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 - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By PIX - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I own a 2000 Model and for a 6ft+ size guy, its a great car. Comfortable, great leg room,handles extremely well in bad weather, fun to drive and safe as well. Plus looks great, its a luxurgy car in my book.

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  Jetta GL - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By czibert - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Excellent value for the money spent, deffinitely a cut above other compact competitors.

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  Put a Volkswagen in your garage! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Cailiin356 - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Jetta in May after my old car (a 94 Intrepid) all but exploded. Buying a Volkswagen was the best thing Ive ever done. Not only does the car look great, but it drives like I spent $40,000 on it. Nothing else Ive ever driven has given me this feeling of safety and confidence. In rain I no longer have to worry whether or not Im going to fishtail. In nice weather I know I have enough hampsters under the hood to pass whoever I need to get around. My fiance drives a 2003 Passat and neither of us could imagine being happier with our vehicles. Everyone should drive a Jetta!

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  WOW! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By valeriee03 - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I love my new beetle. its practical, efficient, and reliable! its the best quality car out there. I feel safe with all of the safety features and the bonuses are a joy.

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  Hip Hopper - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By JackRabbit - January 12 - 10:30 pm

  My push towards the Rabbit came from shopping around in its class. For what you get for your money there is not a better choice. Although my engine is far from broken in, the car handles fun roads like a dream. The manual transmission is seamless. Even though there is only 150 horses, the engine is torquey yet quiet.

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  My VR6 is AMAZING... - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gh225345 - January 12 - 9:53 pm

  I really love this car. Ive had it for a little over a year now and it runs excellently. Ive had to replace a few minor things such as hoses and belts, clutch, and the trim started coming off but it was an easy fix with an adhesive tape that you can get from any auto parts store...its called molding tape. Ive put many high performance parts on my VW and it has 250 whp with no problems with the motor at all. I would highly recommend this vehicle. Just make sure you inspect it before you buy. My 1997.5 Jetta Vr6 has 111,982 miles on it and like I said before it runs great.

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  Great Car! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dawn - January 12 - 8:36 pm

  I bought this care on a lease last August and absolutely love it. It is incredibly fun to drive, the leather and heated seats are great. The standard sunroof is a bonus. I have had no problems with the car. The only bad thing is for a car this size I expected better gas mileage.

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  Which way to the Autobahn?! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By MORSABALTO - January 11 - 11:53 pm

  After 3 weeks of driving our blue graphite Passat 2.0T we know we absolutely made the right decision. After looking at the Chevrolet Impala, Dodge Charger, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry and Dodge Magnum we stopped by the VW dealer on a whim and after the test drive it was a no brainer. We are constantly being stopped by people asking about the car and have nothing but praise to tell everyone. The drivetrain performance of the 2.0T with Tiptronic is more than pleasing on the road. This car is so tight with virtually no body roll and exceptional handling. I have regular flashbacks to drving BMW & Mercedes rentals in Europe. I cant wait for the sports package with the 280hp 6-cyl. engine when our lease is up!

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  Good at first but then...... - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lilmnstrsmom - January 11 - 7:36 pm

  I loved this car for the first 60,000, then it was just problem after problem. I kept good care of the car but was having continuous issues with the water pump and other minor things. The major problem was the fact that a lot of parts in the engine were made of plastic so instead of replacing just a simple section of a part the whole thing had to be replaced. I averaged about $600 every time the car went in. About 2 years ago I spent over $2,400 at one time!! Recently the car had some more problems that included the fuel pump. I took the car in and the mechanic told me it was not worth fixing. The car had 119,000 miles on it. It did its job. The sunroof was possessed.

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  Great car ruined by one major flaw - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Joe - January 11 - 7:50 am

  I am having a love/hate relationship with my CC. The interior and exterior styling are dramatic and pleasing. I have never gotten more "thumbs up" and favorable parking lot comments. The build quality is first-rate. The turbocharged four delivers great performance with truly amazing fuel economy. The value for the money is absolutely out of this world -- nobody sells more car than this for the $27,000 I paid. The dealer experience could not be better. But I am being driven to distraction by the artificial, electronic power steering, which alternates between totally numb and far too much resistance.