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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  Honda/Toyata guy converted to VW - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By VW convert - October 25 - 5:30 am

  I am 100% satisfied with my Rabbit. For me, the Rabbit was a perfect balance of economy and performance. I had considered a whole spectrum of vehicles- from a Toyota Yaris to a Mazda Mazda3 hatchback. The VW Rabbit sits somewhere in between those two models in terms of mpg and is competitive with the Mazda3s performance, though I might say the Mazda has better handling. One thing that the Rabbit, and German cars in general, have over any other car I was considering was its awesome build quality. My Rabbit is a small car and is by no means a tank, but it feels as strong and tough as one. Hondas and Toyotas feel like tin cans compared to VWs. The Rabbit is also very zippy and fun to drive.

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  Great small car - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Pawita - October 25 - 5:06 am

  This car is a pleasure to drive! I never have had such a fun experience driving this vehicle, its great for long trips and grocery store visits. This is durable and reliable, its reponds quickly and effectively

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  2006 Model JETTA TDI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mechanobot - October 25 - 4:06 am

  It is probably the best car I ever owned. Comfort, reliability, and yes, MPG! I do take pictures from time to time to show people and even drive around some skeptical colleagues. I do get on a highway about 52-53 mpg ! yes, that is right, not a typo, and about 45- 47 in the city. It has pickup, torque, fast acceleration (you can drive in manual too) and is real good quality made.

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  ggggrrrrrrrreat - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tony touch - October 25 - 3:10 am

  the best car ive ever owned. pure precision, in every way.

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  Good buy - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By shawnl - October 25 - 2:00 am

  purchased due to good price for almost luxury-type car. step above accord and camary and much more fun to drive. interior looks exactly like a friends A4

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  YOU GOTTA BUY THIS CAR!!!!!!! - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By br1an - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I am having a great time driving this car..never been grocery shopping so many times in one day! I dont know what else to say except that this car has so much to offer. Compared to other cars, price wise, this car has it all. YOU HAVE TO SEE THE CAR IN PERSON to know what I mean. Very thoughtful layout.

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  Excellent German-Designed Car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By J B Books - October 25 - 2:00 am

  The Jetta Turbo gas model performs well, has comfortable seating, excellent Monsoon sound system, great sports suspension, and rates the safest of any auto on the Consumer Reports/NHTSA crash tests: 5 star head on and 4 star side crash. The car has been reliable and is a poor mans BMW.

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  Love my Tiguan - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By John - October 25 - 2:00 am

  This is the third VW Ive owned and I love it even more than the others. Nice, clean styling combined with easy to use controls and great performance around town, make the Tiguan a fantastic vehicle to drive.

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  Mercedes Nightmare - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By rr2011 - October 24 - 8:29 pm

  this has been the best car i have ever owned i will never go back to BMW or Mercedes but rather Volkswagen or Audi they have really stepped up their design and performance of their cars making them fun and inexpensive to drive. my Volkswagen cc vr6 4 motion so far is the best car i have owned.

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  Happy so far! - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bronster - October 22 - 8:50 pm

  So far, very happy. Granted, I just bought it, so take this for what it is. LOVE the torque! Like the solid/stable feel on the road. My Civic was atrocious in winter and wet conditions, hence I got rid of it. The VW already feels 100% better - winter will be the big test tho. Did I mention that I LOVE the torque?? Interior is very nice. Comfy seats. Sparse on storage cubbyholes, but I can live with that. Less reason for me to put more crap in the car that I dont need. Nice and quiet on the road. Drives very smooth. Will be too easy to get a speeding ticket if Im not careful, so I appreciate the speed warning (setting) feature! Plenty of power in this car! Great cargo space & stereo.