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! - 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
  By buggin - June 6 - 3:12 am

  Very nice VW, handles well, plenty of room, plenty of horses, decent fuel, Fender stereo.....like no other, panoramic moonroof lets the sun in and no heat, very comfy for my 1:45 commute. Tons of trunk space. We have had Audi, Volvo, etc, this is our favorite.

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  VW still needs to go to finishing school - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Snarly VW - June 5 - 7:30 pm

  When I bought the car used with 25K miles, I checked the service history with my VW dealer and found out that it already had a replaced alternator, water pump, and one other component they couldnt determine. I started having rear drive problems after I bought it. Found out the Haldex unit was toast and was replaced under warranty. Although handling was excellent, the car was overweight and the AWD didnt fully compensate. Interior had the same groans and moans as my previous 03 Anniverary Edition GTI. The Ann. Edition was a better value for the money. Overall, the R32 provides a rewarding experience, but the premium is high, and reliability is a hit and miss proposition.

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  Ughhh so disappointed - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By iloveu21 - June 4 - 4:18 pm

  i 1st bought my car from a used dealership..i loved my buggy and was so excited...BUT the 1st week i bought my car my gadge for my gas was not telling me the proper amount of gas in my car since my car still had a warranty the dealer fixed it. 4 months after that my check engine light came on,and ever since then my car never has been the same...check engine light comes on sometimes for no reason, my cars alternator broke, my engine system broke, and i have gotten to a small car accident which just broke my radiator which just cost me $150...but still it was ridiculous and now after having it for just a year my transmission is DONE and now all that money wasted on fixing my car is nothing now

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  Impressive Improvement - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By smcgaughey - June 4 - 12:23 pm

  Having gone from a 2003 Passat to a 2006 model I am impressed. The 06 models motor is more potent. It is quiet, comfortable, has great storage space in front, and is very well thought out and designed. I think this car is a superb town car and great on the road. I got much more than I thought I would be getting.

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  Lovin the Wagon - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dmill - June 3 - 9:20 pm

  My 2005 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon is fun to drive and comfortable. I have not had any problems with it. Its smooth ride is excellent on long trips.

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  Great car, for a good price. - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ahmad - June 3 - 3:48 am

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  This is a sweet car !!! - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By almegastar - June 2 - 9:03 pm

  I owned 38 vehicles since I started to drive, this is the ultimate car, It has attributes I ve been longing for , it has snappiness, comfort, 5 star safety, economy ( low 40 MPG), not to mentioned German engineering quality @ mid- $20K. I waited for this car ( Black on Black) for 4 1/2 months , but its worth the wait. Volkswagen USA , you will sell this like these cars like Hot cake !!!

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  Great Sportwagen! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Donnie Blue Eyes - June 2 - 5:46 pm

  I wanted an "adventure-mobile" to replace my beloved 1993 Toyota Corolla. I checked out the RAV4, CR-V, and Escape but they didnt do it for me. Then I found the VW Sportwagen. After four thousand miles it has performed flawlessly. It has a strong engine, solid build, ample cargo room and excellent MPG. The ride on the highway feels lush and well cushioned. The handling is very agile and responsive. My one real complaint is that the sunvisor is too short! They cut off three or four inches to accommodate a fancy ceiling console that I hardly ever use. Not a deal- breaker but it just seems kind of dumb to me. Tinting the windows should take care of it which I was going to do anyway.

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  LOVE the car! - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gustik - June 2 - 2:03 pm

  i really love this car! it is my first one, and i absolutely adore it. learning to drive between a punchy audi and a huge suburban, this is the perfect car for me. it is a great size, its super nice looking, and its a very smooth ride.

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  i give it a tennnnnnnn a tennnnnnnn - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By johannes356 - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I have now had my gti for over a year and this is one of the most fun cars I have ever driven. Performance upgrades such as a chip and intake will take horsepower to 220 range and torque to 250 and gas milage is still at around 30 mpg. Its incredible. Simple addition of 500 dollars in aftermarkets and WRXs are in my rearview all day long. They never see it coming.