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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  Love it!! - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tim - January 8 - 10:40 pm

  What a huge difference over the previous model. It has made a transformation into an adult jetta. The size is greatly improved and it feels much larger.

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  Family Sport Vehicle - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By mds5295 - January 8 - 10:00 am

  We traded a 99 Accord in for the Passat, and we have loved every minute of it. As a previous BMW & Honda owner, this is definitely a German built auto. The highway ride is comparable to high dollar luxury sedans. You will cruise at 95 mph, and have virtually no sensation of speed or wind noise. The interior is considerably quieter than our previous Accord. We opted for the 5 spd GLS with everything except leather, and it reminds me very much of the 535i I previously owned.

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  GREAT CAR! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By acg - January 8 - 10:00 am

  I love my car. i drive alot for my work and i have had my jetta for over 7 months and i have 42,500 miles on it and i love it. I have not had any problems and its comfortable and fast. I also drove it from philly to california and back and it was great.

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  Love my TDI - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By vicioustrader - January 8 - 12:59 am

  I bought my 2011 VW Golf TDI new on March 19, 2011. I currently have just over 1800 miles. The interior is well designed, friendly, comfortable, stylish and all around enjoyable. The exterior looks are not flashy or exceptional, it is a basic wedge hatchback shaped vehicle. I am am happy with picking this vehicle because of the diesel power supplied by the turbo as well as the economical driving experience. I refer to my car as zippy, she maneuvers well through traffic, great brakes, and the engine is powerful enough to zoom past trouble if need be. The sound system is powerful and clear, the road noise is minimal, and the handling is great. I am averaging about 43mpg so far. :-)

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  Love the car - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By morris411 - January 7 - 3:03 pm

  I spent 2 years looking for a good commuter car. I bought the tdi sportwagen last month and it has exceeded expectations. Ive been getting 39-45 mpg. My 64" husband fits nicely and theres still enough leg room in the back for two boys or not so tall adults. The storage in the back is great. Big enough for an 80 lb dog. Love the way the seats fold flat for transporting larger items.

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  Love my VW! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By schmoopy - January 5 - 10:00 am

  Purchased a used 2003 GLX Passat with 34K mi. It was a big change going from a SUV, but I love it. I did a lot of research and got a great price. I havent even had it a week yet, but am very happy. If you are looking for a car in this class, you must check it out. Great value for the luxury feel compared to other cars in the class. Lots of bells and whistles. Drives very smooth. Very fun to drive in the city and a great highway ride. Took a little time to get used to the way the gears change. Wish it didnt need premium gas.

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  Love at First Sight - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By D. Jones - January 5 - 10:00 am

  I shopped around for other cars in my price range, but fell in love with the Passat at first sight. Ive received many compliments on this car. The Passat is a total package for great looks, safety features, performance, and reliability. My Passat has nearly 10k miles without any problems. Its fun to drive and handles well in the snow. Im a first time VW owner and love this car!

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  What a great Auto!!! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Snubby - January 5 - 10:00 am

  What a great car...For the last twenty years I have owned nothing but Mercedes, and one Subaru Outback bought this year that I quickly got rid of (what a piece of junk)and replaced it with this Jetta. Only 1,000 miles on it and all is functioning well. It is so fun to drive and I think they are made better than the MEBE I was thinking of buying.

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  The Real Deal - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By The Pirate - January 5 - 9:56 am

  Had the car for two weeks and put just over 1,500 miles on it. Snow in NE kept it in the garage a few days. Had one small glitch with sensor in the exhaust system, which was fixed right and on time. Since then shes been perfect. Ride is firm but supple. Seats are super supportive, great on long drives. Steering is fantastic. Engine and trans are THE BEST. Very torquey diesel and DSG really suits it well, a great combo. The negatives: heat in a diesel is a long wait; heated seats make up for that. Control knobs for heater are smooth/slippery to the touch. The pillar between front/rear window is huge. Takes some moving about to see around them. All in all a great long range cruiser!

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  Fun Sedan - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Coness - January 5 - 9:13 am

  Test drove VW Passat, CC and Nissan Altima before purchasing. Clearly the Passat and CC were smoother rides, but the Jetta definitely out performed the Altima in terms of performance and features. If the Jetta had some of the cosmetic features the Passat or CC had, itd be a perfect car. Then again if it did, whod buy a Passat or CC?