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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  geeeeeezloooooouise!!! - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By sequoia - February 12 - 2:00 am

  Damn this car is fun to drive! Im 6 2 and I still have plenty of room to manuver inside. The amount of headroom is awesome. The torque suprised me on how responsive it actually is. Ive had it for a month and I dont see myself growing tired of driving in the near future. Great on gas milage as well. Trunk space is spacious. Cabin is suprisingly quiet at higher rpms. Great commuter car. Fun to drive up the cali coast with my lady. peace.

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  My golf - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By Mason Hickmann - February 12 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE!!!!!!!! my golf, it takes anything or anybody anywhere, no questions asked. its a little packmule, its been all over america with a carfull of people and luggage and has never complained or given me any reason to doubt it. build quality is great, interior is fantastically designed, all my friends always want to take the golf anywhere we go, and i wouldnt have it any other way

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  Good Job VW - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By hall4349 - February 12 - 2:00 am

  Great car! Been A VW fan thru thick/thin and this is one of the best cars ever. Great quality, value and looks. Many aftermarket upgrades!

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  Poor Quality - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By NO Touareg - February 12 - 2:00 am

  Purchased on a Sat. afternoon. Within the 20 mile home I already had problems. First the heated seats didnt work, the CD player broke, the head lights were not aligned correctly, the steering wheel was not top centered. The car had a bad shake at 70 MPH and pulled to the right. After I got home I noticed paint discoloration on the lift gate. I did more research online and found this to be a problematic vehicle. See club touareg.com. It is filled with horror stories of poor quality, numerous breakdowns, and little available parts to fix your vehicle. I brought it back to the dealer I bought mine from on Monday and got my money and trade-in back.

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  First owner of Touareg in our City - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By K Strickland - February 12 - 2:00 am

  The Touareg (our 3rd VW with Jetta and Passat V6 4 Motion previously) attracted us by it exterior and interior styling. Cost for features compared to BMW and Lexus was a great value. Sold on our prior experience with VW we were immediately transfixed by the Touaregs appearance.

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  every day I say "god, I love this car!" - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jetta lover - February 12 - 2:00 am

  got this car when my dreadful Neon died after only 60000 miles. This has been a TREMENDOUS improvement; Im fairly certain that from now on all of my future cars will be VWs. Mileage is EXCELLENT! Im amazed my husband and I didnt get any tickets when we first started driving this car since the drive is so smooth... its VERY easy to drive 10-15 mph over the speed limit, and still have it feel like youre doing maybe 5 over. Performance is great; overall quality of vehicle is great. This was one of the best decisions we ever made!

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  Amazing car, could be improved. - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By anon. - February 11 - 9:43 pm

  Really fun to drive. Best first car I could have asked for. A bit pricey for the build quality that is has. The clutch tore out at 35K and the glove box handle snapped off. Love the seats and the sunroof. Love the smooth shifting and the engine sound. Really quick. Nice handing and really nimble.

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  If only it were reliable - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By b-radaz10 - February 11 - 2:36 pm

  When I bought this car I totally loved it. I drives great and was fun to drive. I never noticed until I went to sell it and got the vehicle service history printed out that I took it in 14 times for non-standard maintenence in 4.5 years. This is ridiculous. As soon as the warranty ran out, then I had to start paying for repairs out of pocket. Sooo disappointing. I would have loved to have kept this car, but the unreliability is so huge. Ive previously owned another VW before this that had some problems. I will never buy another VW. Again, the reliability is terrible. I think VW should pay me back for the 3 visits to dealer in one month alone that cost nealy $3500.

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  Best Four Seat Convertible for the Money - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By dave - February 11 - 11:20 am

  We just took delivery on a 2006 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible automatic. The car handles like a dream, is loaded with stock safety features, and puts a big smile on our face when driving. Its fit and finish are excellent. We have had no early onset problems. The 2.5 liter engine has great pickup. The car provides a sturdy and fun ride and has no cowl shake. Our first impression is great!

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  I love my rabbit - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By My rabbit is BA - February 11 - 12:36 am

  I love my rabbit. It sold itself to me on the test drive. No other car came close to that. I hit 95 mph without even noticing. Could be trouble but its a smooth ride I havent found a single thing to complain about yet. Only 23 mpg on first tank of gas though with lots of highway driving. I think Im just being heavy on the gas though.