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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  Love my New Beetle! - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Karen1963 - December 19 - 10:10 pm

  I wanted this car for a long time before my husband bought this one for me as a surprise Christmas gift in 2007. It is so easy to drive, and the seats are a good fit for me. I have the automatic, so the gas mileage isnt the best, but I really love the experience of driving it every day. This is the best car purchase we have ever had and I will likely own this car the rest of its life!

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  Head turner! - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By scott813 - December 19 - 9:17 pm

  2 years and 36,000 miles and it is still fun to drive. This car has spunk and handles well. Have had many comments on the look of the vehicle as it was not readily seen on the streets at first but I am starting to see more and more. Went with black on black and have enjoyed the driving experience.

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  i love my wolfsburg 1.8t jetta - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By terry - December 19 - 4:34 pm

  i got the car on a trade with my explorer. with a slight exhaust leak the car still pick up and gos pretty good I have only got it up to 120 but then I had to slow down. it handles the turns like it is on rails. I have only had it about 2 weeks now but on the high way I smoked a Honda civic with some mods like it was standing still

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  Great Car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By jaw43 - December 17 - 10:00 am

  We hed a minor problem with the memory seats when brand new, the dealership finally fixed it on the 2nd try. The car is an absolute plesure to drive. It gives a solid, sure-footed road feel. We drove over 3000 miles in 7 days last month, every mile in comfort and ease. When our lease is up the end of December, 2003 this will be the first lease car Im really tempted to buy.

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  After 1000 - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Supastratt - December 17 - 10:00 am

  So far, Ive managed to avoid all of the problems Ive read in other reviews here (lucky me... I truly feel for the rest of you). That is, the windows work and the car doesnt rattle hardly at all. Of course, the cupholder is COMPLETELY usless, though ;) One thing that sucked was the car was sold to me with a drained battery, so it didnt start the next day after I bought it. (Props to VWs roadside assistance, though!) Well, not a perfect start with my new GTI I suppose, but I still love to drive it! A great car so far, but its relaibility is questionable.

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  TDI Trade-in - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Vic Vilece - December 17 - 1:52 am

  2013 TDI Jetta turned in to VW and purchased a 2017 GLI - Price paid was the internet price quoted by Edmunds. Dealer got me the car I specified.

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  great car overall - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Drea83079 - December 15 - 1:46 am

  This is a great car for the money. It is very fuel efficient, for those who have only managed to get in 350 or so miles, the mileage does improve drastically over time. I average mid 40s for primarily 50 mph driving on country backroads, and high 30s in city driving. I decreased my weekly gas bill for my Subaru from 180 dollars to my current 52.00 per week! That cannot be beat, and it only requires one fill per week, with me driving 600 miles per week on average. My only complaint is that I have 3500 miles so far, and the check engine light just came on. The dealer has been very helpful, but I am a bit concerned that maybe they have not yet worked out the kinks in the new engine.

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  One of the Best SUVs Available - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Siegfried Grimm - December 13 - 4:03 pm

  The Volkswagen Touareg may not be the fastest in its class, it does not get the best fuel economy, but it is well built and reliable. Those are important features to me.

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  V6 Touareg - Happy Owner - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By peter1438 - December 13 - 2:36 pm

  I would definitely buy another Touareg. It is truly a baby Porsche. For a V6 it has enough grunt and power. The interior is very well done, everything is within reach and the materials are excellent. The tailgate / hatch opens wide and there is enough room for just about anything that you would need an SUV for. After looking at Toyotas and Hondas, I found that for the price of the VW I was getting a much more truck and VW has been around longer than the other two.

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  Got a Good One... - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lovajetta - December 13 - 6:46 am

  People all seem to have weird problems with their Jettas, but mine runs great and has never let me down. I love this car!