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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  Impressed. . . - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Woz - December 17 - 2:46 pm

  Every-time I get behind the wheel of my Jetta, it brings a smile to my face! It is actually fun to drive again! The car handles the roads in WA with ease, and it shifts smoothly. The car definitely loves being in higher RPM, and drives well at low RPM. The trunk is another impressive thing! At 16 cu.Ft. It can handle a big stroller, luggage and other things with ease. Friends are impressed with how much we can back into a "compact" car. Our Jetta is just a base 5 speed manual, but it doesnt feel like it at all. Its a huge upgrade from any domestic brand. Road handling both side streets and highway is solid and predictable without being boring.

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  Fun little sporty sedan - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By RobAtSGH - December 17 - 4:43 am

  I drove pretty much every small to midsized Japanese sedan before buying the Jetta. The only cars that came close in their standard configurations were the Nissan Sentra-S and Altima. The VWs features, handling, and interior quality were well above anything else I tested. Plenty adequate acceleration, torque-y little engine, great handling, and a well-crafted overall package. It feels faster than it is, but thats good because its really easy to misbehave in this car. A nice entry point into German-designed cars - sporty, solid, and wonderfully engineered. A classy commuter thats also fun to buzz the backroads with on the weekend.

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  The Jetta is a Blast - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jeff - December 17 - 4:10 am

  Let me tell you, all it takes for the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS Wolfsburg is new software and youre making 230 hp. My Jetta is heavily modified and its a blast to drive. Ive pulled on cars that probably thought I didnt stand a chance. With simple bolt-ons this 1.8T is a real contender.

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  3rd jetta - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By doc - December 16 - 3:20 am

  my third. had a gen 3 and 4. traded the 4 for the gen 5. wanna turbo it later. a little on the slow side for me. but it keeps up with normal cars. sounds system would rock if my door panels didnt rattle with it hahah. only problom i have seen. love the car.

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  Great little car - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Mark - December 15 - 12:20 pm

  Searched for over 3 months to replace an aging Jeep. I wanted a hatchback for its space and size. We looked at the Fit, Versa, Mazda3, Mini, Caliber and numerous others. The finish and quality of the Rabbit was the best. The performance is outstanding, I love the turn radius and size. With my old cherokee, I had a little extra space in my garage. With the Rabbit, I have even more with the same responsiveness and HP as the old 4.0L inline 6 in the Jeep with significantly better gas mileage - it doubled. The dealership I purchased it encouraged naming it, so we now call it Rascal! (after Elmer Fudd wascally wabbit)

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  title - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By tlume - December 15 - 10:00 am

  its a great car - much overlooked

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  good - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By rasit - December 15 - 10:00 am

  this car is a lovely car but if you buy this car from the right dealer.i would never go to east cost automall again which they located in nj in englewood.the car runs perfect and its a fun car.its pretty quick and reliable.

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  You Will like it - 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By Jm519632 - December 15 - 10:00 am

  Its a fun to drive, I like to call it a bus or a truck. I own 7 dogs and they travel with us everywhere. this van is very under rated.

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  Awsome - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By golfie2003 - December 15 - 10:00 am

  great car, fun to drive, quick ,stylish, loads of options for both exterior and interior,Id say a 10

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  Best Of The Lot - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By wolfman009 - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I researched many SUVs such as Infinity, Nissan, Acura, Lexus, Honda, BMW and Toyota and found the Touareg superior to all of them. VW has done an excellent job with their first entry into the SUV market. This is one vehicle I was really excited about buying. Hope the Touareg turns out to be reliable , if so it will be the best vehicle I have ever owned.