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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  VW Passat GLX - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By akillebrew - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Exceptional choice, fun to drive, well built, just look at the number of copies for style.

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  1.8Turbo Passat GLS - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Pastafarian - April 10 - 2:00 am

  This is a great family sedan -- room for 3 kids, comfortable, fun 5sp manual, and thrifty on gas (1.8T). Acceleration is adequate with the manual, but you wont win any races. Handling is decent on winding country roads, but you should opt for bigger wheels if you can.

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  my jetta - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kegmaster - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Alittle more pricey than the rest but definently an all around better car.

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  my view of a jetta - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kim Figliulo - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I think that the Volkswagon Jetta is one of the best cars ever made. It is in style and has great gas mileage. However, I have had troubles with the transmission.

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  Nice Car - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jim from MA - April 8 - 10:00 am

  Nice car to drive, comfort, features and some power in a midsize car. I love the extras that VW packs in their cars and the 4 motion system is a plus to have in new england. I cant wait to use it in snow. The car has become the household favorite due to features and ammenities. I traded a 2002 Jetta which was nice but small. I like the VW experience. This is an impressive car and i have 13K miles on it after afeww months of ownership

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  VW MKV GTI - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By bigmiza - April 8 - 8:06 am

  I love the car. I looked at other cars such as the Civic SI and Subaru WRX, but I fell in love with the VW. I love the design, both exterior and interior. The performance is great, when requested. I love the ride--a great balance between comfort & performance.

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  Cool Car - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By vj_sant - April 7 - 10:00 am

  Always drove a Toyota. Bought my cc, have it for 2 weeks drives great, Exterior /interiors superb. Got lot of compliments on it.

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  Great car - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By dave - April 6 - 11:20 pm

  After 22 months of ownership, this car beats all others that I have owned. NO trips to the dealer for anything but scheduled service, great performance and comfort, pretty good fuel economy (29 average city/hwy, goes down to 27 when driving 80+ on highway)--and it cost $26,000. Surprising amount of interior space--holds 4 adults comfortably for short and medium trips.

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  The Best Car Ever - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Happy Redhead - April 5 - 12:56 am

  I have finally got the car Ive always wanted!!! Sassy, powerful and hot. The best is when Im at a stop light and put the top down, boy does it get raves!!!

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  Why would anyone buy a Prius? - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By Rockasaurus - April 4 - 5:37 am

  Bought a used 2012 TDI, four door, manual transmission, just as the 2015 (new model) TDI was hitting dealer lots, which made the dealer VERY motivated to unload it. PROS: --The handling, suspension and brakes are essentially identical to the Golf GTI. Which is a very good thing. --Acceleration, while not spectacular, is surprisingly brisk and more than enough to keep me entertained. The manual tranny is smooth and the low end torque is addicting. --The interior layout is incredibly versatile. I can fit four adults very comfortably (even for long trips). Fold down the rear seats and the cargo area becomes cavernous. --Fit and finish are exceptional. The seats are supportive and comfortable, although narrow. If youre very large or overweight, you may find them constricting. Interior materials are high class and feel substantial. Ignore the VW logo on the steering wheel and you will be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the TDI and an entry-level Audi. --And of course... the fuel economy. I consistently average 44 MPG... COMBINED without making any special effort to do so. It is not uncommon for me to get 50+ MPG on the highway. I get the economy of a Prius without feeling like Im driving a hair shirt. CONS: --Limited interior storage. To make room for the E-brake, the armrest storage bin is small and nearly useless. --HVAC controls are hard to read. Most cars at this price point have automatic climate control. --Mediocre electronics. The touchscreen and audio interface, while adequate, are well behind the state of the art. The interface with my iPhone is quirky and hasnt kept up with the many ways to listen to content (Pandora, podcasts, etc). VW still doesnt have a USB port, and instead makes you use their proprietary cable to connect phone to stereo. --Diesels dont like cold weather. It takes FOREVER for the car to warm up on very cold mornings, and the car runs pretty rough until it does. The heated seats mitigate the sting considerably, however. The cons really are minor nits to pick. This car makes me smile every time I drive it. Cant believe I lucked into an inexpensive car that drives like an Audi with the fuel economy of a Prius.