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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  great car - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By dane2003 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  excellent car, seats extremely comfortable, heats quickly, good air conditioner, fun to drive, seats designed by osteopath - good for people with back pain, so much room for midsize car.

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  "My Silver Rocket" - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By ToriaMorgan - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Santa Fe Dealership was wonderful. My Silver Rocket feels like a cross between an Audi and a BMW. Excellent handling, stops on a dime. Turbo lets me pass in the fast lane going uphill like the other car is standing still. I love it!!!

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  Practical Fun - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By walker72 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Zippy tight and o so practical. Everything feels right and in its proper place. Take the step up from the base GL model, it a few grand that makes this car feel and handle like cars priced 10K more. If you have kids, the leather will make you oh so happy... and its mighty comfy too.

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  My Ultimate Driving Machine - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rastaman - November 4 - 2:00 am

  This is a very exelent vehicle, you get for what you pay and even more, exelent driving, handling and all for a good price.

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  The Right Choice - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Donna Manera - November 4 - 2:00 am

  My boyfriend talked me into a VW instead of an Audi because of the savings. We saw it in the Consumer Report being the #1 best rated vehicle so I ended up buying it. Im so happy with the entire package. The triptonic is so fun and the seats lay down where I can load it up with anything I want. The stereo is the best also. Thanks VW.

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  Awesome Car! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By cj5689 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I love this car! This is my second Passat. After looking at number of other sedans both lower and higher in price (BMW,Honda,Mercedes,Toyota), I could not justify leaving the VW and all of its standard features, quality of materials, fit and finish, and most of all, the crisp and responsive handling. Plus with 6 airbags and anti lock brakes standard, its a great family car as well which was important for me. Its not the cheapest and certainly not the most expensive sedan, but when you look at what you are not getting in some of the lower priced competitors models, the Passat makes perfect sense!

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  WOW - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Nologic - November 4 - 2:00 am

  This car is the best in class. I compared everything from Acura to VW and this car for the price has the most bang for your buck. I love it, and I am sure you will to. Everything from the side impact air bags, to the heated mirrors(great for the cold weather places). The air condition is like a snow storm in Buffalo. The heat is like Hades for those cold winter nights. The inside of the car is so quiet with the radio off that you can hear a pin drop, no road or outside noise.

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  The Best Car - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By AGABABA - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I am 16 years old and this is my first car and it is spectacular. Although i do not have much experience with cars i have yet to find a flaw in this beautiful machine. Go ahead and get yourself one of these babies and the chicks (or hunks) will be all over you!!!

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  economy plus zip - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By GHutch - November 4 - 2:00 am

  We wanted good fuel economy (and get about 36 mpg on open highway @ 65 mph) with enough power to handle acceleration for merging and passing. The 170 hp in the 1.8 turbo met our requirements and we thoroughly enjoy our vehicle.

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  too new to review... - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By fungirl - November 4 - 2:00 am

  So far so good... I have been very impressed with the way the car drives. It is always wanting to go faster! Love the interior and the design.