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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  TDI going strong - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Waldini - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Ive gto a 97 TDI that Ive piled on 175K miles. Ive had a few electrical problems and the alternator was replaced with a rebuilt. But this car gets 50 MPG and has great pickup. The heater is so hot it will burn your face and the a/c will freeze you out. I hope to keep running it for a couple hundered thousand more.

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  GTI 337 owns ALL - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Gateway99vw - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Best VW ever made to date. Nuff said.

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  BEST TRUCK IVE EVER OWNED - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By MMMMM - October 31 - 10:00 am

  THIS TRUCKS FIT AND FINISH IS THE FINEST IVE SEEN. THE HANDLING AND RELIABILITY IS THE BEST IVE EVER EXPERIENCED IN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED

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  BEST VEHICLE EVER - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By VWPIMP - October 31 - 10:00 am

  I love this truck....Nothing better...Revolution in vehicle design

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  Excellent SUV! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By knoel - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Weve had our V6 Touareg for about a month now and absolutely love it! Its our first VW vehicle and selected after carefully looking at the Lexus GX470. For $10K less and a better rating by Car and Driver it was an easy decision. Actually like the exterior better than the sister car the Cayenne. Excellent experience with the Sales and Service Team at Duke Golds Speedway VW in Indy!

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  not too shabby - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jetta02 - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Very stylish and fun to ride. I recently had problems with the transmission though and thats why i had to take points off for reliability.

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  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By danprrrrtrr - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Leased a 2000 before this 2003 and loved it. Most of this review will be to compare the two models (exact same). The handling, performance, price and amenities are, in that order, unmatched in other cars in the class. If you like to drive, the Passat is the one youll buy after test drives. That said, one beef I have with the 2003 is the softer ride. Its still neutral around curves (no over or under steer). The increased horsepower (150 to 170) is fairly noticable and appreciated but comes with an equally noticable drop in gas mileage (approx. 30 to 27 around town).

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  N east jetta tdi sedan Auto trans - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By northeastjettaowner - October 31 - 10:00 am

  So far(2500miles)-so good. averaging about 45 miles per gallon of fuel! Handling is good. Several sqeaks in the interior dash and doors. Overall very good handling and GLS features.

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  Great little car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gtruk - October 31 - 10:00 am

  I traded in a Mustang Bullitt for this car and am not disappointed. Although I miss the 275HP and 315torque, this car makes up for that in character. I have 10k miles and havent had any major problems yet! The only problem Ive had so far is a small squeak coming from the glove box. The gas mileage is alright, but could be a little better for a 6 cylinder. The materials used for the interior are light years ahead of US car makers and everything fits snug. My ears actually pop when I roll up all the windows! The only annoying thing is having to pull the headrests out when you want to fold down the rear seats. Overall this is a great car and Id recommend it.

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  Volkswagen Passat - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By anthoney costa - October 31 - 9:16 am

  This car is horrible. Never in my life will I ever purchase a Volkswagen again. It has been nothing but a horrific expereince. I have had to make so many repairs to my Passat that I have almost put in a new engine. Volkswagen was very non-responsive to my needs. I had to replace wires that broke due to corrosion. This car is horrible, horrible, horrible. Anyone thinking of buying a Volkswagen should think long and hard and I promoise you, I am not making this up. Buyers beware. I hope that I am helping someone with this review.