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 Car, Would recommend - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Neil - May 23 - 5:46 pm

  The ratings I base on any car thats as fuel efficient as this one. Much more fun to drive than a hybrid, yet gets nearly the same mileage. Spacious, back seat fits adults, seats comfortable on a 1400 mile, three day trip. Be wary of the hype that the car will get over 50 mpg. Trying real hard I can get 45 - 46. Around town Ive been getting much better than Id guessed, 38 - 40. I have the manual and keep the car at 1500 rpms unless going uphill. Never needs to be at more than 2000 rpms unless in top gear, passing or entering a freeway. Averaging 70 mph you will be lucky to exceed 41 mpg. Its in the constant 50s and 60s that 46+mpg is possible.

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  what a waste - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By parag - May 23 - 4:00 pm

  I totally agree that VW doesnt stand behind its products and the dealerships are very incompetent. I have just had my Passat for 8 months and suddenly over the last two weeks the mileage dropped to 10 mpg on highway! I took it to the dealership and they say they cant find any problem and hence cannot help me out! All they did was scanned the computer to see if there were any problems. Further, they took my car for a spin and put 100 miles on it (50 miles more than what the invoice said). This is rediculous. I would never trust them or VW again.

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  I like the T-Reg V-8 - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Kent Pridmore - May 23 - 1:16 am

  Very nice SUV. Handles great. Fun to drive. I have not had any problems at all. I knew about the gas mileage before I purchased the SUV. The bells and whistles are a little much.

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  LUV THE BUG! - 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Millie Noonan - May 22 - 11:53 pm

  I have wanted the convertible bug for 6 years. Never had a better opportunity than now to have one. Its fun to drive and I feel like a kid again. The new heavenly blue color is beautiful. Much better than the years past. Cream/Beige interior needs to be offered on all exterior colors. Thats my only gripe....other than that, I LUV THIS BUG!

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  Never again - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By twilliams - May 22 - 10:33 pm

  Bought car w/only 17,000 miles-1 owner. Brakes/front needed new w/rotors @ 37,000 miles. R/brakes w/rotors @ 58,000. R/hatch takes 2-3 hits to release. Have had 4 low beam bulbs burn out! Dealer charges $$$ 2 replace. Check engine light on, thermostat eng. Temp light on yet nothing wrong at all. Interior continues to fall apart- radio presets, visor clip, hand brake knob, dash vent close knob, tilt/tele. Rubber knob loose, glove comp. Latch ready to fall apart anytime now. Will never buy a Volkswagen again no matter what model. Have a few months to pay off, then selling it before it fails me for good. I maintain my cars well & drive them easy. Worst car ever owned- period.

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  Good riddance - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Theresa - May 22 - 5:33 pm

  Being a baby boomer I just HAD to have one of these. Big mistake. Once things started going south it was fast and furious. The biggest downer was having to have the transmission replaced for $3500. While it was there they managed to find another $500 worth of work. Part prices are ridiculous. A dash light was always coming on for one reason or another. The cup holder was just plain dumb and there was no CD player--oh yeah--you could put one in the trunk if you wanted to. The gas mileage was terrible for a car that small. Overall workmanship was shabby. I have made it my mission to tell anyone who will listen how poor the overall quality is.Dont make the same mistake I did.

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  Verry Happy With VW - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Hal - May 22 - 8:46 am

  The 2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T is a very nice car. Prior to the VW, I owned two Honda Accords in a row. The VW offers same high quality, good fit and finish and comfortable seats as the Accord, but with a much more powerful engine (vs. Accords 4-cylinder) and better handling and braking compared to the Accord. I have owned other cars with turbos and was concerned about lag, but the Jetta has a good power band for passing, getting up hills, etc. I have really enjoyed the car from the test drive. It is more fun and less vanilla than other sedans in this category. I definitely will recommend it to friends and family considering other comparable sedans.

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  Back in the fold... - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By 40valvesgone - May 22 - 3:16 am

  This is hard for me to do because I traded in my 2004 AUDI S4. So imagine the performance & refinement that Im giving up. Having said that, if it was too much of a gap I wouldnt have gotten the GTI. The GTI is nothing short of incredible. I had a GTI in 1995, when it was equipped with the VR6. I missed that car when I traded it in & am glad to be back in the GTI fold. I have owned other VWs and have always liked them. This GTI is a cut above the rest, what a great car. Not only is it quick and fun to drive, but its well behaved too. You can cruise, you can relax, and then simply by pressing down the accelerator - the attitude changes to evil.

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  What a beautiful car this is - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By José Martínez - May 22 - 1:06 am

  Our 4th VW and 1st SUV. Weve owned 2 Jettas before; we currently own a 08 R32 alsol. This car drives quite well compared to any American rental you throw at it, SUV or not. Steering and cornering are surprisingly well- mannered. However, despite VWoAs claims to the contrary, it is no big GTI: the cars weight, geometry, and suspension setup are obvious; and the Tiptronic transmission feels a bit lazy compared to the razor-sharp DSG. But we have the R32 for that. This is the family car. Drop-dead gorgeous; it carries us and the kids very comfortably; and it has loads of features. Safety is top-notch; and 4Motion makes a huge difference in snow. And its a VW, so it feels like home to us.

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  Great car - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By jmg - May 21 - 7:53 pm

  A year and 7,500 miles after buying the car, it has been to the shop once -- for the scheduled oil change and service. Couldnt ask for more from a family wagon. It handles the streets of Manhattan just as nicely as the interstate. And lots of room for all our stuff.