive loved my Jetta GLS TDI ever since I bought it. Its such a sharp looker and you really cant beat the fuel efficiency (45+mpg). However, I have had a few of the minor problems mentioned here already (the windows, peeling interior surfaces, finicky CD player). That said, I still love the interior - its so clean and well designed - and the blue hue of the lights at night are so cool. The Jetta is certainly feature rich - but, I have certainly had problems with some of them. This car certainly could use some improvements in the electrical and interior department. Also, for those with the auto tranny, the shift lock mech. can be a pain - watch out for a faulty brake light switch.

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  Great car! - 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By justanyguy - December 23 - 5:11 am

  I am a faithful VW driver, 4 vehicles over the last 13 years. You either love em or hate em! I buy Volkswagons for German styling, fit and finish, and enjoyable driving experience. They fit a pricing niche above Toyotas and Hondas and below Audi and BMW.The Tiguan is a typical example of a stylish, functional and truly enjoyable vehicle. Among the reasons to enjoy a Tiguan, is not being one of every ten cars on the road being a CRV or a Rav4.

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  Great Car - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By SeanW - December 23 - 2:00 am

  I have not had one iota of trouble in 3 1/2 years of owning this car. It is great to drive, looks fantastic, and has held its value.

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  Happy Bug - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By kjclow - December 23 - 2:00 am

  This is one of the funnest little cars to drive. It has good pep and excellent mileage. It will do about any speed but watch out for blue lights. The car is well made and has had very few problems. Fit and finish are pretty good.

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  New Jetta TDI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By G. Adams - December 22 - 9:06 am

  This is one of the best cars I have ever owned. I have had Jaguars, Mercedes, and everything in between. Hybrids will be extinct in five years. Look out for the diesels!

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  I love my car! - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By denicep1 - December 20 - 1:48 pm

  I spent six months researching cars before subscribing to Consumers. They had listed the Golf as the number 1 hatchback. I had looked at one before, but someone had told me they heard from a friend that they werent really good cars, so I stopped considering them. But I decided to get a quote to see what I could buy one for. I was really impressed with the price quote (less than invoice) so I went to test drive. It drove like a dream and had everything I was looking for in a car. I even got 1.84% for five years. In the end it was a no-brainer: great car for a great price. Ive only had it five weeks, but I love it so far.