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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  Love that Turbodiesel! - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By newflyer22 - August 23 - 10:00 am

  Okay, Ill be truthful. Ive only had the car a few days so I will change the ratings accordingly, but I got it for $300 over invoice and I thought that was a great deal on a car that gets 50mpg on the highway, has a solid interior feeling like a more expensive car, even if a few things need attention, a solid, sporty ride, and the power of the turbodiesel. It amazes me every time I get behind the wheel. I can go up steep mountain grades in 5th gear and it still wants to go faster.

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  GLS wagon - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By sevans - August 23 - 10:00 am

  First off, this is a great car to be in and to drive. Driving longer distances in my old car would exhaust me but the passat invigorates. I am quite happy with the car. Its sporty but sleek, and shows that only fools need to buy a SUV. Only one complaint, on rare occasion my directional indicator will rapidly flash so this is some electircal/mechanical problem.

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  Blend of value and compromise - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By - August 23 - 10:00 am

  In general the pros far outweigh the cons. For the price, I find the car to be a steal. The car is very sturdy. The quality of interior and exterior material is top notch. I purchased this car mainly because it has tons of safety features. For a family sedan, the 1.8T engine is adequate. Although the engine is a little noisy at lower revs, it is quite smooth at higher speeds. I feel that road noise is excessive. This may be attributed to the Continental tires. I highly recommend this car.

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  good car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jim in Mass - August 23 - 10:00 am

  have only had it 6 weeks and am very satisfied. The dealer was great. The car is likeable and fun to drive. The car feels like more expensive cars that ive owned. The car is quiet on the highway and comfortable to drive for hours at a time.

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  My 2001 Volkswagen Jetta - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By walter - August 23 - 3:46 am

  Since I bought this car, I have had a lot of fun driving it. It is very good on gas as opposed to the 2.0L model. It has lots of power and great handling. I wouldnt trade it for anything else....well maybe a 2002 model because its got more power.

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  VW Passat, a great performer - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Christopher W. Powel - August 21 - 8:56 pm

  At sixty-one years of age, I have owned quite a few automobiles and trucks. Having purchased my first Volkswagen in 1980, a Jetta, I have driven nothing else since. I bought the 2004 VW Passat GLX 4Motion for my wife in November of 2003, and had only one complaint. That complaint was precipitated by the "clunk" that transmission made when downshifting. However, a software update cured the problem, and we have had nothing but positive experiences with the car since. This is, without question, the most comfortable, best handling (for its size), and most reliable automobile that I have ever owned. I recommend the Passat to anyone who wants a high-quality car at a reasonable price.

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  Awesome Ride - 2010 Volkswagen Routan
  By crimsontidefam - August 21 - 7:37 pm

  Not Sure why some give this "Minivan" a bad reputation. I tested drove all the Minivans out there, and this by far is the best. Town and Country/Dodge might produce this product, but I can ensure you Germans enginnered it. It drives better, looks better, and is night and day compared to the Town and Country/Dodge. You feel as though you are driving a German Automobile. It is Fahrvergnügen.

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  The Perfect Car! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Don - August 20 - 8:03 pm

  After 1 Year of heavy driving I now believe I have the best car I have ever owned. Great fit and finish, great fuel economy, quiet and powerful. I researched this car using Edmunds and the reviews sold me. However, I wanted to wait a year and 30,000 miles to rate my experience with the car. Reviews that complain about it being underpowered and expensive to maintain must be mistaken. This car drives like the day I bought it: and I live in the hottest part of the South. 40 MPG around town w/AC on Max! 48 Hiway! 500+ miles on a tank of fuel. Finding diesel no problem in SouthEast. Wont trade this puppy for years to come!

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  So far so good! - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Scott K. - August 20 - 4:20 pm

  Just recently got my Tiguan and what a smooth and zippy ride this is! No problems except the hazard light button was defective and nonfunctional. Im about to go get it fixed at the dealership. I just hope they got their electronics problems fixed by now.

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  A Winner! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jay - August 20 - 10:33 am

  With around 2,000 miles on our three-week old Jetta 5-speed TDI with Package Two were getting, since day one, 48 mpg. Compared to the 78 diesel Rabbit and 81 diesel Jetta we owned years ago the new Jetta is so much more refined, comfortable, quiet and near-luxury with no penalty in gas mileage. Its powerful and I can pass on two lane roads with no drama. I have had zero issues and the dealer prep was perfect and complete. Theres "value-added" in this car i.e. touch the passing signal and it blinks three times without having to hold the stalk. The center armrest adjusts for height and length. Little things that add up for a satisfying experience. I broke it in as per the Fred TDI website instructions, by the way.