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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  2007 Rabbit Coupe - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By S. A. Sherman - November 15 - 8:26 pm

  Near luxury quality interior and build. Fun to drive. Good city car. No problems to date. Fine economical transport.

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  Great Car! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By stevo - November 15 - 5:20 am

  The 2004 Volkswagen Jetta GL is a fun car that is good on gas. It has an excellent interior design and provides lots of features for the price. It has tons of saftey features for the family at no extra cost.

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  Affordable fun - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By av - November 15 - 3:26 am

  I just bought this car yesterday, so this is really first impression review. I was looking to purchase "performance" car during last month and so. Checked few options such as BMW 328/330, G35, Civic hatchback.... finally I was standing to buy G35, but then VW CC arrived and I responsible buyer I went to check cheaper option ~36k of G35 vs. ~31k of VW CC. What I found is that although front wheel drive CC sticks to the road just like a shaving gum on my window. Even bad quality of Californian roads hasnt changed feeling of amazing sport style driving. The sounds weak 200hp engine actually deliver superior momentum of 200+ available since 1700rpm. So feeling is almost like 360hp G35.

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  Head of the class - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Doberman - November 14 - 1:23 pm

  1. Shifts were imperceptive and smooth (needed to mute stereo to listen to engine). 6-speed tiptronic transmission was more responsive than 5-speed. Didn’t do much sport mode since I like to move between tip and auto mode side to side. Downshifts came pretty quickly. 2. Handling and steering adjectives: smooth, crisp, precise, responsive, flat, agile, tenacious, communicative, and confident. This car was fun to hustle. Best “cut and thrust” sedan I’ve ever driven. 3. Sensation of thrust not acceleration. Point the 2.0T down a ramp, hit the gas and you literally rocket forward until you take your foot off the gas. 85 mph passed by before I had merged. Felt similar to beginning of take off roll in a jetliner.

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  This car saved my life! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Faina S - November 14 - 2:36 am

  I was in a snow / ice storm and as I was heading towards an underpass I lost control and went into both sides of the underpass damaging the car but had no serious injuries, the car stayed in pretty good shape so I am happy to have a repeat purchase from this company.

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  Great Car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jordan - November 14 - 1:36 am

  I bought the car because my other three cars all got around 13 mpg. The Jetta was a great choice. It is safe, well built, and handles really well. I have owned it for about seven months and have had no problems so far. In mostly city driving I have averaged about 27 mpg and on highway around 35. I bought the car for $17,500 and it does not feel like a stripped model with its rich materials and high build quality. It has everything a person needs standard: power windows (w/express up on all four), an alarm, A/C, tilt/tellascoping wheel, and a huge trunk (I fit myself and three of my friends in there for fun!). As for the performance it is no Corvette but it has suprising power and torque. What a great car!

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  Surprisingly Sporty, Economical & Fun - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By jddaigle - November 13 - 10:00 am

  I got this Golf to replace a 2001 Jetta with the 1.8 liter turbo engine. I wanted to reduce my fuel usage & try using biodiesel fuel. I loved the Jetta and love the Golf. The design of the interior is near-perfect, with everything where it should be. The performance of the high-torque diesel engine is excellent--I can easily keep up with (or pass) traffic and merge & pass on the highway without downshifting. The seats are very comfortable and supportive and even in base trim offer many ways to adjust your driving position. Handling is tight but not quite sports car tight (I may upgrade my suspension in the future). Road noise is very well controlled.

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  excellent car - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By Ronny VT - November 13 - 10:00 am

  Actually, we bought the car in 2000... we live in Europe, and diesel is the most common fuel here... It must be said that Volkswagen was a pioneer in the direct injected diesel engine... and you feel this when you drive a VW diesel... They perform like a petrol engine, are quiet, but they have a better fuel economy... Its a great car to drive... If you are looking for a nice reliable car, for a fair price... this Golf is your best buy

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  T-Reg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Magicman - November 13 - 10:00 am

  Awesome vehicle! I will move up to a V- 8 or V-10 next year for more performance

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  2004 Jetta 1.8 Wagan - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Patricia Flaherty - November 13 - 10:00 am

  I have only had this vehicle for two months but I love it. Very easy to drive,pickup is outstanding. ABS standard breaking is also very good. Cargo space is also outstanding. Overall, I think this car is an outstanding bargin for safety, good cargo space and fun to drive. Not to many family wagons are also fun to drive but the Jetta 1.8 Wagon fits that bill as well for in my case under 20,000