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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  I love this car! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By sig409 - April 4 - 2:00 am

  I tell my wife at least once a week, "I love this car" whether Im driving or riding. Since we brought our Passat home, it has been nothing but a joy to drive. Smooth handling, clean lines, stylish interior lighting, its a dream to drive. The 190hp is plenty. We came from a 160hp Prelude. The Passat still has quick acceleration and is much quieter. My wife says shes going to need a radar detector because it gets up to speed so quick. Haggle on the price. You can get the V6 for a little over their invoice, around $27,000. It will be well worth it. The dealers will get enough suckers to pay MSRP.

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  I love this car!!! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By JPs1stVW - April 3 - 11:30 pm

  For my first VW the passat was a no brainer! The speed and sleekness of this car makes me feel like I am sitting in First Class when driving!

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  Great TDI, Best MPG out there - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By RBS - April 2 - 12:00 pm

  Bought this car after it was made legal by Maine EPA. Hands down the best car for the money. Tried out the Prius but my soul would not let me buy such a lifeless piece of plastic. Car handles and drives great. Braking is also very responsive ( sorry Prius owners) My neighbors were blown away when they found out it was a diesel. Car has tons of room. I average 41 and if I drive like a responsible adult I can get high 40s on the highway. Nice thing is I dont have to and I still get better mileage then 99% of cars on the road. Features are adequate for the price. For those looking to buy new, I just saw the TDI CUP version and it is off the charts. Would highly recommend buying a TDI

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  Wouldnt Drive Anything Else - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Troy Bailey - March 31 - 5:43 pm

  Having looked at several cars I kept coming back to the Volkswagen Jetta 2.5. I looked at the Saab 9-3, Subaru Legacy, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and all may have had more power; what they lacked was a personality and features that the Jetta has. I get more compliments on this car than anyother car I have owned. People stop me at the gas station and dont believe what kind of VW it is. I consider it a baby Phaeton! This is the seventh car that I have owned and it is far superior to any of the rest.

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  We are a Jetta Family - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jetta Family - March 31 - 3:46 pm

  We have owned five Jettas. Our new Wolfsburg may be the best one yet. If you dont like the European ride and handling, do not buy one. The Wolfsburg is absolutely the best buy for the money. I dont know who evaluates vehicles for J.D. Power but they really have this "thing" for Japanese cars. Testing a car is almost totally subjective, the Power folks should have an open mind, not an empty one.

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  Sweet Ride - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Batn0 - March 31 - 2:30 pm

  I love this car. My only problem was the dealership service. I had no other problems. I was concerned that it may be a "chick" type of car, NOT the GLI. It puts a smile on my face and it keeps up with your higher end cars. Id almost consider the car a sleeper because most get blown away by the speed and ride quality. My wife claims the ride is too stiff. I just told her that is great and that she doesnt have to drive it. :)

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  Blown Away by MPG - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By KT - March 30 - 11:56 pm

  Every time (like today) I read about the "highest MPG cars", I look for a diesel. Previous to this VW, I had a 1998 Lexus ES300, which I loved, totaled in an accident. This, purchased at boyfriends urging, after his purchase of Beetle Diesel, has been a pleasant surprise. HUGE trunk, fabulous MPG (I was disappointed recently with 41 MPG, after using A/C all the time (live in Phx.). I drive the surface streets, not the highway, usually, and theres no bigger thrill than coming to work and seeing average MPG 56+, which happens all the time. This helps to offset 0-12 when you have to stop. Also had to sit in traffic on freeway recently for 2 hours and got lowered MPG, which was normal.

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  GTI 337 - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Eric Kuhns - March 30 - 10:00 am

  An awesome back-to basics, true GTI. Works as weekend autocross track day car (have set several FTDs over cars with nearly twice the HP), babyhauler (pretty roomy ofr it exterior size), and everday commuter. Comfy seat, decent mileage. Incredible brakes, excellent handling, very good power (extremely flexible motor). A ball to drive, anywhere.

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  Golf TDI ROCKS! - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By doctor - March 30 - 10:00 am

  I already have Golf TDI for one year. I have not had any problems at all with anything - it works like a Swiss clock! Gas/milage is a killer, I get 650/700 per tank (14 gal) for highway and 450/500 per tank in the city. It looks kind of dated, but it is very different from other cars and therefore I dont feel that dated look too much. The car is roomy and affordable. Its increadable fun to drive! The car achives 155 torque at very low RPMs! My only suggestion is: dont get automatic transmission, get a manual one - you will get much better performance.

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  Golf TDI ROCKS! - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By Doctor - March 30 - 10:00 am

  I already have Golf TDI for one year. I have not had any problems at all with anything - it works like a Swiss clock! Gas/milage is a killer, I get 650/700 per tank (14 gal) for highway and 450/500 per tank in the city. It looks kind of dated, but it is very different from other cars and therefore I dont feel that dated look too much. The car is roomy and affordable. Its increadable fun to drive! The car achives 155 torque at very low RPMs! My only suggestion is: dont get automatic transmission, get a manual one - you will get much better performance.