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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  Rabbit - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Matcy - January 25 - 5:05 pm

  Awesome

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  2006 - GTI 2.0T - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By Jon - January 25 - 2:10 pm

  This is a really nice car. It has a strong motor, is really responsive, and is well built. It only lacks in one area, the stereo isnt anything special, its tinny and has no quality. Other than that this car is awesome.

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  APR Stage II GTI Makes all the differenc - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By wydopn - January 25 - 12:33 pm

  I have always been an Honda person. This is my first VW - and I loved it from first drive. The feel is very different from the SI and Speed3s that Ive owned. I just had the car flashed with APRs stage II and this car is now unreal! Im getting 26MPG around town and over 30 on the freeway plus I can blow past most muscle cars as long as I get a rolling start (otherwise I cant stay connected due to excessive torque).

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  06 VW Jetta TDI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By J. Baker - January 25 - 3:40 am

  The Jetta is very fun car to drive. The turbo diesel engine has plenty of get-up-and-go power and plenty of passing power. The Jetta is very comfortable on the road and has a sports car feel to it. It comes with lots of options that standard that make the ride very comfortable. It has heated seats both passenger and driver. I haveo regrets about purchasing this car. It is a fine automobile.

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  Love it - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ohio - January 24 - 12:46 am

  I have owned my Jetta GLX for thirteen years. It is fun to drive, goes like a soldier through snow, and has minimal rust for its age. I had a head gasket problem which necessitated an engine replacement (or so my mechanic said), but that is the ONLY repair I have had other than scheduled maintenance. Interior is top quality, still looking fine today, the trunk space is great, and I have had no problems with exterior body trim. I am still running the original muffler, though the fore intake pipe on the first unit is broken and the car is a bit noisy. Thank goodness for cage straps which make it able to delay the replacement a bit longer. Overall, I am very satisfied.

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  Perfect car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By 100% Satisfied - January 23 - 5:06 pm

  Im a proud owner of the 06 Jetta and from the moment I drove it off the car lot Ive been nothing but in love with it! I recently took in on a road trip and got GREAT gas mileage (30 mpg) it COMFORTABLY seated 3 adults & a baby whos in a car seat. I have nothing bad to say about this car at all! Its 100% amazing!!!

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  Well I buy vw again! Well we well see. - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By billy grover - January 23 - 4:59 am

  Great car fast reliable but vw has shown that they cant be trusted.Hope in up coming months they prove to me they can be trusted

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  One Year Later... - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Aaron Lozano - January 22 - 8:20 pm

  I drive a lot. On average, I spend about 50 minutes in my car daily. Im currently at 25,000 miles on my 06 Jetta. Its been a year since I purchased my spice red Volkswagen Jetta and Im still very pleased with my decision. Although it was not my first choice, I find it to be a beautiful car that is strong and enjoyable. On a separate note, the dealership is not as helpful. It is the only dealership that offers Jettas in my area, so I have no choice. The service department has been very rude to me on one issue. Still, overall I love my car. ;)

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  A stretch A4 Audi for less - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Davehg - January 22 - 5:00 pm

  Bigger than the A4, roomy, great avg gas mileage (27mpg with auto). Turbo is responsive; feels like a V6, no lag.

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  So far so good - 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By JJsBeetle - January 22 - 12:20 pm

  Just picked up my beetle and love it! Quite comfortable. Fun to drive. Quiet (no squeaks or rattles). Still getting the feel for it. My commute is only 2.5 miles to and from work so still have a little time before I really give a proper review. so far- no complaints.