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:

• 

  This is one mean Rabbit - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Alain M - August 5 - 5:10 pm

  Completely satisfied with this car, no problems at all. Really fun to drive thanks to its 170 torque. Lots of leg room!!

• 

  Best Gti Ever - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By jdscha - August 5 - 5:10 pm

  I have had this car for a few weeks. I have put 500 miles on it so far. I have been looking for any type of manufacturing defects but have not found one yet.

• 

  Great car, for an automatic - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mike p - August 5 - 10:00 am

  i bought the car a coulpe years ago, other then the problems that i caused i havent had any. ive had two jettas my VR6 which i love, and a 1.8t that was not so good to me. really its a hit and miss the these cars the VR6 headlight are shot and the cup holders are falling out but still work,other then that the leather is in perfect condition and the interior is just awesome overall. the 1.8t although 5 speed between the trany, clutch, oil leaks, break dust all over my expencive rims, arm rest, and others it had to go. the VR6 has plenty of power and good handling if i can keep up with 09 cobalt ss T/C and eat RX-8s for breakfast i wont complain, untill i can do more under the hood

• 

  Nice car, great mileage, no quality. - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Hercules - August 5 - 10:00 am

  This is a nice little car. The interior is very user friendly and the exterior is about as good as you can get with an economy car. Downsides, dealers mark up from MSRP because of tax credit of the TDIs. The build quality seems lacking. Within 3,000 miles it had a small oil leak which turned out to be a faulty crankshaft seal. Also the side marker lamp went out and the dealership (Lewisville VW) claimed something hit it yet the lens was still intact and undamaged. Bought the car for dependable long didtance rides but having serious doubts about it now....

• 

  passat hater - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By passat hater - August 5 - 10:00 am

  I havent even had this car for a year and I hate it! bought it used and I was so happy, Low mileage (47,000) and great looking but it wasnt long before the check engine light came on. Got that fixed now its on again. The enterior is peeling and the knobs are falling off. They must have been on a strict budget building this one. Just looking forward to the day I can trade it in for a toyota!!! And the Premium gas and Oil stinks too.

• 

  Excellent machine! - 2011 Volkswagen GTI
  By Gary Haikin - August 5 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased the car a week ago, was very lucky to find candy white I wanted with the manual transmission. I was shopping for Audi A4, but realised that significant premium in price is not worth it. It has vertially the same engine and the same features (except Quattro), since Audi eliminated all goodies last year to save money. Engine is very powerful and torqey. Its a lot of fun to drive, it has a well appointed high quality interior. Its rather spacious inside and looks nice outside. Though the last one is according to the taste. The gearshifter is precise, the brakes are strong and the steering is tight. The dashboard layout is convinient and instrument cluster is easy to read.

• 

  Impressive ride - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By TJS - August 5 - 10:00 am

  Had a Jetta which I loved, traded to a CC 4Motion. Wow, quiet, fast, nimble, and sleek in and out! Best VW I have owned.

• 

  Very Safe - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lauren - August 5 - 3:03 am

  So I bought this car in April and just got it back the other day after it being fixed for a month. At the end of May I was on the Interstate and hit a deer in the left lane...Airbags went off and I spun into the middle lane because the deer hit me from the side/quarterpanel. The airbags didnt hurt me. I was fine, and I was lucky, but I think this car kept me safe because it pretty much crunched in to absorb all the impact. I was sad to see my brand new car smashed up but I was OK, and now its fixed so it doesnt matter. I had a Jetta when I was 17 and got into an accident with that too. They are built to keep you safe.

• 

  Never Look Back - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By mrtoad - August 4 - 11:33 am

  Ive driven this car for five full months now and it has performed beyond my expectations. Around the neighborhood or across the state, wonderful! I initially thought the seats too firm. Negative. Ive got a bad back and for the first time in years, I can make a six hour drive and still walk standing straight-up. Performance is excellent for 170 HP motor and the build quality far exceeds the Asian rivals. The quiet on the highway is almost eerie. It is quite amazing how much gear you can store in the cargo area WITHOUT laying the seat-backs down. All of this and the Golf comes with a functional rear seat, 26 mpg in town and 35 on the highway. Such a deal!

• 

  Major Disappointment-horrible in snow - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By gailspike - August 3 - 4:32 pm

  My experience has been a disappointment. From the first month I have had miscellaneous electrical issues. Had the electronic parking brake stick numerous times, it took a couple visits to dealership to replace sensor. Another sensor is when closing the trunk the entire locking system freezing up- said it is a safety feature, nothing wrong with car??? Now gas gage issue...dual fuel sending units. Being a female I get the runaround unfortunately I have to bring my husband to get results. Plus I research VW Vortex with all the other disappointed owners. I had Toyotas for 30 years and NEVER had to bring them back for anything but general maintenance. I cant afford to trade it & buy ano