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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  Acceleration woes - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By kshanagahn - November 18 - 10:00 am

  Impressive looks, excellent handling, and smooth, powerful engine. The all wheel drive was excellent even in deep snow - better than prior suvs Ive owned. Only complaint: Ive have had a problem with acceleration when I really needed it. Slammed the gas and nothing!! It hesitates for maybe 2 seconds and then takes off. Very scary when an 18 wheeler is about to T- bone you. The dealer doesnt have a clue as to why.

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  New Wagon - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By 760 Rod - November 18 - 10:00 am

  Have owned VW`s for over 30 years. The new Passat GLX wagon is really a fun car to drive, we get lots of people asking us what kind of wagon is it.Every one we talk to wants one now. Very fine fit and finish on the whole car.

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  wagon werks - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rusty33 - November 18 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle can be summed up in two words- fuel mileage. Nothing in its class even comes close. If one is looking for rubber burning performance, I suggest a look somewhere else. On the highway, this car delivers with a quiet, communicative ride. Interior room is adequate, but six-footers need not apply for a position in the back seat. Build quality is what we have come to expect from VW. No tinny doors on this one. The leather cleans up nicely after a good day at the beach. Overall, we are very satisfied with this current model and would recommend the experience to those looking for a stylish ride, adequate get up and go, and exceptional fuel economy.

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  Great - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By xGQ727x - November 18 - 10:00 am

  This car looks great inside and out and it drives awesome. My favorite car was the jetta, and after i got it i loved it even more.

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  Fun car to drive - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jpcarvaj - November 18 - 10:00 am

  This car is fast enough to take you safely to work. Driving this car makes me feel 5 years younger. The 6 speed manual transmission is amazing if you live in areas with no heavy traffic. Perfect clutch length makes it easy to switch gears. After three months of ownership I have to say that the perfomance and quality are outstanding. Ill be happy to update my review if anything goes wrong with my Jetta.

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  Nice advertising not so nice car... - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By karlb - November 18 - 10:00 am

  Good luck with this car... Before you buy, take a look at the service hours. Determine if you can afford to take 1/2 - 1 day off from work to have your car serviced. Note: they do have weekend hours but only for certain types of service. They will not provide a loaner car for certain types of service. You guessed it, if the service you need done during the week does not fall into the right category theyd be happy to rent you a car! Poor automatic transmission. It audibley clunks when it is required to downshift. I would not purchase a VW again... My prior car a Nissan Sentra was surrounded by excellent service, good hours and lasted me 160,000 miles.

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  Paint Problems - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Sean - November 18 - 12:30 am

  I love my Beetle. I have always driven Cherolets, but I love my VW Bug. It is amazingly fun to drive and looks great...BUT...it has major paint issues. I have the Harvest Moon (Cream) colored Beetle. My front bumper has been in the shop six times in under a years time! It has been very disappointing.

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  Structure - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By wozzie - November 17 - 6:30 pm

  I recently hit a large buck in my Touareg. Although the buck was large enough to total a car, my Touareg handled it perfectly (like the tank it is) and got me safely through the accident with minimal damage. Although it has lousy fuel economy, when it comes down to safety, the Touareg is an excellent vehicle to drive where I live in Pennsylvania where there are LOTS of deer.

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  Touareg - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Corey - November 17 - 9:50 am

  The vehicle overall is fantastic. It performs great, is comfortable and has all the creature comforts anyone needs. The gas mileage is awful in my V8. Reports said that it should have averaged 16-17, but I have never gotten 17 except on long trips. I average 13- 14 overall. But my biggest complaint is spending $50,000+ on a vehicle and having it in the shop a half dozen times for electrical issues. VW was supposed to have this issue solved, but apparently no one told the folks that are still making the vehicle!

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  stay far away from VW -Worst Car ever - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By atan - November 16 - 10:00 am

  I bought a vw passat 2.0T from The Autobarn VW of Mount Prospect by seller vic 2 years ago . I change almost everything in this car.also sellers in vw deale so mean,they only nice the day selling the car and after they dont give dam what s gonna happen.I will never buy another VW.Do not spend any dime for this junk car.From day one this car caused problemsHow can you make this vehicle more reliable without having to bring it into the shop all the time.this car is a junk,electrical component failures,multiple check engine lights