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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  rosemary12 - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rosemary12 - February 18 - 7:19 am

  I bought this car in August of 2012 from the VW Dealer in Bedford Ohio. I bought this Jetta new after selling my BMW 5 series before walking into the dealership. I decided to buy a Jetta since I heard that many people who drive BMWs have switched to the the Jetta model since they like the German engineering. Biggest mistake I made in my life. I paid cash for the car and got a black sel with every feature you could get-including navigation and special wheels. All said and done I paid over $30,000.00 for this car with an additional extended warranty. As for the interior the plastic seats are very uncomfortable. No power adjustable seats, no telescoping steering wheel. Sold this car!

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  Nice looking but at a price - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By nohoguy - February 17 - 11:40 pm

  Bought the car because I liked the styling, the handling and the turbo engine. These good things about the car are lost in the inconvenience this car has brought me. Since I got this car four years ago, I have had five lightbulbs blow out - two in the headlights, two in the console and one taillight. The armrest has broken twice. Both power windows have malfunctioned. Plastic shielding has fallen out of the moonroof twice, one time falling on my shoulder. Worst of all, my ac failed right in the middle of summer, for my ac problem I went to an ac specialist who tested my ac for $0 while the dealership in Santa Monica wanted to test it for $200. No joke, these cars are very unreliable.

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  Simply Brilliant - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Steve - February 17 - 6:10 pm

  The combination of the versatility of the DSG transmission (spring for the extra grand) with an amazingly torquey engine, makes this one special car for the price. The four door version, in my opinion, improves its profile over the two door model, not to mention it adds utility. The GTIs fit and finish are of the highest quality. Its a better looking than the Audi A3 for about eight grand less. The only downside so far is that collision insurance (as with most VWs) costs quite a bit more than average.

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  Love My Bug - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Tammy - February 17 - 5:06 pm

  I love how it handles. Its very peppy and fun to drive! It feels very solid!

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  Not much to complain about - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By shankmeister - February 17 - 10:00 am

  This car has been stone reliable (mine is a German car). I live in the NE, and these roads are horrible, especially in winter. The Golf has been a great companion for my long distance commute, and I will probably never own a car that costs less per mile. And it is VERY good in the snow with snow tires.

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  So Far So Good - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By JS/SJ - February 17 - 10:00 am

  Bought car in 2/03; a month ago drove from Chicago to Glacier Natl Pk & back. Drove like a dream at ALL speeds. 8,500 now on odometer. Only prob so far: warped brk rotor, which dlr replaced for free. Just received a letter from VW stating that they are "replacing all ignition coils in cars potentially affected whether a malfunction has occurred or not" YAAY

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  littleporsche - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By vacation - February 17 - 10:00 am

  black with cream interior. Lots of fun to drive, get lots of looks and people telling me it looks great. Good performance, turbo is the only way to go. Good stereo. Top fits well, had a minor problem but dealer fix it while I waited. Nice little extras, turn lights in side mirrors and time and temperture in front frame of windshield. Not a lot of room in back seat, but not to cramped. Small trunk.

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  Just test drove the 3.6 and WOW! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tony - February 17 - 4:10 am

  I just test drove the 2006 Volkswagen Passat 3.6 today and I have to say that it was, well...WOW! The responce of the gas peddle was very impressive. The interior was beautiful and very well thought out. I have been looking at an Audi A6, Mercerdes-Benz E500, and BMW 525i and I would have to say that for the money of the 3.6 it is a definate buy.

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  Excellent all the Way Around - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By WagsVW - February 17 - 1:00 am

  My 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is a high quality car. The diesel is great. Dont let the horsepower fool you. It has tons of low-end torque. Its steering is tight and it corners great. Plus it has tons of VW goodies.

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  Dont waste your money! - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Jess - February 16 - 3:50 am

  This was the first car I ever bought and have I ever regretted it! It has absolutely no room. Not to mention all the mechanical problems Ive had with it from the moon roof to the locks and the trunk latch breaking. It is definitely not worth the money. VW is way too pricey for this all around poor quality car.