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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  Repeat VW Purchaser - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jim Trias - March 26 - 9:00 am

  We recently upgraded our 1999 VW Passat V6, which we loved, with a 2006 VW Passat 2.0T, which we love even more. The Passat is a solid, high performance sedan that I look forward to driving every time I get in the car. The interior and trunk space are so much roomier than they look from the outside. It is a comfortable ride, and the car handles the road excellently at all speeds.

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  A Little Pricey, but Nice! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By California Kid - March 26 - 4:30 am

  The new Passat looks great and rides great. I get about 28 MPG on two hours of rush-hour traffic per day. The interior is roomy and all the material has the soft-touch feel, not the plasticy feel of other cheaper cars. Ill just make one critique: the automatic tranny. The upshifts feel like a manual. The downshifts on hard acceleration are slow and when it does downshift the car lurches as the gears engage. The Tiptronic mode is no better. The response time is slow. The engine continues to race after you flick the shifter. Youll need to flick the shifter 1/2 second sooner than you think you need to. But I guess Im biased. I drove a manual since my first car. But my wife... well, you know.

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  I Love VW - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mikeyju - March 25 - 10:56 pm

  I love how fast the car is and how comfy it is. The brakes are very good and smooth, and the engine is also very smooth. It is just such a fun car to drive and it has so much in it that you wouldnt even imagine.

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  Best BFTB car out there - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By johnR32 - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned and M Roadster, and my wife owns a 225hp TT. This car is like mixing the best driving charateristics of the two and adding REAL seating for 4, all for under 30K.

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  Fast VW - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By tinmil - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Its not as fast as the STi or the EVO, but its also not a street racer like the STi or the EVO. One things for sure, this car will not knock the fillings out of your teeth. Just read the 3/22/04 Autoweeks article on the R32 because they are right on the money.

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  Extra Peppy Hatch - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By _MK - March 25 - 10:00 am

  I just bought the car a weekend ago, drove it 1500 miles back to where I live, from where I bought it, and I was easily the fastest car on the highway. Easily. I kept the gear in 6th and the car just went. The ride is pretty sporty. Coming from an Acura RL to this car, I felt a significant drop in ride comfort, particularly on the highway, but I gained a world in handling. Amazingly quick car. A ton of fun! Fuel economy is not quite what I hoped for, but I do have a heavy foot.

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  jetta great buy - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lorraine - March 25 - 10:00 am

  owned one for four years and still love it.

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  Hot Ride - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jerryplace - March 25 - 10:00 am

  As a retired law enforcement officer, I find this the most awesome ride Ive been in. Its exilerating, solid, fast, and a drivers car. Not many cars are going to catch this one! Its lights are incredible for driving in critter country, the high desert, and so bright in fact I get flashed alot on low settings, no need for additional driving lamps. Catch me if you think you can! It,s great fun to blow by the ringy dingy young Honda, Neon crowd with their so called hot whatevers! Really looking forward to getting it on a track. If your in Oregon, go to Carrera motors in Bend, they are the best to deal with ever. See Mark Pulver.

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  Reliable & Extrodinary transportation - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Rorich1 - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Great overall performer. With the five speed and the turbo-diesel engine I can zip up and down the mountains of Colorado and still approach 50 MPG. Comfort, (I am 62" tall and have plenty of leg and head room), performance, handling this jetta with the GLS option has it all.

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  Im the envy of 8 year olds =) - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ranchboat - March 25 - 10:00 am

  I love, love, love this car! The kids are grown and gone and I gave the Expedition to the hubby and got a red/cream leather Turbo. I smile just looking at it. From the low price and good mileage (well, that I should get...if I didnt drive FAST everywhere..). The stereo rocks, and I love cranking the tunes, opening the sun roof and zooming along. It is solid and dependable and the 8 year olds on my street lined up for rides the day I got it. Who needs pretentious when you can have fun?