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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  Wow - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By matt3319 - February 23 - 10:00 am

  I have been a GTI fan since my first one in 1986, but the whole package of this model didnt appeal to me until the 17 inch wheels where offered. My silver rocket with leather and roof and monsoon is top notch in most aspects from tons of low end torque to the whine of the turbo. my window clips broke on a rainy night, that sucked. Really no other problems expect those cup holders block the stereo.

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  Fun car to drive - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By TurkZero! - February 23 - 10:00 am

  The car has exceptional ride and handeling for a vehicle of its size. The drivers seat is comfortable and adjustable. The vehicle seems much larger than it really is. The car feels solid and confident until pushed to its limits.On the dependabiltiy side, there still seems to be some issued that need attention. My car had an start and stall routine from time to time. The engine and transmission require close attention to keep the motor from redlining. The engine revs fast and requires shorter shifts than the 150 hp 5 speed. It is a good car and a good choice for single or two passenger vehicle.

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  great car , diesel or otherwise - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By chris Armstrong - February 23 - 12:46 am

  I have owned many european cars over the years.I chose to purchase a 2010 Golf TDI for the fuel economy and price point .To date it has exceeded my expectations.It is an enjoyable drive,great road manners.The cloth seats are very comfortable and supportive.The interior is thoughtfully laid out .TDIs get 40+mpg hwy. and 30+mpg city.A federal tax credit of $1300-$1700 dollars.

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  Still, the only car I want to drive - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Nate - February 21 - 12:23 am

  I was so happy to have the chance this car near the end of 2004. I enjoy driving it every time an errand or my work calls me. I enjoy its superior build quality over domestics and Japanese cars. The R32s were well thought out and built for more than economy savings. I cant stand the cheapo Japanese and domestic interiors. Tuning companies are quickly suppling everything an R owner could want. With those options, this car has few limitations. I can only imagine being more happy in a M3. But the M3 isnt my style, nor in my pocketbooks range.

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  Excellent Car - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Danilo - February 20 - 5:40 pm

  This car is wonderful, it has a very powerful 4 cylinders engine, I would say it has more power and acceleration than many V6 engines on the market. The interior and exterior design are impressive. I really love this car. Its the best car I ever had.

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  hot new touareg - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Dan - February 20 - 11:43 am

  this is the best car i have ever owned.. performance and handling are outstanding ... the only drawbacks are: - the v6 is slightly under powered 0- 60, tough very robust from 30-100, - it sucks down gasoline.

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  A bit over whelming! - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By raindaytoo - February 19 - 7:32 pm

  It was love at first sight. That ended quickly. First noticed that the ignition key would become extremely hot, although, it did not happen all the time. Then, I would notice the info screen to bleep out, then come right back on. This had happened several times. Next, while driving, hit a pot hole, bubbled the tired. Replaced the tire. Came back the next day, because of error message on the screen. Then the mileage, other info messages where not working. Took the car in, replaced the cluster, stated they found nothing wrong with the ignition. Well, the key still gets hot. A little upsetting. Oh yes, one more thing, acceleration is sluggish.

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  A great car just keeps getting better - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By Lt. Frank Drebin - February 19 - 3:46 pm

  First of all, carbon slate is the new color for this model and I highly recommend. The driving experience is great, in drive the car gets excellent mpg and in sport mode the car is a true sports car from the rigid suspension, 200bhp turbo engine is unleashed and distinct metallic German exhaust note that is a refreshing change from exhausts on Asian cars. With proper throttle management turbo lag becomes undetectable. The exterior of the car has been made more muscular with aggressive headlights, dual exhausts, tail light design borrowed from the tourag and red accents in the grill and calipers. Interior wise its refined due to a lot of parts from the Audi A4

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  I love my car - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Michael - February 18 - 7:23 pm

  I drive a lot. I have about 12000 miles on my Jetta and I only bought it in January. I went with the wolfsburg and it has everything that I wanted in a car.

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  loved my vw jetta se - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bijoupali - February 18 - 11:30 am

  Ive owned a 2008 VW jetta se for one year. I absolutely loved it. Its comfortable. Its fun to drive. Its reliable. The interior is very roomy and sexy. The exterior is also pretty. I drove the car in icy weather and it had very good control. The esp in it actually does work and makes it easy to regain control if you do begin to lose control. The only downfall to this car that I can remember is that the mpg isnt nearly as good as VW says it is. Its closer to 24/25 mpg not the 32/33 mpg that they advertise. Overall, its a great car and worth every Penny. Im actually about to buy another one, because I absolutely loved it.