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:

• 

  German car at Japanese prices! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By dani - December 9 - 10:00 am

  We were looking for a mid size wagon- not too many options in our american market. We both loved the way it drove and looked. The manual is short, precise, and has short throws. The steering is very accurate and gives good feedback. Disc brakes are very good, handling and acceleration too. We opted for the turbo. It provides good gas mileage, better than adequate acceleration and one of the best 4 cyl. Size was perfect for us. Seating is comfortable for 5 - not as big as the new camry/altima/accord. Luggage room is amazing on the wagon. After 11,000 miles we are extremely happy that we purchase this car and keep getting compliments from people.

• 

  love the passat - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By crazedaftexan - December 9 - 10:00 am

  I just love it, gives you everything you could want luxury, sportiness, and better than its competitors.

• 

  Love It! - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By Will M. - December 9 - 10:00 am

  The Cabrio is the most quiet convertible on the market. A six layer top!! It has a more upscale and more classy feeling than other convertibles that try to be classy and end up corny. The Cabrio is not a barnstormer when it comes to speed; but it is justified power. The car is heavy! Very nice to drive, even with the top up.

• 

  Niiiiice - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By AuZep - December 9 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car all round. My friends wish I would let them drive it. Not only is it fast, but I raced my friends Porsche boxster and won (not by much, but I won). The Safety is top- notch, I crashed my old passat and didnt even get a scratch. The control and handeling is awesome--very predictable.

• 

  Great value, MPGs and comfort - 2015 Volkswagen Passat
  By Matt P. - December 8 - 11:12 pm

  I bought this car primarily due to the fuel economy after changing jobs and having a 65 mile round trip every day. As promised, the diesel is excellent. Performance doesnt seem to suffer although there can be a slight delay when first starting from a stop, barely noticeable most of the time. The seats are very comfortable with plenty of room in the front and back. The interior appearance is very high end. The cargo room in the trunk is excellent as well. My only two complaints are: the entertainment system can be slow to respond at times, particularly at start up. I can from a car without any frills so having a slow system is still better than what I had! Nevertheless, it should be faster. The second thing I do not like is the intensity of the low beam headlights. I feel like they are a little weak. This is mostly noticeable on dark roads where I put my highbeams on anyways but I wish HID headlights were available for this car. Overall, great value all around with a comfortable ride. As far as the exterior styling, totally subjective so you either love it or hate it I guess. I actually like it although from the front it is admittedly a little plain and no one uses daytime running lights anymore unless they are LED.

• 

  Awesome Car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kaylen Reynolds - December 8 - 10:30 pm

  I traded in my x-cab pickup for my TDI and was not sure how I would like it. I have already put 850 miles on in the first week and have been impressed that I have only used about 1 1/4 tanks of fuel. The heated seats are very comfortable. I couldnt be happier with my new Jetta. I have had many other diesels and none come close. Volkswagen has won my heart.

• 

  Wicked Car - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By R32 Driver - December 8 - 5:13 am

  This is the best Golf ever. I am currently stationed in Germany where i can drive the car to my limits, Im pretty sure I wont ever find its limits.

• 

  Awesome Vehicle! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Joe - December 8 - 4:16 am

  This is our fourth Volkswagen (first Passat) and the cars continue to get better an better. What a powerful 4-cylinder turbo engine! I love merging onto the highway!

• 

  First car Ive ever loved! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By nykayaker - December 7 - 11:03 am

  Been driving a Sportwagen TDI (DSG)for 3 months now, and absolutely love the car. A very practical wagon with loads of cargo room, interior design thats far more like an Audi than Honda or Subaru, and the gas mileage of a Civic! The car feels wonderful on the road - solid and much more powerful than 140hp would lead you to believe. Yes you pay more for diesel fuel, but with a 40-cent spread between unleaded and diesel in NY, you still come out ahead, and put less CO2 in the air to boot. Gas mileage is very temperature dependent - was getting 34 mpg in winter, but already the commute is up to 38 mpg with spring temps (its hilly here). Totally love the car!

• 

  I love my 2004 GTI - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By Steven A. Smith - December 7 - 10:33 am

  I love my 2004 GTI as much as when I first bought it. I have owned it for almost five years and put almost 100000 miles on it. It has been in the shop twice for repairs, AC and blown cam gasket, It has never left me on the side of the road.