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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  Best so Far - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Tony B - February 2 - 7:23 am

  Had a lot of questions on the Touareg Read all I could find . Went out and test drove the touareg and I was HOOKED, had to have one. Talked to the wife and went out that night and bought my Venition Green with Tan leather... sharp looking combo. V8 runs like a bear. Had a Lincoln LS, performance is as good if not better then the LS. Car is solid, heavy feel, pulls 7700 lbs. I feel it out performs the BMW X5, Benz ML, and Lexus 330. Very quiet on the road and cant hear or feel if the engine is running. Recommend it highly. So far soooo gooood. Mileage could be better, but when you look at the performance, Guess you have to pay for it. Avg. 16mpg. Heavy-foot it and you get 14mpg. Very happy.

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  Frome Camry Hybrid to TDI - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By plknj - February 1 - 11:03 pm

  Wow... the difference in the drive and feel compared to the Camry Hybrid is incredible. I feel like I am driving a car again. It corners beautifully and gets better mileage then the Hybrid. My trunk space has doubled since I no longer have a battery in the back. Its roomy and very comfortable and was $10,000 less then the Camry. Everything is better... the controls on the steering wheel are positioned correctly and all the controls in the car are very intuitive... it does not take a genius to figure anything out. A solid car with great mileage at a solid price.

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  Best van of all - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By richie74 - February 1 - 11:33 am

  Weve had it only for a week but so far its been great. The interior its roomy and comfortable the kids love the rear dvd. We compared and test drive every single van in the market before going with VW and you get a lot more for your money compared with the others. This is our 5th VW and we have nothing to say but excellent thing about them

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  Affordable Sports Luxury - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By A VW to BMW owner - January 31 - 11:16 pm

  This is the nicest car Ive owned and I have owned plenty of American as well as foreign cars. Its nice to have every amenity possible including a cold weather package that included heated leather seat, heated mirrors, and head washer nozzles. The tilting & telescopic steering along with the fully adjustable seats make this car fit like a glove. The premium stereo is up there with high-end luxury models as well as the overall performance. The 200 h.p. VR6 runs perfect and with the paired smooth shifting 6-speed transmission, the drive is anything but dull. Congrats to making an affordable autobahn bred sports car obtainable by the working class.

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  VW Secret - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By J Stajk - January 30 - 3:33 pm

  The GLI is great vehicle I love the way this car handles, shifting is smooth, gas mi 30 mpg hwy. Hard to stay under 70. Best vw Ive ever owned.

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  Enough Said! - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By VR6 Power - January 30 - 10:00 am

  Plain and simple; a rocketship on wheels.

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  Permanent Grin - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By ubeR32 - January 30 - 10:00 am

  This is my 3rd VW VR6 and by far the best. VW got just about everything right on this car. The Haldex AWD and the engine combination provide a well rounded, every day driving, performance rocket. I’ve driven in STi and Evos and felt like I needed to visit the chiropractor afterwards. The R32 provides a stiff but comfortable ride. The sound of the exhaust is something that is constantly turning heads of people expecting to see an Italian exotic. The car in Black or Silver will definitely fly under the radar and "blend in". But I digress; this car is a blast to drive and is equal, if not better in some respects, than other performance coups (M3, S4, 911)

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  Fun to drive - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Terry Comstock - January 30 - 10:00 am

  Weve had no problems!

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  Beatle Review - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Robin Tauchert - January 30 - 10:00 am

  Good looking, fund to drive, rides almost as good as my Passat. Feels like a much bigger car. Love the ease of putting the top up and down. Like the higher bucket seats instead of your legs straight out in front on you with the low bucket seats in most sport cars.

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  Fun for me! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By suzzyq - January 30 - 10:00 am

  This is the most fun car I own. Also have a convertible Mercedes SLK and a Mercedes M Class. Would not have as my only car. But as a fun second car you cant beat it. I get more compliments, waves, grins and conversations than any car I have ever had and I have had a lot.