Volkswagen

Volkswagen is headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany, and sells brands like Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Porsche and Lamborghini, in addition to its namesake.

VW took a hit in the U.S. in 2015 due to an emissions scandal related to its diesel engines, and it pivoted toward investing in electric vehicles as a partial result. The ID.4 compact electric SUV launched for 2021 and was followed by the long-awaited ID. Buzz minivan for 2025. The ID. Buzz’s retro styling recalled the classic Microbus design, but its underwhelming driving range and high price limited its appeal. After just one model year, VW paused production and it skipped the 2026 model year.

VW’s traditional gas-engine SUVs include the subcompact Taos, compact Tiguan, three-row Atlas and two-row Atlas Cross Sport, which is like the Atlas but with a sleeker roofline. Sedan offerings have been pared down to one: the compact Jetta. Likewise, the Golf hatchback is now available only in sporty GTI and high-performance Golf R forms.