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 car - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By bernies - August 19 - 10:00 am

  I have owned Jaguars, Mercedes, Lincolns, Cadillacs, the vw w12 Phaeton is the best auto I have owned. It is a fun car to drive. It is extremely comfortable, especially on long trips. The technology is awsome. The service by VW for this vehicle is the best I have ever received for a luxury car. The w12 engine is very responsive and it is hard to believe but better mileage than one would expect from a 12 cylinder engine. After 5000 miles I am getting 20 mpg on highway driving. I am simply deighted with this vehicle.

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  Im now a believer! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Popster - August 19 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car as a hedge against another gas crisis.I drove it sparingly but my wife was a Jetta convert after driving it for a month.I poured my 64 frame into this little diesel and now I rarely drive my other cars.This is the little diesel that could! It is a small car with a big ride and heart.I am currently shopping the Toureg but find the $65000 list too steep..VW has made me a believer.I would rate the Jetta TDI as one of the best cars I have ever owned.A tiny ,tiny bit noisy at idle but with quality like this and45-50 mpg who cares?....popster

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  3rd times a charm - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By njjetta - August 19 - 10:00 am

  I got off to a rough start with this car...I hit a deer the day after I bought it and had it in the shop for a week. Basically, I love my car. This is my 3rd Jetta. My first was a 1996 and basically a lemon...my 97 was reliable and my 04 is by far my favorite. I would recommend this car to anyone who wants to have fun while they drive, and feel safe and secure.

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  Former Benz & BMW Now Beetle Girl - 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Gretchen S. - August 17 - 10:10 pm

  Wow. I have been a Benz and Beemer girl for many years. I wanted a change, and found it with the Beetle. While I love luxury, I like simplicity. I like speed, but not Grand Prix MPH. I want comfort, but not so much that I do not know what to do with it. I love my new Beetle. It is roomier than my former BMW 325i. The trunk is bigger, but configured differently. It runs a little rougher than my old BMW, but we are talking a $20,000 car vs. a $40,000 car. You get what you pay for. The ease of driving and engineering of devices is so easy. BMW and Benz take brain power to figure it all out. VW is simple and, well, simple. The Beetle is comfy, fun, and costs much less money. I love it!

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  My New Passat - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Timone - August 16 - 6:53 pm

  I have had my new Passat for almost a month now and I love it. This is my second VW, and its so good to be back. Its a definite drivers car. It was not the fastest car I considered (G35x, A4, & 328XI) but this car was a lot more car for the money. The one that came closest was the smaller Audi A4 2.0T. If you can get over the lack of Quattro and lack of the 4 rings on the grill - buy a VW instead! Very German, handles great, roomier than the others, and the 2.0T engine is real tourquey and fun. Love the 6spd DSG transmission too. With the Sport mode, Id pick it over a manual transmission any day, when factoring in practicality.

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  So far, so good - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JSN - August 16 - 2:00 am

  Love my car. Had it over two years now, and no major problems beyond mass airflow sensor which was replaced under warranty. Looks new, fun to drive and I get many compliments on it. Still under 16K miles though and kept in a garage. Road noise is a bit on the loud side.

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  Best Car I Have Owned - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By chris - August 14 - 11:03 pm

  This is by far the best car I have owned. Its safe, I get about 30-35 mpg on the highway, and the car is quick out of the box. I did have mine chipped by GIAC and I am now in love with this car. The gas mileage is the same and its a blast to drive. Also, I have yet to take it to the dealer for any warranty issues. VW has stepped up their quality big time from previous generations. This car brings me back to my first car which was a 1984 Rabbit GTI.

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  Why buy a GTI? - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Tim - August 13 - 7:36 pm

  I bought my Rabbit in June of 08 as a replacement for my 06 Nissan Frontier which was swallowing gas by the gallon and losing value faster than the Big 3 and couldnt be happier. My Rabbit is a great car! The 6 speed Triptonic Auto is more than I could have ever asked for. Very peppy car, will go when you want it to, at the expense of poor mileage however. I average 21 or so in the city and up to 28 on a freeway trip. Interior quality is second to none, love that German engineering.

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  Diggin it, would buy again! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Roy Robey - August 13 - 12:10 pm

  The first trip in my Jetta GLI was from Chicago to LA. I averaged 29.4 mpg including pulling the grapevine both ways. This car has awesome acceleration. Its ride is slightly bumpy but it is a sport suspension. It corners like it already knows the way. The biggest complaint from my point of view is that my wife seems to take it to work whenever I am not paying attention! You gotta love it. The paddle shifters are easy to get used to and the shift times are out of this world. I love my VW!

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  Love our Passat - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By Robert Clark - August 12 - 7:10 pm

  This is our third Passat having bought a new 1997 diesel and 2004 diesel. We love the diesels but gave up on VW ever getting the Passat diesel into North America. VW always seems to be three steps behind the marketing curve. We are quite pleased with our 2009, even though it isnt a diesel and we certainly miss that mileage. It handles beautifully but is noisier than our 2004 due to the low profile tires. We bought new tires and went one size up and the noise decreased. Our big gripe is that VW dropped Homelink from the Passat but not the Passat CC. Another braindead action by VW. Their response to my inquiry: "Our marketing plan for North America does not include the diesel or Homelink."