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:

• 

  I LOVE MY JETTA!! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bandgeek19 - May 10 - 11:19 pm

  I got my 2004 VW Jetta used after losing my 96 Honda civic in a tragic accident. I love everything about my Jetta. I live in IA so the heated seats are a really nice feature to have. I feel super safe in it because its heavy, and has every air bag in every place you need them to be. I havent had any big problems with it and its super fun to drive. Its a great car for liability and I wouldnt trade it. I used to love hondas, thats all I ever owned. But after driving my Jetta, I really have a liking to Volkswagens! People say theyre expensive to fix but I repaired two things on it and found someone to do it cheap. Just look around for the right person! If you live in Iowa, go to Bensons

• 

  Almost 2 years now!` - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By vegasjon - May 10 - 3:07 am

  I wrote an earlier review when I first got my CC in Aug 2011- Now its Almost May 2013 and this car has been phenomenal. I had 2 BMWs prior to this vehicle and I was at first skeptical since I an a huge BMW fan, but the CC has surprised me! I have not had one issue with it, and I get a lot of questions about it- "What car is that?" "Is that a Mercedes?" I get around 31 hwy and 26 city, so the MPG is not too bad. The 2.0 turbo is pretty quick and I tend to drive on the performance side of things, so the CC has met my expectations! Its the black model and it just looks sharp!

• 

  I do love my Jetta - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By SarahZ... - May 10 - 2:00 am

  I have wanted a Jetta for years, and I finally got a 98 this past December. I love it. Its fast, fun to drive and seems to be very reliable. I think the cup holder situations stinks, they are way to small. And the fact that the GL has roll down windows also stinks, I had a 90 Oldsmobile with power windows! Anyway, I so far love this car- its almost everything I want in a car. I love the german feel and design.I love the way the car shifts. I have been told VWs are very expensive to maintain... and I believe it. Well wish me luck-

• 

  Great family sedan - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ericba13 - May 10 - 2:00 am

  This is a very solid car. I have the AWD version, which is slow, even with the V6, but a great handler a very luxurious. That said, the AWD is an incredible safety feature in rain, snow, and around corners and it makes for a very safe car. (In fact, all of my cars will be AWD from now on). If you can sacrifice some power, this is the best midsize car on the market.

• 

  My Jetta - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Alissa - May 10 - 12:33 am

  The V6 in this car is amazing, it picks up and goes so fast. I just cant say enough good things about this car- driving, handling, comfort, and the very tiny blindspot. The changed the body style for 2005, I must say that this style is, in my opinion, the best. All in all, its great.

• 

  Best German sedan - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By ps - May 9 - 7:50 am

  The Passat 2.0T with all the options is a superbly equiped German sedan at a bargain price. If you are considering an Audi A4 or a BMW 3-Series, get the Passat instead, you will get a car that is fully equiped with the size of the 5-Series or an Audi A6. The Passat has also a lot more perosnality than an Accord or a Camry. I traded a 2003 Audi A4 for mine and I do not regret it. A BMW 3-Series with the same equipment would have cost me $10,000 more, which is not worth it....

• 

  Not Bad at All - 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By cfr5555 - May 9 - 2:20 am

  I bought the car new in 2007 and have enjoyed it ever since. Good performance, but the handling could be a little tighter. MPG is constantly around the 30 mark. I have 40000 miles on it and it has not given me any trouble. There were a couple of squeaks/rattles at the beginning but they have since vanished. I would recommend this car from my personal experience. Happy Motoring.

• 

  Excellent MPG, excellent car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By flicken - May 8 - 9:33 pm

  My primary reason for purchasing this car was its mileage ratings. I chose between this car and the 2004 Toyota Prius. Unfortunately for Toyota (and thankfully for me), I needed a new car before the new Prius was released in the United States. Currently at 65k miles, the car has required no maintenance other than the regular servicings. On long trips, I have averaged up to 60 mpg. Typically, i average around 47 mpg in regular (75% highway, 25% city) driving.

• 

  Perfect - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By chris - May 8 - 5:50 pm

  I absolutely love this car. DSG! WOW! The sport hatch is back. I went from driving a Honda back to a Volkswagen. There is no comparison unless you are straight line racing this car. The GTI is such a comfortable, roomy and well thought out car.

• 

  Great, great, great - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Pata - May 8 - 10:33 am

  I have my 2008 GTI for almost a year now, and I have to say every time I get into it I still smile. When I get on the road and I have to get onto the highway the power of this car takes my breath away still. My husband has a honda si and that is a great car too but when I drive his car, I miss my GTI, I just love the instant turbo power you get when you step on the gas pedal, and you dont have to down shift to get that power. I have had lots of people stop and tell me how much they like my car, or ask questions. This is one great car, comfortable, fast, great on gas, I put snow tires on it for the winter and it was great in the snow, and I always feel confident driving this car. I Love it