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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  Jetta Hybrid Works For Me - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
  By jpa010 - November 26 - 11:45 pm

  Despite the elevated cost of the SEL Premium version, I needed a commuter car with excellent mpg specs, and being a VW fan, was drawn to the Jetta Hybrid. Previously Id owned a 2011 GTi, but didnt care for the 28mpg part of ownership (but a blast to drive, for sure). Having driven several Prius vehicles, I learned to dislike the golf-cart like CVT, so the 7 speed DSG of the Jetta Hybrid was a huge plus. I love this car so far, and 46 mpg is my mileage after two tanks of (premium) fuel. Build quality seems a notch above a base Jetta. The Fender audio is as good as anything a manufacturer has ever put into a car, IMHO. Thank you VW for an alternative to TDI!

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  Great car - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By golfool81 - November 25 - 2:53 pm

  I have owned this car for a year. It is great there is a practical side with a sports car drive. It is fun to drive. Great car.

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  Faithful and trust worthy - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Steve - November 24 - 10:00 am

  I use my Passat wagon to tow a light boat trailer for my business. I had the tow hitch added aftermarket. This setup has worked beautifully over more than 230,000 miles. Ive had no mechanical problems, and with the trailer loaded with rowing shells, I get 24 mpg.

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  my great touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By evelyn10 - November 23 - 5:53 am

  I really love this touareg, I bought it 6 month ago with 67000 miles and the car runs great, after cleaning the injectors it needs only 18-19mpg in the city and 20mpg at the highway, in 6 month I had no problem I only checked the car at volkswagen and it was free I payed nothing, this is really a excellent luxury SUV, the best I ever had, and my kids are happy with this car, it is the same base and motor like the Porsche Cayenne

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  04 R32 - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Cricket - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Simple.... It is fun to drive.

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  .:R32 a blast to drive - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By BlueNJ.:R32 - November 23 - 2:00 am

  This car is simply everything I wanted in a sports car. It feels rock solid and just goes where you point it. The new independant rear suspension was a great move. Great acceleration in every geary. Gearbox is much better than any other VW I have owned. Race inspired seats fit like a glove and hold you right where you need to be. The exhaust note is pure sex to the ears. The interior is very plush and the exterior (WOW that blue is amazing) has great lines without being obnoxious. All of this with the added bonus of AWD... Perfect package to slap a supercharger on for an extra 80hp. WHOA!

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  Worth the Wait - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Texas T-Reg - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Ordered mine in Oct. 2003 and picked it up on 2-13-04. Have put over 3,000 miles including a trip to the mountains in New Mexico. It is exceptionally comfortable on long trips and handles better than my wifes BMW 325xiT all-wheel drive wagon. It is very stable at high speeds yet performed exceptionally well in the snow, ice, and mud of the mountains. The vehicle has been completely trouble-free from a maintenance standpoint. The V8 performed very well at 9,000plus elevations.

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  Great Job VW - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Dave Gallego - November 23 - 2:00 am

  I got out of my ML lease 2 months early due to the fact that I salivated every time I saw the Touareg. Now that I have it, I cant wait to drive to work in the morning. Its an extraordinary vehicle.

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  It is so much fun - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By heclinder - November 22 - 10:00 am

  I have had more powerful and bigger cars but none that are more fun. Last summer, I traded in my 1998 Maxima SE for a Jetta, Wolfsburg edition. It was a great decision. The drive of the Jetta is so responsive, tight and perky. My favorite car previous to this one was my 1998 Jetta. This has many more creature comforts but what a car and what a drive!

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  This Car Rocks!! - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By apl123 - November 21 - 6:42 pm

  The Lease on my wifes Rav 4 was coming up so we finally decided on the Tiguan. I neve owned a VW and I have to say that this car to me and my wife is far superior in quality, fit and finish, acceleration, style, overall feel, than the Rav 4. Yes we did sacrifice some trunk space but kids are grown so it didnt matter. The passing power is like a 6 cylinder and really moves thanks to the Turbo and More importantly the 6 speed transmission which is not offered by most of the competition.We got the S 4 Motion and the Standard Equipment was more than Japanese cars offer,Blue tooth,aluminum wheels and privacy Glass to name a few. The interior is gorgeous!! My wife loves it, happy wife happy life