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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  Great little SUV/tall hatchback - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By dasteutonic - September 8 - 11:11 am

  I think these vehicles tend to be higher priced than other similar vehicles (RAV4, etc)...which if you compare features, may seem expensive, but build quality and driving characteristics outclass these other small utes. Build quality is excellent and contains many features found in luxury German vehicles, especially on the SEL. My only gripe about the new Tiguan is the overeager automatic transmission where it wants to get into 6th gear at very low speeds, which is a bit awkward. Overall, even though this is not a vehicle I typically buy, I couldnt be happier with it. I highly recommend it if your in the market for quality small SUV.

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  Love the 337 - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By the_original - September 8 - 10:26 am

  Bought a slightly used 337 while I was looking for a 20th Anniv. model and have never regretted it. It replaced (directly) an 89 GTi 16V and I have to say the build quality of the newer car FAR exceeds the old. The North American 337s were built in Brazil, so they do not suffer many of the Mexican GTi problems (windows do not fall out, etc.). Handles incredibly well even in stock configuration. The Audi-sourced brakes and 6-speed make excellent additions.

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  Fun Bunny - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By EJ - September 8 - 3:50 am

  We bought this car for our daughter. We looked at the Matrix, the Vibe, the Caliber and other similar cars. The Rabbit is by far the best overall value. The price is great, the list of options is long, the car is well put together (I am a longtime Benz owner, so I am picky about cars) and it is just PLAIN FUN TO DRIVE. I think that VW has hit a homerun with return of the Rabbit. Incidentally, some dealers are trying to charge a "market adjustment" premium over sticker price. DONT pay a premium over sticker, shop around and you will find a good deal.

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By Pat O - September 8 - 2:00 am

  Car is sporty and fun to drive. Size is small, but built well and is exceedingly sturdy. Interior and exterior are both sleek and well designed.

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  Best Car we ever bought. - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Coveylane - September 7 - 11:36 pm

  We have had very little problems with this car. In most cases a car is only as good as its dealership. Anything we have had problems with were repaired under warranty. They switch our tires from Summer to Winter and store our tires at the dealership. We have had a cv joint replaced but this is due mainly to our poor roads in Nova Scotia. Paint peeling from front edge of rear drivers side door. Dealer paying to repair that. We get nothing but compliments on our flashy bright white Jetta TDI.

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  Greatest value - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Cameron James - September 7 - 5:20 pm

  Everybody wants to spend their money wisely, as do I. If youre in the market for a new or used vehicle, this is the way to go. A must see car, if you have not before. So many standard features, so little price. Check it out, and compare to other choices. You will not be disappointed.

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  The Best! - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Y - September 7 - 10:36 am

  I have put 15k miles on it. So far nothing to complain about. Great handling, lots of power, comfortable ride, very good fuel economy while fun to drive. Beautifully designed.

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  Best SUV Out There! - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By vwdriver - September 6 - 9:43 pm

  The 2006 Volkswagen Touareg V6 has a great ride on city roads and highways. It handles like a car. Its very comfortable for long trips. I havent taken it off road, but I cant wait to see what this baby can do. It also has more cargo space than its competitors! I love its design, this SUV definitely stands out from the rest, its great vehicle.

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  Best Car Ever - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Luca - September 6 - 12:13 am

  The 2004 Volkswagen R32 is the most fun car that I have ever driven. If you ever get a chance to drive or ride in one take advantage of this. It is a real head turner. Its a true sleeper due to its styling, which is just perfect. The interior is far nicer than its competitions.

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  2nd Mark VI, 3rd GTI - 2013 Volkswagen GTI
  By shadrach2 - September 5 - 2:14 pm

  Had a Mark I for 12 years, base Mark VI for 3 and now this one. Switched from manual to auto and 2 door to four. Great car. Came from a string of BMWs (Z3, Z4, 3 series) and honestly prefer GTI. Especially in Autobahn form. Very Germanic. Solid, well crafted, highly competent. Excellent fuel mileage and very good performance. Its not a rocket and thats fine with me. I love the silence of the cockpit, the Dynaudio sound is great and the telematics work very well. Im honestly surprised I like the DSG as much as I do, having been in a manual for 35 years. But it truly is a lot of fun, and when in bad traffic, great to have.