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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  GTIs are great - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By reeo - May 2 - 10:00 am

  This car is extremely fast, extremely cool, and extremely fast.. what else can i say besides that it is also extremely fast.

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  Best Money Can Buy - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By yulsa - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Having owned 2 older VW in the past I can say, that the new ones a greatly improved machines. They comprise a perfect combination of style, performance, reliability and value. You have the agility and fun of a German autobahn cruiser without having to pay through the nose for maintenance and repairs. Reliability is excellent!

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  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By memikl - May 2 - 10:00 am

  A little wind noise, but other than that a truly great car to drive and own.

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  Watch out for Certified USED-Jettas - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rtadams1 - May 2 - 10:00 am

  My car is the reason why certified used cars should be included in the Lemon Law. But beware... they are NOT! With 3000 left on the certified warranty my car has been in the shop every month since purchase. Included..5 window regulator replacemnts, 2 Mass airflow meters, 3 transmission removals/adjustments, and 25 days in the shop within a year! what a P.O.S...

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  Good for the long haul - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By miles and smiles - May 2 - 4:46 am

  After three years and 108,000 miles, I still like it. Short commutes to long trips, its comfortable (and Im 66") and reliable. Squeaks and rattles have always been from stuff in the car, not the car itself. Nice torquey engine is great in the mountains -- only one hill in Colorado ever made me shift out of 5th to maintain 60 mph (US highway). Average of 42 mpg for that trip -- lots of moutains plus keeping up with traffic on the plains. Can drive for 5 hours straight without getting a sore backside. Great brakes, excellent ride, decent handling, plenty of room (except in the back seat) -- this ones a keeper.

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  Pocket Rocket - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By Franklinh - May 2 - 1:43 am

  This is my second Volkswagen GTI and I must say they get a bad rap on the speed and handling sides. With a straight (no cat) exhaust system and a set of TEIN coils Im able to hustle Nissan 350Zs and stock Honda S2000s to the point of spin in the moutians. All while being able to clock repeatable 14.4s @ 94 mph at the local drag strip. Try to find that elsewhere with heated seats and 150 mph stability in other cars for $350 a month.

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  Reverse problem - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Colleen Carney - May 1 - 2:23 pm

  I purchased this car today and everything was fine until I tried to get it in reverse. My daughter and I drive manual transmissions, and have never had any trouble until this one. I learned from our good friend Barry that you push down on the gear shift to get it in reverse! I was ready to take the car back to the dealer tomorrow!

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  No Fun to Drive - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MrBill - April 30 - 6:03 pm

  Right off the lot I my Jetta needed a wheel alignment. The car moves from side to side going down the road after the alignment. I am being told that is the way the car drives. I have received bad customer service to the point that nobody cared. Now it is three weeks later and the sunroof leaks. This car has 3,000 miles on it. Look twice before buying one.

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  Lots of Pep - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Volkswagen Girl - April 30 - 5:56 pm

  Very comfortable car that takes off when you need power. The only major problem I had was the transmission had to be rebuilt.

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  VW Never again - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By redman - April 30 - 3:03 pm

  My wife always said she loved her VW. It was cute and the test drive was fun but the honeymoon was short lived. There were many problems with it over the years. Included were electrical issues, power Windows, chronic check engine light, air conditioner, on & on. Every time we got it back from the shop we were lucky if it would go 2 weeks before something else was needed. We had to keep a list so we could remember what to tell the service writer. VW dealer was to expensive for parts & labor and everything had to be done at the dealer. Last VW in our family if I have anything to say about it.