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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  New 2006 Jetta TDI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By John B - July 29 - 3:56 am

  I bought this car to replace a 1999 Pathfinder. I bought it for the gas mileage and so far I am getting 30-32 City and 40-42 highway. I am very satisfied with almost all aspects of this car except the air conditioning. My wife has a 1999 Beetle and it cools far faster than the Jetta. I have only 2,600 miles and have taken it back to the dealer for the A/C. I was told there is no problem with the A/C, but it takes between 3 and 7 minutes for very cool air to come out. I find I have to put it on recirculate to get it cooled faster.

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  This car wins on most every score - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By bobmitch - July 29 - 2:58 am

  Fun to drive with plenty of get up and go. Surprisingly spacious interior, both back and front. Im 5-10, 210, so I need space. This car is really comfortable. Economy: Ive checked the mileage now on 4 tanks of gas, driving mostly flat areas on freeways and city streets -- 50+ MPG, 56 on last tank. I watch my mileage, love the mileage indicator. I got the fully decked out Sportswagen with the big sunroof and navigation. Ive never used a sunroof before, but I love this one. We use it all the time, almost like having a convertible. This is no doubt my favorite car, having sold my Ford Expedition EL. The last car that I loved this much was my 1973 MGB Roadster.

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  Just get one! - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JSWARTS - July 28 - 7:26 pm

  What a awesome car. After having a company van & having to give it up, I decided I wanted a car. My wifes car is a great Jeep grand Cherokee. This little car surprises us everyday. What a awesome car. I cant say it enough! Just go get one. I had a 84 gti... The best VW ever made... First VW in 20+ years

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  SUV/minivan alternative - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Texas Greg - July 28 - 10:00 am

  This is my wifes car but I wish it were mine. I love driving it on weekends. I bought this car because I think its the safest car for the money. It has side airbags and head curtains standard plus ABS and traction control. It scored very well in crash tests (best in class). We (4 of us) drove this car from Dallas to Toronto and it performed flawlessly. Very smooth and comfortable. I drove 8 hours per day but did not feel tired at the end of the day. I was amazed at what we packed into the back of this wagon AND still could use the privacy screen.

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  Passat Obsession - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Michelle - July 27 - 8:06 am

  I absolutely love my 2006 Passat 2.0T! I am a first time VW owner and I am blown away. You can not beat the value, styling and satisfaction of this vehicle. I test drove a Honda Accord, a Nissan Atima and a Toyota Camry and there is no comparison. I bought a Mocha Brown, Package 1 and I look around the cabin in amazement at how upscale this vehicle looks. I cant wait to get the windows tinted! For the first time ever, I feel like I have purchased the right vehicle for myself and at an excellent price. I keep reading about VW reliability being less than stellar, I only hope that is a thing of the past.

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  Love it - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By stavrosk - July 26 - 9:40 pm

  I have my white SEL now for 4 months with 4000miles. It is really excellent from every aspect. Friends and colleagues that have riden with me were amazed about the sunroof and the quality of the interior. It is really a high end SUV. Driving and handling is also amazing. Maybe a little bit delayed response on the gas until the turbo kicks in, but on the other hand I have not really tried to drive it with the stick on the S position. The only complain really is that I do not get anywhere near the promised consumption, usually average about 3mpg less than what is advertised for city and highway. Just wish VW would bring the turbo diesel in the US.

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  my first car - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By ariellerae - July 26 - 8:42 am

  I am a first time car buyer and I really like this car. I bought a used 09 with 57k miles on it in December and now it has 73k. I heard stories of German cars having a lot of trouble after 60k miles but I havent had any yet. Yes the brakes squeak a little but Im used to that I drove a Land Rover Discovery in high school. My tiggy has leather seats, xm, and bluetooth. really all you need. it gets me where I need to go...I would say the most unfortunate thing is that it only takes 91 gas and Im in CA its super expensive. Other than that I plan to have this car for at least another 5 years until I can get my dream car the merc glk :)

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  Love it! - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By LeoP - July 26 - 3:36 am

  My first German car. I hesitated to get a VW but decided to give it a shot and took it for a test drive. The test drive lasted about 5 minutes. I did not need more. Absolutely love the car, the way it looks and handles. My only problem so far is dashboard reflection in drivers side window. It blocks the view in the mirror and is very annoying and potentially a safety issue. I search the web and no one seems to have this problem, so I guess my window is defective.

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  Whats not to love? - 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Caroline - July 26 - 2:53 am

  Zippy automatic, allows me to drive faster in traffic than perhaps I should! Mine is Candy White and it is an attention getter. Very comfortable, great sound system. In comparison with my 2008 mini seems much larger in all aspects yet side by side they appear the same size...I owned a Beetle several years ago, and this is like coming home! After the mini, I dont like the way the top closes, but I think part of that is my need to get used to it.

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  VW, you hit it right on the nail! - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By Hesham Emara - July 25 - 10:10 am

  If youre looking for a "hot hatch", look no further. This is it! Ive test driven just about everything it its class: The new Civic Si, the Mini Cooper S, the Acura RSX Type-S, you name it. Nothing impressed me like the new GTI. Its real solid and the steering feels very connected. In my opinion, DSG will revolutionize automatic and manual transmissions. My only bad experience was the rattling from the passenger side just a few minutes after taking delivery! Thankfully, my dealership was able to pinpoint and fix it within 1 hour.