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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  Super Car! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By lawdog - February 25 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car in November of 2001 and am still in love with it. I always back away from it after I lock it up! Very good pickup with some initial lag due to the ASR (just turn it off if you want to squeal the wheels). Incredible acceleration even at highway speeds, but a bit more sluggish with a car full of adults. Outstanding fit and finish. No mechanical problems whatsoever. Only thing that broke was the tape player, which VW fixed for free. Cant get over how comfortable the ride is, and I think all the interior controls are perfectly set up. Bottom line: I highly recommend this car.

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  Great car - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By acmeretro - February 25 - 10:00 am

  In the 18 months Ive had it, Its a fun car to drive. I have the 15" wheels I would suggest the the 16" or the 17". Very smooth and quiet for such a small car. No real problems yet other than a dome light switch. With the 1.8T 5 speed was disapointed with the mileage at first 26-27 city but has picked up to 30+ city after 15,000 miles.

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  VW GTI - 2002 - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By NC Larry - February 25 - 10:00 am

  A fun, fun car that is practical at the same time.

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  Best for the price - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jetta - February 25 - 10:00 am

  What other car gets you turbo power, 16 inch alloys, sport suspension, 6 airbags, 3 spoke wheel, a 5 speed, ABS, traction control, sport seats for under 20K new? Unreal!

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  Won Me Over - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By medwards - February 25 - 7:06 am

  I am not an SUV person. I typically prefer small, nimble and quick cars. But when my accountant explained the tax advantage that was available, I decided to take the plunge. The Touareg has proven surprisingly capable in every situation whether on a deserted highway at high speeds or in a dry stream bed halfway up a mountain. It swallows plenty of cargo and carries four people in luxury. Ive also become a huge proponent of all-wheel drive. The Touareg seems unflappable. Any time theres the least bit of precipitation, its the vehicle that I take.

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  Great Car - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By jdilly - February 24 - 8:00 pm

  This is my 7th VW since I started driving. My Rabbit is fun to drive and so far has been very reliable.Gas mileage isnt as good as my 96 but the power is much better. Handles very well and is powerful enough to get me out of the way of large trucks and SUVs. Would highly recommend this car.

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  My GLI is a Super Sports Sedan! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jeff Siegel - February 24 - 6:43 pm

  This car is absolutely a BLAST to drive! I just picked it up last week and I am actually getting up early and taking a longer route to work in the morning! Im still breaking it in so I havent really opened it up yet, but the 2.0 FSI engine is flat out the best four-banger that Volkswagen has ever produced. There is absolutely NO turbo lag and it pulls strongly from below 2,000 RPM, even in the higher gears. The gearbox has nicely-spaced ratios and shifts easily. The suspension is firm but not overly stiff, and the steering is perfectly weighted, with excellent path accuracy and crisp, precise turn-in. This car is an incredible value for an entry-level sports sedan!

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  under rated TDI - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Huggybear - February 22 - 3:26 pm

  I consistently get 48-50 mph highway milage at a steady 70mph. It should be written about more as a superb vehicle, worth every penny!

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  WHAT A RUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MICHALE BERLIN - February 22 - 10:00 am

  GREAT CAR GREAT POWER NO PROBLEMS,I HAVE THE TOP OF THE LINE AND WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT ANY OTHER CAR.

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  Touareg--no compromise - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By xp - February 22 - 10:00 am

  I don’t think I could ever buy a vehicle without air suspension again. It’s really a no-compromise experience. Sticks to the road like nothing I have driven before. There is almost no perceptible body lean in aggressive maneuvering. No SUV handles better than this one. I’m pretty impressed with the v8 overall. When I do a throttle kick- down, I get good response without a noticeable delay. Tranmission shifts harder that I’d like. The controls are generally intuitive. It’s the little details that make the most difference here. The cockpit is quite amazing looking overall. Visibility is great. The rear folding seatbacks are finicky about locking back in.