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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  Best MPG for the Buck - 2006 Volkswagen Golf
  By vegas - August 22 - 1:56 am

  The buzz surrounding hybrid gas / electric vehicles shamefully ignores the major maintenance expence of a replacement battery for the drive train. Forgetting about the maintenance cost of hybrid vehicles, if you take into account the fact that they usually get less than their stated gas mileage consumers should avoid them. Ask anyone if they get the stated MPG from a hybrid, they dont. Then ask a diesel driver, and they all will report at times getting much better than their vehicles stated gas mileage. Dont forget that diesels cost $4-5K less up front than hybrids - that has gotta still mean something. I forgot to mention that CO2 emissions are 25% less from diesel. Regular gasoline is more dirty than diesel fuel.

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  I Love My GTI!! - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By Pejammin - August 22 - 1:30 am

  I loved the heck out of this car. If it werent so small and I didnt have a family now, I would keep it FOREVER. It has been so good to me. It handles really well and feels solid. All the bells and whistles made it really comfortable. The only downside: parts for VWs in general are super expensive. And the engine light comes on for the slightest problems. Oh, and the seats dont recline.

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  I Love my Jetta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Daisy - August 20 - 8:53 am

  Once I laid eyes on this babe I knew I had to get one. I originally wanted the Platinum Grey one but settled for the Blue Lagoon. Its fun to drive and the cupholders actually dont cover the CD player this time!

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  147k mi & counting - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Actually drive the vehicle - August 19 - 11:40 pm

  Dont know why folks knock VWs reliability, etc....thankfully, cars are not cell phones (yet). Bought my car new with a 5-speed manual in 2009 & have no problems. Handles like its on rails. Ergonomics are excellent. Dont need to look away from the road to change the heat or radio. First month of ownership (I still remember) didnt take the same way home from work twice on the back roads. Very practical for use on the road or light use on the track. Had 2 engine knock sensors problems & remedied under warranty. Have changed oil, rear brakes (once) & tune ups, otherwise no issues or rust. Also own a newer Golf Sportwagen with 6-speed manual & very much enjoy that too. Still dont know why people buy SUVs. The 09 is not our first VW & the 15 will not be our last.

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  Totally Outstanding - Love It! - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jsparks - August 19 - 10:40 pm

  This car is the best I have ever owned. The Tiptronic is a really sweet option and the rain-sensing wipers are awesome...especially here in Seattle!! The drive is smooth and you can feel the tires grip the road. Driving in the rain on wet pavement with the ESP is like driving on dry pavement. I would recommend this car to everyone that wants a high-end quality vehicle for an affordable price!

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  213500 miles and still hauls A** - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By beastv6b5 - August 19 - 8:14 pm

  I baught this car a year ago with 202k i have put a VERY hard 11k on her i mean racing hard i have owend many cars and none of them could handle me till i got this V6 5s manual passat for 1750 the only issue it has is the ABS system but it doesnt effect what im after. this car seriously exceeds 140 with over 213k... on the track of course! And the only mods on it is a comp chip to over ride the govern, and muffler delete so it sounds like a racer! this car is a great comfortable family car on the road and an absolute beast on the track it is without a doubt the best 1750 i ever spent!

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  Love Struck - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By ohiodoc - August 18 - 1:53 am

  HI have owned this car for a month and can not get over how much fun it is to drive. I drive 60 miles per day to and from work, already have over 1,500 miles, and its still as fun to drive as the day I brought it home. The handling is great on both wet and dry roads. The convertable top is a great show piece and conversation starter. The acceleration is fantastic and it feels even at 80 mph that the car has a lot more to give. I have been getting wonderful gas milage to at around 30-32 mpg on the highway. The car looks and acts like an Audi but is $10,000 less and has a hard not a soft top, which is great for Ohio weather.

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  I love my Passat - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Daniel Allentown, PA - August 17 - 6:36 pm

  I love this car it is a big upgrade from my Honda Civic. I just got this car 250 miles ago brand new. Its just a good car overall.

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  best car in the world - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ernst565 - August 17 - 10:00 am

  This is an amzing car. It has everything i need. Even though it has a bad fuel economy,, the 26 gallon tank makes up for it. My kids and wife love it. Its Amazing.

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  The Best Dont Settle For The Rest - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Touaregnd4spd - August 17 - 10:00 am

  Just purchased my Touareg today and I have put 120 miles on it. Cant stop driving it. The way it hold the road is like my 01 Lincoln Ls that I traded in. If you are looking for the best Suv out STOP YOU HAVE FOUND IT!!!!