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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  Happy Eos owner - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By seakay - September 11 - 5:06 am

  I just took a trip to Virginia from Miami and the back seat was a little small for an adult. When driving on the interstate with the top down, and the screen up, you really dont get much wind, and you can still hear the sound from the stereo, which is not the norm.

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  Great car! - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Thomas - September 10 - 3:53 pm

  We have had the car for about a month now and love it! We have had a Buick Rendezvous for five years, so we really did not know how we would like being in a little car and riding down low to the ground - but we really like how it feels on the road. It is surprisingly smooth on the highway as we took a recent two-hour trip that was very comfortable. In town we love how it handles in traffic with its peppy engine. It is not a luxury car, but a fun sports car. Our friends and family are surprised how roomy it is inside when they ride in it for the first time.

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  Biodiesel 03 TDI - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Eric J - September 10 - 2:36 am

  Bought an 03 Volkswagen Jetta TDI with 60,000 miles on it. I drove it home, changed the fuel filter and oil and filled up with 100% ASTM certified biodiesel. Now we get avg. 47 mpg hwy and run on domestically produced renewable fuel! The 177 ft lbs. of torque gives this car all the muscle anyone needs to cruise at 70 and have a good time on the road.

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  Love to Drive - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Erin - September 9 - 4:06 pm

  I Havent had this car long but I love it. It is very fun to drive. Good fuel economy for a V8. When driving in the mountains I get between 16-18 mpg and on the freeway 22-25 mpg. I live in the foothills and the power is great going up the hills. I bought the car with 64000 miles and the only problem was whoever owned it last didnt have the rear brakes replaced properly and it broke the rear springs. Not a big deal though. I had it fixed and it runs fine now. Car seats fit well in the back and I have more than enough room in the back to fit all the kids stuff (Pop-up crib, stroller ect)for a weekend trip. Great Car and I have no regrets purchasing it.

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  2010 Golf - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Ricky - September 9 - 2:43 pm

  The car is great. I picked it up for under 20,000 OTD and my dealership threw in rims, tint, and floor mats (couldnt drive off the lot with hubcaps). Bottom line is my car is getting around 27MPG with a lot of my driving being in the city. I have less than 1k miles so the car run as expected, perfectly. The new VW carefree maintenance program is great, covers all scheduled maintenance including oil changes until 3yrs/36k mi. Compared to other economy cars it is far beyond anything in its price range. All of the little things and build quality made the 2010 GOLF the clear choice for me, instrument panel, interior build, seats are great all & its half the price to insure (compared to civic)

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  First VW owned - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Won Yoon - September 9 - 10:00 am

  VW CC is my first VW ever. I was falling in love at first sight. The design is so classy both inside and out. I hope VW overcame with the reliability with electronics. Ive driven it for nine months and I still look forward to drive it every morning. Clutch seems more sensitive compared with Japanese cars. I stalled it more than I wanted.

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  Waited 2 years to decide on this! - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By bkalz - September 9 - 10:00 am

  Since the CC came out, Ive been following every review of the car out there to make a decision. And yesterday I went and picked one up! Couldnt be happier and it was well worth the wait because I got a decent deal on it. Love everything about this car as I fell in love with the 2009 version when I first test drove it. The 2010 touchscreen addition gives the car a class although I wish it came standard with navi. Well worth the price and I get many compliments from friends and co-workers. This was my graduation present to myself and I couldnt be happier. If youre planning on getting this car, get it now because once the 2010s are gone you wont be able to get a good deal until next year.

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  Not just for kids - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By VWAnnie - September 9 - 10:00 am

  The 2011 VW TDI sportswagen is a joy to drive. TDI engine is amazingly fast and responsive. The DSG automatic transmission allows you to shift up or down when you want a more hands on feel. Averaging about 36-40 mpg in mixed driving. We skipped the sun roof and the navigation system putting our money into the TDI option instead. The computer gives you lots of feedback with controls on the steering wheel without being intrusive. I am a grandmother, haul lots of stuff as a non profit volunteer. This wagon is spacious and handles extremely well. My kids and grandkids give it five stars. Loved my 2008 rabbit, love this more. Toffee brown color is stunning and rich looking.

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  Sport utility for people who love cars - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By roady-m - September 9 - 10:00 am

  Fantastic car. Was always a fan of VW quality and driving dynamics, though got spooked into Asian cars a few years ago due to reliability woes. This car, though, with its perfect combination of driving dynamics, utility, efficiency, build quality, and understated good looks called me with her siren song. Improving VW reliability of late, tax credit, and great price made it irresistible. Traded in a Honda Civic, which was bullet proof, though tired of driving an appliance. Feels great to be enjoying German driving experience again. Avg 32 mpg in town, 45 on the hwy.

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  Best Passat ever - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By mike - September 8 - 1:56 pm

  I never considered a VW, until I drove the new Passat. This is an awsome car. Pros: 6-speed transmission, key fob, auto hold, ESP, electronic parking brake, AC storage-glovebox & center console, 4-cylinder engine w/turbo, 8 speakers dyno audio, 8 air bags, LED tail lights...too many things to list. Cons: none so far.