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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  Excellent - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Stinky516 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  this car is great. it is the best. is is fun. drive this car. the GTI is fuel efficent, sporty and fast.

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  Very good car for Money - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By HALUAV - November 4 - 2:00 am

  The car has been a pure pleasure. It is fun to drive and the quality of the different components in and out are of very good quality. We looked at Audi and some of the other Luxury brands and found similar quality in the Passat for thousands less then the so called Luxury brands. Our only knock on the car up to this point is the small storage in the glove box and arm rest. Other than that it is a great car and I would recommend it.

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  2002 Jetta GLS (5M) - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Xjet - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Despite some negative feedback from a few owners, my vehicle has been very reliable. Power is outstanding on the 1.8 Turbo, with fuel efficiency second to none. Build quality is excellent, inside and out. I am very satisfied with this vehicle and recommend it highly.

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  Best Car out there - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Brad Thompson - November 3 - 3:56 pm

  By far the best car on the market today. If you are in the market you should get one soon from Fairfax VW.

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  Well built, and more for your money! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bowler801 - November 1 - 3:43 pm

  I was car shopping and I was looking at the Acura TSX and the Toyota Camry XLE V6. For the amount that I was going to pay for upgrades to the Camry and the TSX, the new Jetta comes standard with it. This car is simply incredible. It has everything that I was looking for and then some. I am glad I shopped around as much as I did. I would have missed out on a great buy and value.

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  2nd Passat - Great So Far - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By N1128Q - November 1 - 3:33 am

  I have had this car for one week - it is the 2nd Passat Ive leased and Im impressed with it so far. Smooth ride, great handling, fit and finish seem excellent, quiet ride. The Wolfsburg Edition has a lot of content for the price. While the Japanese cars give you a lot of bells and whistles for a few dollars less, the VW is more of a drivers car. Ill trade gee-gaws for real performance everytime.

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  Diesel fan - 2007 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Dick Bare - November 1 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Touareg, first was a gasoline, 2004, had a few problems as it was the first year out, this car is much improved and a rocket ship, faster than the sister Porsche by .6 second, (Cayenne S), no problems so far in 5000 miles.

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  Luxury Fast! - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By mes70 - October 31 - 5:53 pm

  I traded up from the Mark IV GTI to this fantastic car. In every way its an improvement over the previous generation. I cant recommend this car highly enough. It feels like Im driving a $30,000+ car. It has a buttery engine, super torque, and high quality refinement in the cabin. Hearing the engine pulse through the interior is a true highlight, as is the exhaust note. When youre not gunning it, the interior is so quiet. It has very little road noise. Its truly an escape after a hard day at work. For those that want some exciting get up and go with a refined, grown-up, classy interior, this is it. It gets my highest recommendation. Get in touch with your Fast.

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  Amazing Car - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By BeRocketMan - October 30 - 10:00 am

  This is one of the most trustworthy cars Ive ever driven. The only downside is that its rather low to the ground and can cause problems on bad pavement, but you will have that with any low car. Overall this is an excellent car!

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  Went for oil changer left w/Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Seth Nissenbaum - October 30 - 10:00 am

  I went to get an oil change for my 2002 Saab 9-5 wagon and I left with a 04 Touareg V6. As much as I love the Saab there was something about the Touareg that I could not keep my eyes off of. So while the Saab was getting its lube I test drove a Touareg V6 and was amazed at the capabilty of the vehicle. As an owner of a 98 Audi A6 I have loved VW/Audi simplistic apporach to design. The interior noise is next to nothing at 70 mph on horrible Ohio roads. I have not figured out the navigation system as of yet and I am sure it is something I do not need, but for the Touaregs price when compared to other premium SUVs it is a steal. I recommend it to EVERYONE