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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  mmmmmm - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By nathanoh - December 21 - 10:00 am

  l absolutely love my Touareg. The power is endless, it is asthetically pleasing in and out, the interior is painstakingly classy, and a comfort to sit in. I have a few issues but they are minor. There are intermittent electrical issues (radio having no sound twice, unusual and inappropriate warning lights), the seatbelt alarm that takes 5 minutes to go away if you choose to not wear your seat belt, and the tranmission is a bit rough when in the Sport setting. I highly recommend this vehicle though i do wish that with the 55,000 i spent that VW would put a computer system in that didnt run like Windows.

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  poormansaudi - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By jdanaz - December 21 - 10:00 am

  What every sedan should be,,, fun, reliable, safe, and oh btw, did I mention fun! I love my Passat, cant wait to trade in on the 06 model. I had an opportunity to preview it at an undisclosed location; should be another great Vee Dub as expected. I want the TDI.

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  Great value, Great drive - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By AdMonster - December 21 - 10:00 am

  Remarkable gas mileage and great driveability all bundled into one of the best cars I have ever purchased. Without AC, it averages better than 50 mpg and with the AC blasting, it averages about 46 mpg. In times like these, this is a wonderful car to have. Great service by the dealership and good reliability. All in all, an incredible value.

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  Wagons are still cool - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ACS!@# - December 21 - 10:00 am

  I am 6 foot 5 and just bought my first Volkswagon ever and it was the TDI wagon. Everything about the car in swonderful, the only problem was I waited a little too long to buy it (after the gas price increase) so I had to pay a little more than I wanted, but knew in the long run it will pay off in fuel prices alone. Excellent transport vehicle for carrying gear in the back. Put some Yakima roof racks on it and tinted the windows, and it is ready to go. Awesome.

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  very fun car for a diesel - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By arice - December 21 - 10:00 am

  Surprised how fun this car is to drive. Never dreamed that I would be driving a diesel. I have a long commute and this is the perfect fit for me.

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  Perfection Achieved - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By vision3 - December 20 - 8:00 pm

  My first Volkswagen ever; which now has 2,600 miles on it. I have owned a 1992 Corvette LT1 6 speed convertible, 2003 Acura TL, and 2010 Nissan Maxima, and this is by far the best of all. Its sleek, elegant yet sporty, solid aerodynamic body is truly a work of art. Interior is just as stylish and nicely crafted as exterior. The 4 cyl turbo coupled with DSG auto. trans. provides plenty of power / torque with real sports car shifting ability. This is truly a "4 door sports car". The handling and solid feel at any speed, blows away my prev. new 2010 Maxima. The ride is tight, firm, but soaks up bumps and very comfortable. Trunk is surprisingly deep & spacious. No negatives. Simply the best!!!

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  2006 Volkswagen GTI - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By JJ - December 20 - 4:43 pm

  This has been a great car with no problems so far, but I wish it had more power. I love the xenon headlights. The seats are comfy, but the stereo stinks!

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  The Best GTI Yet! - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By dougmg - December 20 - 12:03 pm

  This is my third GTI after owning an 87 16V and then a 95 VR6. I feel all of my complaints with the other two were addressed with the Anniversary Edition. There is no more rolling through the curves, no more wobbly shifter, and a tighter suspension. This car is hot looking and fun to drive!

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  Vats da big Idea? German Engineering? - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Theresar - December 20 - 8:00 am

  The Jetta has A/C vents located to blow in every direction but the direction you need them to blow. Its directional lights stay on when you shut the vehicle off, if you dont realize this it will run your battery down. My cars alarm system flew the coop after four months. The A/C is barely A/C, dont buy this car if you live in a hot area, my daughters Saturn ION cools 10x better. Its seat covers ball up like a cheap sweater in a dryer. This cars overall shape makes it difficult to back up as visibility even for a tall person is limited

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  Despised VW Passat - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By despisedvw - December 20 - 6:16 am

  My car a VW Passat, its the worst experience Ive ever made. Had 36K miles when I brought it after 42k the oil was mixing with G12 fluid causing it to over heat. Fix thanx to warranty $4000. Every year Im replacing CV Joints. any little thing to fix or change cost an arm and a leg...............I hate hate VW