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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  Not totally impressed - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Todd Herzog - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I am very impressed with the overall appearance and handling of this car. My concern is the electrical and the transmission. After owning for 3 days the tiptronic will not engage and the fuel gauge quit working. Maybe mine is a fluke and is an easy repair but it has left me with a sour feeling at this point.

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  excellent - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vw lover - May 4 - 10:00 am

  with over 40 standard feathures the car sells its self...its well built...strong..fun..and sturdy...and turns very well

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  Ready for the CC - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By attaymik - May 4 - 1:56 am

  As I near the end of my lease, I have been very satisfied with my Passat. Havent had the reliability issues that others have mentioned and my dealer has been great. Any minor issues Ive had have been corrected in a timely fashion. Great gas mileage, still drives like a dream, little lag when using tiptronic and coming off the freeway, but overall, this is a great car. This is my 3rd VW and I havent had a moments trouble with any of them. Ive been test driving other cars like crazy and I would have to pay more to get all the bells and whistles that come standard on my Passat. Looking forward to the CC.

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  A Very Nice Surprise!! - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Fatboy - May 3 - 1:20 pm

  We just purchased our new Eos and I must admit that I was very pleasantly surprised at the room inside such a small and sporty car. Im 6-04" and 340 lbs and usually just have to walk right past the "sports cars". Not this one - I fit in it with room to spare, yet my petite wife also can adjust it to meet her requirements. The car is sporty, peppy, and very nice. It is not without its drawbacks, but they are minor and it is a blast to drive. Fit and finish are superb and the 3-in-1 top is "tops"! Lots of neat features and its still a very "green machine" with over 30 mpg it you baby it. All in all, top marks for this new V-dub! Gotta hand it to those Germans - sporty with room!

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  Great Car - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By nealien - May 2 - 8:24 pm

  Ive driven my 2011 Golf 2.5 for 1500 miles now and I can honestly say that I love this car. It is very responsive while driving, and the manual shifter is very smooth. I have been averaging 28 mpg and drive about half highway and half backroads (and Im driving it fast). The car handles great, hugging corners is easy - the suspension feels very tight. The interior is immaculate - it feels like the interior of a much more expensive car. Im so glad that I bought this over the comparable Honda Civic.

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  Great quality, price and reliability - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By fuel4thesoul - May 2 - 6:03 pm

  I have 90,000 miles on my car and it has been by far one of the best purchases I have ever made. The car starts without hesitation, stops on a dime, and has great pick up. VW offers a fairly comprehensive warranty and tends to repair certain items out of "goodwill" even when out of warranty. I never take my car to the dealer(unless it a recall) and have learned how to do every maintenance or repair on my own through the various forums that VW enthusiast keep up to date. This has helped keep my costs down while being able to own a safe German designed foreign car. For those without the ability to work on their own VW I would recommend checking out the prices for services in your local area.

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  volkswagen tdi 10,000 miles and going strong - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rp4042 - May 1 - 3:05 am

  I have put 10,000 + miles on my 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Diesel in about 9 months and the car is going strong, I have not had one single problem with this car, zero, zilch, nada . I have owned new Toyotas that were not this reliable in the first 10,000 miles. One reviewer stated that it was made in Mexico and was junk. Well the engine and transmission are made and assembled in Germany. The balance of the parts are made in Germany , Canada, and Mexico. It is assembled in Mexico. My point is that this is a car engineered in Germany and built to German standards. I have had no problems with paint, trim , or scuff marks not coming off plastic parts as some have stated.

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  Jack Rabbit - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By noodles - April 30 - 11:26 pm

  This is an awesome little car, thats fun to drive. It has some pep to it. It has good cargo space and can haul 2 6 tall guys in the backseat comfortably.

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  R32 Really Delivers - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By dcurrie - April 30 - 10:00 am

  Though the R32 is a potent machine, boy racers need not apply. It has been engineered to deliver a fine balance between a high performance driving experience and a supple daily driver that you can live with. Engine and mechanical sounds are fabulous, stops like crazy, and for added safety it offers great grip in the wet (phenomenal even.) And in black, as mine is, it doesnt attract a lot of attention. It does sometimes go too fast, but were working on that togther.

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  Great Car - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By jstn4102 - April 30 - 10:00 am

  Im glad I forked over the extra cash for the Vr6, it was well worth it. Before purchasing this car i was considering either a 1.8 rubo GTI or getta gls and the civic Si. I am glad i chose the VR6 GTI. Handling is superb and there is nothing better than a naturally powerful engine. No turbo lag and ltos of torque puts the VR6 engine in front of the 1.8 anyday.