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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  DONT buy a routon, BIG safety issue. - 2010 Volkswagen Routan
  By BoMom - October 11 - 10:00 am

  We just purchased the Routon SEL premium from jersey village Volkswagan in houston TX. I paid $37,000 for there top of the line routon. The dvd screens in the routon block the entire view from your rear view mirror,it is a huge safety hazard. Frankly this vehicle needs to be recalled before there are numerous accidents asssociated with this major design flaw.The dealership which is owned by sonic automotive even offered to have dvd screens put into the headrests, so they obviously know about there safety issue.Dont make my mistake. Buy another brand of mini van stay away from the routon. There is numerous amounts of problems with this vehichle and the one I mentioned was just one.

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  I Wanted To Like This Car - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By chad3072 - October 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car in 2008 with 17,000 miles on it. Now it has 40,000 on it and its been in the shop 3 times. The first time it went in the exhaust pipe ripped right out of the turbo and it sounded like a diesel truck. The next morning after I got it back I put my A/C on and it didnt work,so back to the dealer I went. They had to replace the whole compressor and flush the system. Two months after that it started to make a growling noise when I hit the throttle hard to pass, guess what I took it back and they said it was the cam shaft. I got it back last week and tonight I went to pick my daughter up from day care put the key in and tried to start it up and the engine is locked up.(JUNK)

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  one month very good - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CMc - October 11 - 10:00 am

  Great mixture of fun to drive and fuel economy. Getting about 36 mpg city and 45 highway. great stereo, love the sd memory card feature. Surprising trunk space; I like the bluetooth connectivity.

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  Excellent all-around car - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By AlexV - October 11 - 10:00 am

  After having driven this car for 1,000 miles, there have been no problems with the car so far. The TDI makes this car very fuel efficient, averaging over 48 mpg, while being able to zip past cars when the need arises. The interior feels and looks upscale while the price is very reasonable.

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  Id never buy another VW - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jhawklaw - October 11 - 7:33 am

  Ive had more problems with this car than any Ive ever owned. I bought it new and the Check Engine light has been on more often than its been off. The driver and passenger window have fallen through the door 3 times (the last 2 VW paid for). The O2 censor and Mass air flow censor have been replaced 8 times. The right rear brake calliper has gone out twice. It has electrical problems out the wazzoo. Expensive to repair and constantly needs repair. Germans over-engineered it to a fault. Interior falling apart. "leather" comes off door handles, glove box broke from normal use. Replaced hazzard switch (before it was recalled). All in all very bad car experience.

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  All of my love - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By RYE - October 11 - 12:13 am

  This wonderful car is a reliable workhorse. After 4 years of 2k miles a month this car has only needed minor expenses for tune-ups. I cant express how well built and dependable it is. The ride quality is head and shoulders above Camry or Accord. I love my car.

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  Great Compact Sports Car - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Steve - October 10 - 9:03 pm

  This is my very first "new" car and its a long time waiting. I wanted a small sports car; either the Mini Cooper or the GTI fit my style. I ended up picking the GTI because I felt the flood of Minis out there on the street would dilute my enthusiasm for my car. I am extremely happy with my purchase an happy I chose this over the Cooper.

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  reliable - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kkingston57 - October 10 - 8:49 pm

  Have had car for 55K miles and still have original tires(Bridgestone Turanzas) getting 40+ MPG and drive conservatively. Have heard of people getting 50 MPG. Is this downwind?

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  This is a great highway cruiser - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By msita - October 10 - 1:15 pm

  Just got this 2011 Golf TDi last month and it has been an amazing car so far. The ride is very german, firm but still comfortable. The bluetooth streaming and phone feature pairs instantly. The touch screen audio system is awesome. Great sound with no subwoofer. We also have a 2009 Jetta Sportwagen TDi with 30,000 miles on it and reliability has been great. Im expecting the same with the Golf. I commute between Irvine and San Diego and I consistently average 48 mpg cruising at 65 mph.

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  Worth Babying - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By stoontdi - October 9 - 6:10 pm

  If everybody had one of these, it wouldnt be as much fun. The TDI can pull a 1500 lb. boat and trailer better than a gas with all that torque and still get over 32 miles to the gallon.