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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  Solid sedan - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By furrey - March 6 - 10:35 pm

  well built sedan-excellant handling, braking visibility-great stereo-cruise all day a 85mph-great for avoiding pot holes,back seat is for dogs or small people -I am 64" tall so not great for long rides behind the driver-just enough electronics as to not to act as a distraction

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  Great Car - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By to_perspective - March 6 - 4:26 am

  Picked up a CPO Passat and I am very happy with the purchase. The interior layout is among the best Ive seen....very logical. The drivers seat is extremely comfortable....I could drive in this car for hours. With the many possible seat adjustments and the telescoping wheel it is possible to get the perfect seat position. Just wish it had a seat memory so when other family members adjust the seats I could easily return to my preference. Very pleased with the gas mileage and with an 18 gal tank you can drive for a long time between fill-ups. Performance is very good for a 4 cylinder engine.

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  jetta 1.8t - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jgeeb - March 5 - 10:00 am

  this is the most fun ive had driving a car since my old GTI. upgrade the turbo with a simple 10 minute chip upgrade and now youve got 200hp in a $19,000 car.

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By eggheader - March 4 - 3:02 pm

  I bought new, now have over 230,000 miles. This is a fun car to drive, especially with the manual. Have not had any major mechanical issues. The paint and interior have held up very well. Only annoyance is that the headlights burn out more often than most, but are easy to replace. Keeping up with preventive maintenance and fixing small problems quickly are essential though! Parts are expensive, and I agree with other reviewers that dealer service departments are terrible- I found a great VW mechanic locally.

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  I Love My Bug.... : ) - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Jenny - March 4 - 9:46 am

  Hello. I am the PROUD owner of a 2006 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible. I ADORE my new ride. The Aquarius Blue is such a GORGEOUS color. Every time I am driving my little " Bug " someone compliments on how much they like it...and how cute it is : ). Going "Topless" is so much fun... hehe : ). Indeed this car is one FUN ride!

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  I love it! 40 mpg minimum - 2006 Volkswagen Golf
  By seamist - March 3 - 2:56 am

  I love my TDI! It is fun to drive, comfortable, and fuel economy is great! I am putting a hhoxygen.com hydrogen kit on it this week and it is supposed to double its mileage. I get up to 50mpg with used ff grease now! Can you imagine 80-100 mpg on McDonalds poison leftovers?

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  Wolfsburg 2.0T is a no brainer! - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jeff - March 2 - 1:56 pm

  This is the third Jetta that I have owned and by far the funnest. Have been looking for a new one for some time and had settled on SE model. Then drove into the dealer and they said that the new 2008 Wolfsburg edition was out. The first thing I saw on the car was the 2.0 T tag on the back. Then I saw the 17" wheels and then I saw the sticker price. Only $400 over the price of a similar SE Jetta sitting next to it! This is an awesome deal for the difference in price. This car really moves and looks great! I got black with manual trans. My dad liked mine so much he bought the same car only in grey and DSG auto transmission. These cars are very limited so check with your dealer!

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  Perfect Only Vehicle - 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By Jerry Rezny - March 2 - 4:00 am

  The Volkswagen EuroVan is the perfect vehicle for me because it can do everything. If I need to hold 7 passengers, it will. If I need to carry sheets of 4x8 plywood, it can. Want to bring my bike to the trail? No problem. Long trips...wonderful. This van is comfortable, has great visibility, is smooth riding and quiet! I love it!

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  I LOVE THIS CAR!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By a.brin - March 1 - 6:16 pm

  I bought a used 2002 VW Cabrio GLX and have had it for five years - this car is awesome. I have only had it serviced at the dealer and have had no major issues with the car. I even bought the extended VW warranty - kind of feel it was a waste of money since I still havent used it. If you buy a used one just make sure you get the service records - some VWs have no issues and some have a lot - beware of someone who hides service records - they are hiding problems. If you take care of your VW It will love you for years to come!

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  Two years later - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By VWOREGON - March 1 - 10:00 am

  Very good car, no engine or electrical gremlins to date. In two years, the following warranty repairs have occurred: Exterior window seals replaced twice on both doors; right headlamp broke inside, replaced whole assembly; window regulators changed to updated metal clips; Monsoon radio changed (known problem on 2002); front end chirp noise over broken pavement, manhole covers, etc. Dealer cannot find problem and Ive paid an independent shop to inspect front end. May be brake caliper components, but Im not spending more money to have it diagnosed and dealer cannot find anything wrong. The numerous rattles do take away from the overall driving experience