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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  Ultimate - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Merc - October 8 - 4:03 am

  The TDI is amazing, the mileage is awesome, and this little car is a torque monster for being a 1.9L. Aside from the window switch, radiator (As the stealer told me) and the radio buttons breaking, all under warranty. I would say this car is the way to go. I would highly recommend the VW TDI over ANY other vehicle. Just be sure to buy a warranty

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  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tom - October 6 - 8:16 am

  The 2003 Volkswagen Passat rides and handles great. This one is a keeper.

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  Best of Fourteen - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By camperjimmy - October 5 - 10:23 pm

  I test drove fourteen different new cars during my search for the best value, including the new Rabbit, it was not for me(age thing). The salesman had a Jetta waiting for me when I got back, and WOW, of the fourteen, the Jetta was the only one that made me say "WOW, thats a nice car." There is lots of ho-hum vehicles out there, but this car is a blast to drive, has lot of room, and I get 29 mpg with the smooth 6-speed auto. I am very satisfied with this car and will buy another for my wife..

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  09 TDI 6sp Manual Wagon - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By red_scout - October 5 - 3:00 pm

  Love the car. If you want a sports car with great mileage, and lots of storage this is it. Ultimately this is the main car to replace our Caravan. Most like a second TDI will be purchased. My mom has bought the 10 Golf (Jetta) Wagon in with the 2.5l Auto. She loves it.

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  Fun Ride - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By chachi313 - October 5 - 12:40 pm

  This car is a great car to drive. It handles pretty nicely. Its shifting is crisp. Just be careful you could break 100 mph without even noticing.

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  Best fit for me - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By dirkh - October 5 - 10:00 am

  My favorite wagon is the Audi A4 1.8t (I used to drive the previous model). However looking at the passat, the GLS has all the options, important to me and it is 10k less than the Audi. If I wanted more options and 4wd I would definitely go for the Audi, but 10k is alot of money. The Passat drives great, has enough power and is very comfortable. Gas milage is great even with my drive style

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  Oh yhea what a ride - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By hockey madness - October 5 - 10:00 am

  I have had my GLI for 6 months. What a great ride. The car loves to go fast. The car handles fantastic and has lots of passing power to spare. The GLI has a great look inside and out. What a cool feature heated seats!!!! This car is Sweet!!!! Take one for a test drive it is worth it.

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  Love my new Wolfsburg! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mcrowley1 - October 5 - 10:00 am

  This Jetta is a blast to drive. Smooth power from the 1.8 Turbo engine and gobs of passing power without even downshifting. Love the BBS wheels and sport suspension that came with the Wolfsburg, and the exclusivity is nice, too. Great build quality. I have owned many Japanese nameplate cars, and this is on a par with them. I would buy this again in a heartbeat!

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  Fell in Love after the first ride - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ehollander - October 3 - 6:35 am

  I bought it in 2010 as a certified used car with 40K miles on it, and I need to say it is a blast to drive it everyday, I drove many cars before from Olds to Ford, Toyota and Chrysler but none kept me interested in keeping the car longer then 2 years. But this one is the best in quality fabrication, interior space quality and ride pleasure. I averaged about 30MPG before I changed my tires and had an allingment done now with the new ecopias it is even better new avg is 33-34 MPG and the cabin is so quiet. Also after 35k miles driven now no problems not even the rear breaks, but the dealer told me I would need to replace them after about 40K miles. I LOVE THE JETTA.

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  Best VW to the date - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By mike475 - October 3 - 3:12 am

  Owners since Dec 2009 of 4dr DSG GTI + Autobahn Package (aka leather seats and moonroof). It is great car all around. Quality is top noch (I guess no surprise here). Even MKV Jetta it looks like the car was made by different company. I love about everything about the car, so does my wife.