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 cars - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By rlvwgirl - December 23 - 10:05 am

  Maybe I am just anothr "lucky one", but I love my 2007 Passat. Prior to this VW I owned a 2000 Passat that I drove to 168k miles that had NEVER been in the shop for any repairs other than general maintenance. This 2007 car has NEVER been in the shop excluding brake maintenance and two recalls that did have to do with the computer system. Overall I think these cars are a great value, fun to drive, get good gas mileage, and the maintenance expenses are reasonable.

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  Great car! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Happy VW owner - December 22 - 10:00 am

  This car is a great example of a combination between safety, reliability, and sportiness. The price tag is a little heavy but this is better than anything Japan or Detroit could dish out.

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  The GTI - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By kevykev12 - December 22 - 10:00 am

  I really enjoy this car. Its got good power, it looks good. The hatchback gives some extra space. The moonroof is cool. My problem with the car thus far, has nothing to do with the car but the manufacturer. It seems that all repairs on my car when they become necessary will have to be done at the dealer. An overpriced dealer, where at this point, Ive been unsatisfied with their lack of professionalism and lazy service. With all of that said, once again, I love the car, and would consider buying another GTI/Golf in the future if the rectify some of their buisness practices.

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  Jetta TDI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By RJ - December 22 - 9:10 am

  This is a great car - the only drawbacks are its limited number features. You cant order an 06 model at this point so had to take what I could get. It is still a great car that looks good and is great on fuel. Its acceleration is definetly there, though it takes a little while to get going from a dead stop. It has plenty of acceleration so long as you arent racing.

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  Love my CC - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By B. from FL. - December 22 - 4:06 am

  My first German car, and Im impressed. Before my purchase I looked at several American made cars and I was disappointed in the materials used, the power of the 4 cylinder motors. I have owned both Toyotas and Nissans. No style in the Toyotas and not happy with service Dept. with Nissan. The CC drives great drove 9 hours to Key West second week I had it, averaged 32 Miles to the gallon using high test 93 Octane. Get lots of compliments on interior and exterior. Please dont make this a 5 seater 4 is perfect, this is a Sports sedan. I read that several people have had trouble with transmission, I think it is there coordination, I enjoy it better than my Nissans sport CVT trans.

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  Best Wagon Compromise - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Elijah Gregory - December 21 - 7:26 pm

  Have had 2 Audi A4s with quattro, but just moved to an area with no dealer, and like to have them close at hand. Also with the birth of our third child, the A4 became too small. With the larger interior of the Passat, this was perfect. Looked at the A6 wagon, 535 wagon, E class wagon, Volvo V70. The first three were just too expensive right now and the volvo may show up for my wife in a few years. For the price, the VW could not be beat. I only wish it was at least RWD if not AWD. The torque steer coming out of my office parking lot (rough traffic - have to gun it) has been rather harsh. I certainly miss the sportier character of the 2 Audis.

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  best compact suv for 30k - 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Adrian - December 20 - 10:34 pm

  I did a lot of research for a compact suv and the last 2 standing were the tiguan and the mazda cx5. While the cx5 drives a little nicer and has a sportier look, the tiguan is more comfortable (by far) and a lot roomier. First test drive with the tiguan was in normal mode and I almost ran back to the mazda dealership to get the cx5. But once in sport mode, the tiguan is driving quite nicely. You can also customize it any way you want: steering, suspension, transmission, etc. The deciding factor in the end was the warranty: 6yrs / 72k miles! Plus I got a great price through edmunds ($2.5k under msrp for a SE 4Motion with sunroof) and 1.9% apr with vw finance. The real life mpg is great (better than advertised): for the first 100+ miles, 70% highway, it shows 30mpg. All in all, definitely an suv you should consider. If you live in the Chicagoland area, I had a great experience with the PUGI vw dealership in Downers Grove. They do go the extra mile to earn your business.

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  Perfection! Except to the LED lights. - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By poloz - December 20 - 2:13 pm

  I bought it used with 25,000 miles on it as a 1 year old vehicle for under $15k. I love to drive it as it is both comfortable and sporty. Great ride and I would buy it again in a heartbeat. Just get ready to put Premium Fuel in it. I have no problem doing that as it gets close to 600 miles per tank and averages 32 highway. The only flaw is with the Exterior Design. If you live where is snows, the taillights will get completely covered by snow as they are LED and dont heat up at all, as I recently discovered in a blizzard. That can be scary. Ill just have to move out of the snowbelt because this car is worth it. GET ONE!

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  European versus Japanese - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By bigstepper - December 20 - 8:20 am

  I recently bought a VW Passat Komfort wagon for my wife. The car has been great so far. After 5 days in my Lexus, its fun to drive my wifes car on the weekend. I really cant ever say Ive felt that way about my other cars. If VW can solve some of its past reliability issues ( and it looks like they are trying hard to do so) I think middle America will rediscover the brand.

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  Lots of praise and no regrets - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By J Hall - December 19 - 7:43 am

  Originally I was looking for an upgrade to a small SUV but couldnt find anything with pep, decent MPG, and a sticker below $25000. So on to the hatches! $20-22k was more in the price range and the Rabbit perfectly fits the bill. This thing has so much ROOM for a hatch. Its amazing. The only roomy complaint I have is that the drivers knees are *slightly* cramped. There is plenty of length, but something feels a little too tight when it comes to the steering wheel and the knees. But thats it! Thats about the only complaint. The interior, exterior, ride, zip/power, handling, and features are way beyond the competition. 4door auto, ESP, sunroof, alloys, and 170HP for $20k. Nice.