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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  Outstanding Mini-van - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By JPT - March 21 - 1:10 pm

  Although there are many poor reviews of the Routan out there in cyberspace, most are written by folks who either havent driven or dont own one. It is a great van, and drives nothing like the Town & Country. This is our first mini-van and have nothing but great things to say about it. It is superbly comfortable, quiet, and for the money (compared to Honda/Toyota) it comes well equipt. On a recent 1000 trip, it averaged 25.2 mpg (running ~70mph), which is impressive for a 4000+lb vehicle. Its future remains uncertain (Chrylser in Chapther 11, talk of not producing more Routans) this is a top notch van and I would highly recommend it.

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  Owned SAAB Turbos - CC Much Much Better - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By chowchow - March 20 - 9:08 pm

  Having drivern Mercedes and Audis, the CC compares very favorably to both in terms of ride, handling performance and interior features but it tops both in terms of uniqueness and looks and affordability/value. If you are in the market for a Audi A 4 or a Merceders Benz C Class - and you do not care about the emblem on your ride - this car blends looks, ride, comfort and performance. The 2.0 turbo coupled with the DSG auto is far better than any SAAB turbo - I owned a 99 SAAB 9-5 2.3 LPT and a 99 SAAB 9.3 2.0 and while the 9-3 was fun to drive - it rode like a pick-up truck and offered few lux amentiies and while the 9-5 offered a refined ride and lux amenities, it was not much fun.

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  So close, yet so far... - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By Coorzman - March 20 - 10:00 am

  This is my second VW and I had some high hopes, considering I spent $26k. At first it was incredible, but that was short lived. Now, Im going on my 3rd year of ownership and I cannot wait to get rid of it. 5 window regulators have been replaced (4 drivers side and 1 passenger side) and an airflow sensor and the car only has 40k miles. Too make creaks and rattles to mention. Now the front suspensions makes noises when I turn under breaking. After dealing with VW for the past 6 years and 2 cars, I WILL NOT be buying another VW or an Audi ever again.

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  Volkswagon Sucks!! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Michelesb - March 20 - 10:00 am

  We have had so many problems with this car! We have had electrical problems with the radio and windows, the car does not shift well (it has an automatic transmission), we have to replace the rotars every year. We only drive the car 18 miles a day and consistently have to pay between $300 - $700 every year to get the car past inspection. The interior of the car is supposed to be stain resistant but get stained with a small amount of WATER. Our interior is a mess mostly from water stains. We thought that Volkswagons were very reliable, quality cars... we wil NEVER purchase another VW!

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  Great so far :) - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By nmallya - March 20 - 10:00 am

  So far running great..all of 5 days old

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  invoke the lemon law - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By invoke the lemon law - March 20 - 10:00 am

  the only thing worse than the car was the dealership. After 3000 miles the jetta misfires on all cylinders when you first start it up. The dealership refused to deal with this issue and i was forced to have VW buy the car back under the lemon law. In all, a huge, unsatisfying hassle. interior fabric hard to keep clean. trim deteriorates quickly. Dealership was extremely unhelpful and the VW customer service did not follow through or return calls. All i wanted was a car that was reliable when brand new. what is the point of a 4 year warranty when it sits in the shop the whole time.

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  Best Car Ever - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By EosTRS - March 20 - 8:20 am

  If you want a fun, cheap and hot car, then the Eos is for you. I urge you to go out to you VW dealership and at least test drive one. This car is excellent. Buy one, if your wife will let you.

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  Based on New Purchase - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By M Nylen - March 20 - 4:56 am

  Loved the look, the zip, and the plush seats. However, its been nothing but fustrations. I have been to 4 dealers in 4 years. With less than 50,000 miles the weld failed on the exhaust, the water pump went, the throttle body needed work, and now I hit 50,000 mi, I have to pay for a new radio that gets horrible reviews - Monsoon. And the list goes on.

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  Great Value! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Hawk8485 - March 19 - 5:56 pm

  I have owned more than 25 cars, mostly Audis, Infinitis or BMWs, but this is the best purchase I have ever made. Not perfect, but for less than $16K, I bought a car that is fun to drive, solid, well built, and comfortable. Only options were the auto and the ESP. This car replaced my wifes Infiniti FX35 (rode very rough) as a stopgap until she decided what she wanted, then we would give it to our daughter. 2.5 years later, my daughter is still waiting b/c my wife will not give it up.

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  2006 Volkswagen Touareg V8 - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Chris - March 19 - 4:23 pm

  Both myself and my wife test drove the Caddilac SRX, Jeep Grand Cherokee Hemi and Ford Explorer V8. After driving the VW, it was the hands down winner. The Touareg was the most comforatable, had the smoothest ride, the great acceleration and handling vehicle we drove. Couldnt wait to own it.