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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  Fun to Drive But........ - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By Emil - December 14 - 11:16 pm

  Very fun to drive. Wish they upped the HP in 2001 instead of 2002, but 175 is still pretty peppy. I regularly get 30pmg at highway speeds.

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  Im glad I did - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Stee - December 14 - 10:33 pm

  This is our second Passat Wagon, out first was a 2001 GLS 5-speed. We had many of the same complaints as have been voiced here about the options available on the 2.0T, but we got a call from the dealership telling us we could get all the options we wanted with the new configuration! So we did. We got bi xenon headlights, memory electric seats, Homelink, etc. We have had it for almost three months and 4,000 miles and we love it. My suggestion to other Passat lovers, tell the dealer what you want! This is a great car. Basically, we have got a Audi A4 in VW clothing (or maybe a BMW 5er)! Oh yeah, we are getting about 34 MPG highway and 25 in town..

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  Fly Jetta - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By George Spicer - December 14 - 11:13 am

  I have a 2000 VW Jetta and the performce is good, but the motor can put out so much more power. How do i know? I have a stg-3 turbo kit in mine, and Im puting down about 260 hp the ground with the factory engine.

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  Blue 08 R32 - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By JRP - December 14 - 7:23 am

  If slot cars could be full scale this might be it. Steering is right on, just point where you want it to go. Suspension is firm but does not beat you up. Transmission is a blast with the engine being eager all the time. Relaxed when you want it to be, fun when you need it to be. Roomier inside than youd think.

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  Overall very good - but water leak. - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Anonymous - December 13 - 3:11 pm

  Panoramic, Goal wheel upgrade, and Ipod hookup. dGoal wheels are great if clean your own car. Payed premium for diesel and fuel economy. Dont know if hype and economy is worth paying sticker. Had a massive water leak from sunroof drain hose that leaked into spare tire pan. A couple inches of water in the pan and your windows will never defog. Had to talk the dealer into a loaner for that issue. Pleather is underwhelming. Might be nice after sand volleyball league and mtn. biking next summer. Still miss the leather. Seats hurt your back and butt on long drives. Does not sound or smell like the old diesels. To find the diesel pump, look for the oil slick at the gas station.

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  Solid car with extraordinary mileage - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Anonymous - December 13 - 2:06 pm

  What car gets better than the posted EPA averages in both city and hwy mileage? Jetta TDI, of course. I had a diesel Rabbit back in the late 70s but this car is light years ahead of that. Solid, peppy, quiet and fast. We constantly play "beat the mgps" and post our success to the web. You can get in the high 60s for mpgs if you go easy on the gas pedal but when you need acceleration even up a hill you got it.

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  MPG & Fun to Drive - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By hudld - December 13 - 1:04 pm

  Bought a White/tan Jetta TDI 4-door, w/DSG transmission, sunroof, 17" wheels & iPod int. kit. Paid $24,853 inclg destination (& free matts!). Traded-in a (German-made) 2-seater convertible, 6 cyl, that took prem fuel. First fill-up (combined hwy/city driving) yielded 38mpg and price of fuel was $2.69. Thought Id miss my 6cyl vehicle, but havent noticed; great acceleration with this vehicle, plenty of room, and a great touch- screen radio! Ive also owned an Audi A-4 and this is as nice/nicer and a lot cheaper & quicker.

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  New VW Household - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Anonymous - December 13 - 12:01 pm

  My wife and I bought a 2009 Jetta SE last April and were very impressed. After much deliberation, I decided to give up my Infiniti M45 in exchange for a TDI Sportwagen. I find myself defending this move to my friends on a daily basis and truly believe it was a great move. Double the gas mileage, great stereo/navigation system with hard drive, and panoramic sunroof were the biggest selling features. The tax credit was a nice bonus too. It is not a hot rod, wont turn heads, and has some odd quirks, but is a really great car overall. I have averaged about 39 MPG over the first 2,000 miles. No problems to this point with either of our new VWs.

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  Least Reliable Car I ever owned - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Mike M - December 13 - 10:56 am

  I bought this car used just over a year ago. Ive had almost 20K in repairs in that time. I found out afterwards that 2004 was the first year of the touareg and the V10. It is loaded with all sorts of problems. Mine has been in the shop 3 months of the first year. Do a web search before buying one. When it does work its the best car Ive owned, so if its a second car that you dont have to use daily then buy it. We need it for towing and its ruined quit a few weekends buy either stranding us somewhere or having to cancel because it was in the shop again.

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  TDI Sportwagen - sporty & great mileage - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Anonymous - December 13 - 10:36 am

  Have had TDI wagon for a few weeks and absolutely love it. Amazing combination of horsepower/torque and gas mileage. Really fun to drive. Terrific stereo. I bought the sunroof option and it brings a lot of light in, especially into the back seat. Auto options are terrific: can have economy in standard Drive, switch to sporty in S, and downshift manually with Tiptronic.