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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  A Great Car - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dennis C. - November 24 - 3:13 pm

  My wife and I both love this car, a 2010 Passat with navigation. We previously drove a 2007 Hyundai Azera, and the VW is quieter and handles better. I like the auto hold feature, bluetooth phone, and the Nav system is great (way better than the Garmin we used in the Azera). The seats are very comfortable, and the back seat has nice headroom. Ive only filled it up twice, I think Im getting around 25 or a little better mpg, mostly highway

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  The Eos is Awesome! - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Yama - November 24 - 1:03 am

  I craved this vehicle for about 7 months, then finally bought one, 3.2, technology and sport package. I could not be more pleased! It is a sure crowd pleaser, and the styling looks "European". There is nothing I would change, nothing lacking for me with this vehicle. Ive had 6-footers in the back for short trips, and they didnt squawk. But then again, I didnt purchase it to carry folks in the back (I have a van for that!), I bought it to have a vehicle with style, good safety features, and a hardtop convertible.

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  2000 Jetta great car - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By M. Tabak - November 21 - 2:00 am

  So far this Jetta runs & handles Great. Love the VR6 engine.

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  Poor Mans Porsche...... - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Peter H. - November 19 - 12:20 pm

  I purchased my 2005 Volkswagen Touareg in July of 2005, just before the fuel prices hit the roof. So going into this from a Passat was a wallet killer, but I found if I turn off the anti-slip feature I get about 20-23mpg. I feel that this vehicle sat in the lot for a while, the paint on this vehicle is way below what youd expect for a SUV listing at $39,000 and that the dealership just wanted to get rid of it. But besides the dealer, I am very happy with the vehicle. It does great in the snow and ice and its such a mile eater on the highway I never feel tired after driving a few hundred miles at a time, its very refreshing. I wish it came with air conditioned seats, especially for the summer. Overall this is a great vehicle.

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  Couldnt be happier - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By cc - November 19 - 9:40 am

  I have been waiting for this SUV. I have always driven VWs, I traded my 2007 Rabbit for the 2009 Tiguan and I am thrilled with my purchase!!!

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  Drivers Wanted......Driver Found - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Boldenwh - November 17 - 6:30 pm

  VW guys did their homework with 06 Jetta GLI. I purchased the 6M w/sunroof, leather and spoiler. This car looks great inside and out. Its balance between performance and fuel economy is hard to match. It is a very safe, quick, luxurious solid car with all the right touches. I like the painted brake calibers, mirror turn signals, etc. It is a perfect balance between sport and luxury appointments. This car simply turns heads. It delivers excellent power from the turbo. Other than that, the GLI was my clear choice over the 325i, Altima SE-R, Saab 9-3 and others. Great job VW!

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  Lives up to the reviews - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Popogigi - November 16 - 10:00 am

  I had been waiting for it ever since car & driver rated it so high...it is all that and more

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  First Review - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gurnlark - November 16 - 10:00 am

  The Jetta GLS Wagon is an excellent family economy wagon with great performance for very enjoyable driving. Its low cost compared to the Passat makes it well worth the sligthly less room inside. The only downside is difficulty with freezing-up doors and difficult windshield frost in the extreme cold(minus zero temperatures.

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  Fun car, low mileage - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Mike - November 16 - 5:46 am

  Lots of power and fun to drive. Some noise on window when driving at 45 mph. Very good off road drive Overall a good drive

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  4Motion Fun - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By 4Motion007 - November 15 - 8:20 pm

  No problems yet (13,000 miles). With a fully loaded car traveling over 1200 miles in one trip I averaged 29.7 mpg. Here in Denver on 91 gas with 60% stop and go highway and 40% city I get 25 mpg. In the snowy mountains the AWD and Pirelli all season tires handle better than my ford explorer. Interior is very comfortable, quiet, and nicely finished. The stock radio sounds great and satellite radio is a nice addition. The iPod adapter is nice, but does not work well with new iPods. HID lighting is great at night. Parking sensors are great when parking in tight spaces. Paddle shifters are great when controlling speeds down mountain roads or for just having a blast punching the throttle.