Volkswagen Golf

Years1974–2024

Generations40

Total variants1,873

Body stylesWagon · Hatchback · Convertible · Van

PlatformVolkswagen Group A1 platform · Volkswagen Group A2 platform · Volkswagen Group A3 platform · Volkswagen Group A4 platform · Volkswagen Group A5

DesignerGiorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign · Herbert Schäfer · J Mays · Peter Schreyer

AssemblyGermany: Wolfsburg · Australia: Clayton · Belgium: Brussels · United States: New Stanton, Pennsylvania · South Africa: Uitenhage · Malaysia: Shah Alam · Mexico: Puebla, Puebla · Yugoslavia: Sarajevo

PredecessorBeetle

SuccessorID.3

AwardsCar of the Year Japan (2013) · European Car of the Year (1992, 2013) · Japan Import Car of the Year (2004, 2009, 2021)

Also known asCaribe (Mexico) · Citi Golf (South Africa) · GTI (United States, Canada) · Jetta SportWagen (United States) · Jetta SportWagen (North America) · Rabbit (United States, Canada) · Vento Variant (Argentina, Uruguay) · VW Bora HS (China, 2006–2008) · VW City Golf (Canada, 2007–2010) · VW Golf Town (2009–2010)

The Volkswagen Golf is a wagon, hatchback, convertible and van model, produced 1974–2024, spanning 40 generations with 1,873 variants in the Cars-Data.com database. Generations covered include the Golf Variant Facelift 2024 (2024-), Golf Facelift 2024 (2024-), Golf Variant (2021-2024) and Golf (2020-2024). Body styles across the Golf lineage span wagon, hatchback, convertible and van, reflecting different market positions throughout production. The Golf (1998-2003) generation is the most extensively documented, with 140 variants across engine options, transmissions, and trim levels. Each variant page provides engine displacement, power in HP and kW, 0–100 km/h acceleration, top speed, fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, dimensions, and list price at launch.

Generations · 40

Choose your Golf generation.

Top specs for this modelTop max speed Best average consumption Dimensions Towing capacity Range

Quick answers

How many generations does the Volkswagen Golf have?

The Volkswagen Golf has 40 generations with 1873 total variants in the Cars-Data.com database. Each generation has its own page listing all variants with engine specs, performance figures, and consumption data.

What years was the Volkswagen Golf produced?

The Volkswagen Golf has been produced 1974–2024. Throughout this period the model evolved across multiple generations, each introducing new engine options, body styles, and technology upgrades.

What body type is the Volkswagen Golf?

The Volkswagen Golf is available as Wagon, Hatchback, Convertible, Van. These body styles reflect the different market positions and use cases the model has served across its production history.

MK8.5Platform · 2 body variants

Generation	Power	0–100 km/h	Variants	Price	Score
Golf (1974-1981)1974–1981	64 hp	14.4 s	9	€7k–€12k	★ 3.3
Golf (1974-1981)1974–1981	59 hp	15 s	10	€8k–€10k	★ 3.2
Golf (1981-1983)1981–1983	71 hp	14.7 s	10	€8k–€13k	★ 3.3
Golf (1981-1983)1981–1983	59 hp	16 s	8	€9k–€12k	★ 2.8
Golf (1983-1986)1983–1986	74 hp	15.1 s	25	€10k–€19k	★ 3.7
Golf (1983-1986)1983–1986	73 hp	15.6 s	25	€9k–€18k	★ 3.5
Golf (1986-1992)1986–1992	81 hp	13.7 s	51	€11k–€26k	★ 3.8
Golf (1986-1992)1986–1992	81 hp	13.7 s	51	€11k–€27k	★ 3.9
Golf MK3 (1991-1997)1991–1997	91 hp	13.3 s	62	€13k–€33k	★ 3.3
Golf (1992-1997)1992–1997	91 hp	13.3 s	62	€14k–€34k	★ 3.4
Golf MK4 (1997-2003)1997–2003	114 hp	11.4 s	139	€17k–€43k	★ 3.2
Golf (1998-2003)1998–2003	114 hp	11.3 s	140	€17k–€45k	★ 3.1
Golf MK5 (2003-2008)2003–2008	124 hp	10.7 s	132	€18k–€47k	★ 3.3
Golf MK5 (2003-2008)2003–2008	124 hp	10.7 s	132	€18k–€48k	★ 3.0
Golf MK6 (2008-2012)2008–2012	126 hp	10.1 s	87	€18k–€50k	★ 3.6
Golf MK6 (2008-2012)2008–2012	127 hp	10.1 s	89	€19k–€50k	★ 3.4
Golf MK7 (2012-2017)2012–2017	131 hp	9.4 s	117	€20k–€53k	★ 4.2
Golf MK7 (2012-2017)2012–2017	137 hp	9.3 s	65	€19k–€52k	★ 4.2
e-Golf (2014-2016)2014–2016	116 hp	10.4 s	1	€36k	★ 2.0
e-Golf Facelift 2017 (2017-2020)2017–2020	136 hp	9.6 s	2	€33k–€39k	★ 2.6
Golf Facelift 2017 (2017-2020)2017–2020	144 hp	9 s	75	€23k–€60k	★ 3.8
Golf Facelift 2017 (2017-2018)2017–2018	224 hp	6.9 s	8	€21k–€56k	★ 3.7
Golf (2020-2024)2020–2024	140 hp	9.1 s	28	€27k–€84k	★ 3.9
Golf Facelift 2024 (2024-)2024–present	165 hp	8.2 s	18	€34k–€89k	★ 3.2

Volkswagen Golf

Choose your Golf generation.

Golf Variant Facelift 2024 (2024-)

Golf Facelift 2024 (2024-)

Golf (2020-2024)

Golf Variant Facelift 2017 (2017-2020)

e-Golf Facelift 2017 (2017-2020)

Golf Facelift 2017 (2017-2020)

Golf Facelift 2017 (2017-2018)

Golf Variant (2013-2017)

Golf MK7 (2012-2017)

Golf MK7 (2012-2017)

Golf MK6 (2008-2012)

Golf MK6 (2008-2012)

Golf MK5 (2003-2008)

Golf MK5 (2003-2008)

Golf MK4 (1997-2003)

Golf MK3 (1991-1997)

Golf (1983-1986)

Golf (1983-1986)

Golf Cabriolet (1983-1986)

Golf (1974-1981)

Golf (1974-1981)

Golf Variant (2021-2024)

e-Golf (2014-2016)

Golf Cabriolet (2011-2016)

Golf Variant (2009-2013)

Golf Variant Van (2009-2013)

Golf Variant (2007-2009)

Golf Variant (1999-2006)

Golf Cabriolet (1998-2002)

Golf (1998-2003)

Golf Variant (1993-1999)

Golf Cabriolet (1993-1998)

Golf (1992-1997)

Golf Cabriolet (1986-1993)

Golf (1986-1992)

Golf (1986-1992)

Golf Cabriolet (1981-1983)

Golf (1981-1983)

Golf (1981-1983)

Golf Cabriolet (1979-1981)

Volkswagen Golf: names by market

How performance changed across generations