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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  Fantastic Upgrade from Manual Economy car - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By nrg921 - July 4 - 6:14 pm

  I was in need of something with more cargo space & towing capacity, but could still be an everyday commuter. I liked the control of manual transmission vehicle, and it was VERY hard to give that up. I found the Tiguan to have far superior handling, power, and responsiveness (when I compared to other CUVs) that I was willing to give up my manual . I still feel in control. It has the extra cargo space & towing I was looking for, fun and easy to drive on a daily basis, and the luxury interior I didnt know I wanted until I have & love it! With a good pair of winter tires, front wheel drive is all you need. Drives great in WI winters & MO ice storms!

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  Premium Jetta - FUN to Drive - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By eubor - July 4 - 1:13 am

  The car has been nothing but sensational, smooth, quiet, quick, powerful and very comfortable (even though firmer suspension). The interior quality is amazing, including soft touch materials, premium cloth and overall presentation. The car has a nice balance between fuel economy and sport. You really feel like your in a BMW, very tight. If you want a premium car, with near-luxury appointments - this is the car, believe me. I have had only two minor issues including a passenger-side seat heater stop working and a rear taillight bulb (brake light) went out. I love this car, love its beige and black interior combination that is unbelievable rich looking. Highly recommended.

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  Best VW yet - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By RSVW - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Awesome car. Summer tires arent good for winter driving though. Even if the tires are replaced with all season or winter ones, the car sits a little low to be driving in snow.

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  I love it! - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By KDMR32 - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Ive only got 1,400 miles on the clock, but theyve all been fun! This car is thrilling to drive. Ive conqured all of the local twisty roads.

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  Good, but not great - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By M & K - July 3 - 9:10 am

  This is a great looking car and its a blast to drive. But at 27,000 miles, it blew a head gasket. Then at 40,000 miles the rack and pinion steering was shot. I have had lots of interior bits break. The AWD tears up tires. All said, I cant wait to dump this car, Ill never buy a VW again. The reliability is on par with Ford. But the parts cost more. Ha.

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  Look at other alternative before u buy! - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By wniece - July 2 - 9:30 am

  When I first saw the car I fell in love with it. Since then I wish I could divorce it! Horrible rattles, squeaks and poor workmanship. The car has already been in the shop for over 15 days here and there. I know VWs are known for their excellent craftsmanship but this car has loose dash parts, the black paint bubbling and peeling off of the unlock/lock buttons. Maybe mines a lemon, but I would never recommend VW to anyone! I just hope my bonus is big enough to trade this piece of junk in! Too bad something that looks so good is so bad!

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  Great car - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Leroy Zeke - July 2 - 1:30 am

  I am really happy with the fuel economy and features of this car. It is fun to drive but still gets very respectable mpg. I still have power when I need it. We also have a Honda Civic Hybrid, and the VW is getting better mileage, and is much more fun to drive.

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  Good by Minivan - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Friars6 - July 1 - 3:26 pm

  The build quality on the Tiguan is amazing for a car in this price range. The car looks fantastic and handles exceptionally well with 4motion. The 2.0 Turbo is much quicker that I expected and the car is very quite on the highway.

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  Didnt suck too bad - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VWJustOK - July 1 - 10:00 am

  I enjoyed my Jetta over the two years I drove it - however I had a few problems. The window mechanism broke as I was driving down the highway, brakepads wore out quickly, car was generally very noisy, ect. However, it was fun to drive.

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  poor manufacturing quality - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jis - July 1 - 10:00 am

  My dashboard was put in crooked at the factory, something I did not notice for several months. I had all the usual problems with the oxygen and mass airflow sensors, replaced 3 or 4 times (I forget which), cupholders, green ooze in the doors, poor key, 2 second delay when getting into gear on the automatic transmission. etc. Also an "endearing" noise in the front dash that occurs each year at through the cold weather season. Probably some metal parts contracting and vibrating in the cold. I contacted the president of VW in Germany, got a letter back from Germany saying that some one in the US would come out and look at my car. No one ever showed.