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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  2009 VW CC-Sport - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By JDB - August 1 - 11:30 am

  I love this car. Walked away from my Acura TL and never looked back. Beautiful styling, super fun to drive and a great buy. I get compliments daily. My wife wanted me to look at Volvo S60, BMW 3-series or a Lexus. No way, this car was it. She was won over when I brought it home. Purchased the 6-speed manual 2.0L Turbo and its plenty for the car and oh so fun to drive (did I mention that!). I agree with most reviews that if your going to pay the extra $10K for the 6cyl, then you may as well go with Infinity or BMW. Can not say enough good things about the CC and the great job VW has done with it! Even gas mileage is good at an avg. 30 mi/gal. I would highly recommend.

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  my favorite car - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By m barbehenn - August 1 - 9:26 am

  I took good care of the car, followed the maintenance schedule, and it never let me down. Bought it when my daughter was 2.5, gave it to her when she turned 16, got it back when she went to college. Geared for the highway. Turbo boost at any speed. Still gets 33mpg.

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  Great for farfegnugen - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DAS VW Mann - July 30 - 7:18 pm

  Last wagon to own before the "cheater" diesels

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  Perfect Balance between Sport & Comfort - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jddaigle - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I got my Jetta because I wanted a car that would be comfortable and fun to drive on my 70-mile round trip highway commute, but would also be a good car to toss around on back roads on the weekend. For me its suspension and ride are the perfect balance between being sporty and comfortable. The turbocharged engine is also a great design, giving smooth, ample power and good fuel economy. I dont mind the small rear seat area because I seldom carry more than 1 passenger & the short wheelbase makes for better handling.

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  new breed vw - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By joeyT - July 30 - 10:00 am

  AWESOME-SMOOTH RIDE-BEST VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED

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  A4 1.8T Replacement - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By DHunter - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I searched long and hard and finally decided on the Passat. I liked the A4 1.8T Quattro styling better, but the performance of the Passat 6cyl was superior and features were much better for the price. I only wanted 4Wheel drive so that ruled out the Acura TL-S, but this car was a strong contender for price/performance. Last year body style for Acura TL is 03 though. Other new cars looked boring, too boxy, or too pricey (e.g. Honda, Maxima, BMW, Audi).

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  Wow!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By passatmo - July 30 - 10:00 am

  My wifes 92 Q-45s transmission went out. Had to get something else. Test drove 4-5 cars. Test drove a "demo" GLX and LOVED it. Brought it home yesterday. She let me drive it about 25 miles on the freeway while it was turning dark outside. It drove like a dream! Then I turned on the lights and the instrument panel lit up! WOW! Shifted to Tiptronic at 70 mph. Wife drove it to work today. I cant wait til she gets home so I can have another crack at it.

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  My perfect car! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By starlightmiracle - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I have owned Jettas for the past 5 years and just bought a new 2003 TDI Jetta. I absolutly love it! Im still on my first tank of gas and have already gone 445 miles, and still going! Not bad for an 11-12 gallon tank with 45 MPG (Automatic).

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  So Fun, ill only drive it! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By boujeesmom - July 30 - 10:00 am

  easy to park, fun to clean, good on gas

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  Great Car! - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Luis @ Houston - July 28 - 7:13 pm

  This is a great car. $70k style with $30k price. 2lt turbo is adequate. 4- seat concept is nice. It developed a water leak inside but VW of America called me to bring to the shop to have it fixed. They know now the door seals accumulate water and are fixing. Great styling outside and inside. Good motor. turbo boost. Great seats. Im 59" married no kids and car is perfect for us.