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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  Still breaking it in... - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By JiggyJoe Johanus - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Weve had this truck for just a week. We traded in our W8 Passat for a bit more vehicle and a bit more payment; my wife has had her heart set on an SUV for some time and I finally succumbed to her wishes for once. She loves it, I like it. Its roomier, nicer, and feels much more luxurious. We got the base V8 with an upgraded stereo system, bi-xenon lights and the winter package. Thus far weve only put about 400 miles on it, and no off- roading, but thats coming soon.

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  Love It!!!!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tommyboy - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love this car! Ive had it for three weeks now and I cant find enough excuses to go for a drive. The handling and styling of this vehicle makes you feel like you are driving a car worth 20 grand more!! I believe this is the best value you will find in a family style sedan.

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  My Passat - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By smity67 - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Everything is great with my passat, but I wish it had more horse power. I realize they make the 8 cylinder now but Ive got the 1.8T and it doesnt have enough.

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  Passat ---GREAT CAR--- - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ejrock - January 13 - 10:00 am

  When you sit in the car, it fits you like a glove. Great road performance, it stick to the road. When you need the power, it delivers......

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  Passat according to Mac - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By BobMach - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Interior Dash guages very hard to read during daylight hours. An additional sun visor to provide both forward and side protection. Tremendous road feeling at all speeds.Very good acceleration, roomy interior and trunk. Very difficult to find a bad rating.

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  What a fun car! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Big K - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I have only had my car a few weeks, but what a fun car it is! As Im still breaking it in, my mileage is improving with every tank (28mpg on the last one). The tiptronic feature is awesome. If you hit a stretch of road that you want to switch to standard shifting, you pop it over and drive! The engineers who designed this vehicle thought of just about everything!

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  VW PASSAT - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Maryanne Shea - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Great car...fun to drive

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  A Passat Lemon - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By jdsj691 - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I went back to VW after years of trying other vehicles. The reason I went back was because in the 1980s I had a Jetta GL that I put 125,000 miles on and had no issues whatsoever, except for the usual maintenance, etc.. The Passat I bought was not the same quality at all. This past year I had it in the garage for a total of 2 months for an electrical defect that costs me $500 dollars to fix even with the extended warranty. The frustrating factor is that its STILL not fixed. So I am limiting my driving to around town until the lease is up in the next 6 months. I wont be buying another VW in my lifetime!!

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  Cool Sport Wagon - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By KevLion88 - January 13 - 10:00 am

  My partner and I just got a 99 GLS 1.8T wagon in Feb. of this year. Before then Id always wanted a Passat but had never driven one. Had owned VWs in the past, however. This is not a car to be overlooked. The overall build quality is that of a car costing thousands more. And that legendary VW handling and performance cant be matched in this price class. This is the "GAP" version to Audis A4 1.8T Avant "Banana Republic" car!

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  Review - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By mosrespect - January 13 - 10:00 am

  The best car for the money! I do really a lot of driving...i dont know what dealerships shop looks like