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:

• 

  Touaregs are tops - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Mike Bronkowski - April 29 - 10:16 pm

  The best vehicle I have ever owned. Great looking inside and out. You feel safe and secure inside it. A joy to drive. Great handling, perky engine and powerful drivetrain, solid construction, roomy interior (front seats) cozy seats and a smooth ride. Going to the gas pump often is offset by the car performance.

• 

  2005 Beetle - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By jackson - April 29 - 9:46 pm

  I was very excited to buy my 2006 Volkswagen Beetle. Its cool looking and fun to drive, but belive every bit of bad press that you read because the build quality is awful. I own a 1971 VW that is actually more reliable than this thing. Save your money and sanity and buy something else.

• 

  Great car - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By realmathilda - April 29 - 7:07 pm

  I have a 2001 Passat with over 211,000 miles on it and I will keep it for another 211,000. This is a great car, no problems German engineering is terrific. I take care of my cars. I have read some of the other reviews on this site and all I can say is this. When people write in all caps with exclamation points they are usually crazy drama queens and flying off the handle is common place for them. They are led around like puppies by their emotions or they are young kids that dont understand many things about life but believe they know it all. They havent come to the age of understanding what real problems are and everything is a major inconvenience because they lack the patience to endure.

• 

  Europe to America - Passat all the way! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By iahmed - April 29 - 10:00 am

  I got a Passat. I have been driving Passt in Europe and I have been a loyal VW lover. I enjoyed driving my passat in UK and when I moved to America. I brought a new passat and I could feel the same power, driving experience and passat sense while driving on American roads. Passat is one of the best vehicles I have ever driven in sedan-4door- category cars. I enjoyed driving passat before and after my wedding.

• 

  AgStrk - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lichi - April 29 - 10:00 am

  All around a fun car to driv. VW made significant stride in quality improvement. The 2002 Passat is a far cry from the 1982 Quantum that I owned.

• 

  Problems - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By Patty - April 29 - 10:00 am

  I really like the TDI golf, but I have had many problems with the car. It is the first car that I ever purchased new. All 4 tires went bad at 12,000. The brakes went bad at 25000. A window fell down in the door and the door has never been able to open correctly. The engine light is on now, dealer says it needs a new relay ($250). I wonder whats next!

• 

  yee-freakin-ha! - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By jazzypaul - April 29 - 10:00 am

  I just took delivery of my GTI, and man, this thing is fun to drive. On top of it being very quick, it also stays glued to the road, and all of the controls are easy to figure out and easy to reach. On top of that, Im a professional drummer, and even with as little as the car seems to be, I can fit my entire drumset in the car with ease. How many cars are that fun to drive AND are practical too? Not too many. Man I love this car...

• 

  Love it love it loveit - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lori H - April 29 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. It look great, it runs great and it gets great gas mileage!! I love it so much more than the malibu I was driving!

• 

  Good bang for the buck... - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Chris Vader - April 29 - 10:00 am

  Im really very impressed with the quality and amenities on this car. We bought the basic "GL" model, and are very satisfied with it; the only feature I miss is the electric windows. The handling is pretty nimble for a wagon of its size. As for the engine and tranny, were still in the break-in period, so weve avoided flogging it too much. The car also swallows a huge amount of stuff with the rear seats folded, in part due to the high roofline. Were all smiles.

• 

  Bang for the Buck! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By NewVWowner - April 29 - 10:00 am

  The perfect blend of style, luxury, and performance; it appeals to true driving enthusiasts for a reason. The interior was designed with the comfort of its occupants in mind. The exterior is understated, yet makes a statement. This car is built solid, and technoligically sophisticated for a $20k price tag.