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 Commuter Vehicle - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Good agent - September 21 - 3:13 pm

  The Jetta TDI is a great car for driving long distances in. I drive 60 miles one-way to work and the fuel mileage is great. The car has about 40,000 miles on it now and I have had no problems. The maintenance is a little pricey, but everything else has been outstanding.

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  best vw wagon - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By markL - September 21 - 10:00 am

  i purchased this wagon only afew months ago but looked at audi a-4 avant, saab 9/5 wagon and volvo. i special ordered this car. no one had reflex silver with grey leather and i!m glad i did , beyound this being a fun car to drive, vw put the new audi 3.0L V 6 in this wagon when they built it. big difference between the 2.8, 190HP. and the new 220HP in this car. only thing missing would be xeonon headlights.

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  TDI GLS 5 speed - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By jamesroberts - September 21 - 10:00 am

  Ride and build quality is fantastic. Feel much like a european car that is $10,000 more.

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  Bright Car for Bright people - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By AndyI - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Simply the best!

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  surprised - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By air - September 20 - 2:00 am

  i wasnt sure if i liked the feel of the car before i bought i,t having previously driven a saab, but its really grown on me. its fun to drive and handles quite well- very very smooth on the freeway and tight on twisty roads. and very quiet. gas mileage in the city isnt so great, even with a light foot. hopefully this might improve with time. (only have 500 miles so far) not much storage space in the front despite the little middle console-my cds are on the floor.

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  Maxine - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Liza - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Ive had nothing but great experience with my Passat. It is without a doubt the best car that Volkswagen builds to date. Ive not had a SINGLE problem with my car. In fact, I asked the service department at a local dealer to check it over for me a few weeks ago and dared them to find something wrong with it...they couldnt find a single problem!!!

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  Less room, more fun... - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By audiPhile - September 20 - 2:00 am

  I picked my new 2002 Golf GLS yesterday. I bought it 3 days ago for $15,200 without the taxes and extended warranty ($900 extra for 7 year, 75 K miles with road side assistance). Im an Audi fan, and had an old Audi before I decided to buy a new car. But I had to stick to the $16,000 range as Im getting married. The Corolla, Civic and Sentra were possible choices. All these cars had similar seating space except that the rear leg room for the golf is smaller by an inch. But the golf has a bigger cargo area.

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  Great Performer - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By PeterF - September 20 - 2:00 am

  The New Passat has been a dream to drive, its really a great family car, and with the 5speed, gives you sportslike performance. Were buying a 2002 to join our 2001!

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  GREAT sedan. - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By kory - September 19 - 10:43 pm

  I bought this car last January and Ive been really impressed so far. The fuel economy isnt great, but if you use premium unleaded (which your supposed to use) you should see about 29mpg hwy and about 20 city. Car looks very euro which is a plus. 2003 is the last year they stopped making the classic European style and they started making them look more like an electric razor on wheels. 2003 is the best year for this car!

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  This SUV Deserves Much Better - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By H. Klingenberg - September 19 - 8:23 pm

  This car deserves much better reviews from the so-called experts. I find it to be an ideal size, easy to get in and out, nothing rattles, the tolerances in the body work are amazingly tight, and the paintwork is flawless. Also the chrome, beautiful wheels and an interior matche Mercedes-Benz any time. The list of standard equipment is comprehensive, you hardly need anything else. Off-Road work on our ranches is no problem at all, with high and low 4wheel drive and locked differentials and on road driving is a pleasure.