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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  2010 VW Jetta Wolfsburg Manual - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Home Theater Guy - September 2 - 2:00 am

  This isnt our first VW Jetta. Although, we did test drive quite a lot of cars before purchasing this one. Amongst the cars we did not purchase Audi A4, BMW 325, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Mercedes C Series. A lot of these cars had nice features, some more than others. None put it all together with a manual, a great engine and a fair price tag like VW had. We are very proud owners of these vehicle. So much so, that we purchased the 100k mile warranty. Its a keeper.

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  Great little car! - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By thedriver93 - September 2 - 1:25 am

  I traded my Corolla in for the top of the line Jetta SEL and I never looked back. Great product from VW! It had leatherette seats, heated, AMAZING Fender sound system, comfortable ride, NAV system was easy to use. MPG was lower than I expected, I was averaging 28 MPG 70% highway.

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  Fun to drive and feels very posh - 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By gorkem - September 1 - 12:04 am

  I test drove the 2012 model tiguan and felt the weird gear shifts. 2013 model does not have it. No vibrations, rumbling or what so ever in any speed. The panaromic sunroof is gorgeous. Driving is very fun and feels very safe. I can take winding roads with 50 on hwy when the reccomendation is 30. Grips the road and asks more. Bluetooth is avrcp 1.3 tho, which does not work with iPhones 1.4 avrcp (ios6) so I can not skip tracks (I can still listen tho) Interior build quality is very good. Interior looks very cool especially at night, all the red lights inside definitely adds some elegance. gas milage is not so great tho, I get 22. Its been a month may be will get better...

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  Another VW We Love - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jim - August 31 - 11:30 am

  Wife retired / traded in a VW Cabrio and GMC Envoy for our Passat. It is fun to drive with surprising acceleration. It has plenty of room to take our doberman (and her crates) to dog shows. Important points in our decision were that this car is a VW Certified used car and our dealers service dept. is second to none.

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  Definitely a winner! - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By pete_t - August 31 - 12:16 am

  I was researching the market for several months and nothing really convinced me until I came across the Tiguan. I have one for about two months now and Im loving every minute of it! It is fun to drive, the engine is wonderful, a lot of small features that make this the perfect car. Plus it has the highest possible safety rating and it looks just amazing. Fuel economy is actually better than advertised, 20/27.

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  Im sold on diesel. - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By parkeld - August 30 - 2:00 am

  The diesel model of the Jetta gets about double the mileage of its gasoline counterpart, and performs better! 45mpg in mixed driving after 4 years. Great with hills, passing, and cold mountain conditions. ABS works well in snow. Rugged interior components.

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  2001 GLS Manual - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By euphoria68 - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I just purchased this car about half a year ago and I love it. Its fun to drive and has better accelaration than old BMW 528. Great gas mileage once you get the hang of the trip computer. This car has most of all small features that others cars dont offer (Honda, etc)

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  Happily Ever After... - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BellaVw - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I Have found my 2001 Jetta GLS TDI to be an absolute joy to drive. Granted, I treat it with care and get the recommended service as suggested in the manual. It has never failed me not even in cold midwestern winters. The 49-50 miles per gallon was a strong reason for choosing the TDI. I had previously heard of the old dreaded "deisel dogs", but the turbo 1.9L diesel engine delivers a peppy and sufficient acceleration. Im constantly receiving compliments on its appearance and ride. Its without a doubt, the best car I have ever had the pleasure of owning! Give it a try.

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  Good Riddance ML-320 - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Donald - August 30 - 2:00 am

  Traded in an ML-320 for this truly GREAT machine. Only problem was the tire pressure light and this was fixed immediately. This SUV ride is smooth, quiet and totally comfortable compared to the ML-320. We test drove a X5 and the VW still won out.

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  Luv my Jetta! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JoeyT - August 30 - 2:00 am

  All I can say is that this car is great! Yes, the price was a bit high, but it is a joy to ride. And the power of the turbo engine is amazing!