Volkswagen / Golf / 5-dr hatch range
Overview
THE Golf is an iconic name in world motoring.
There have been more than 23 million sold in 30 years of production and it surpassed the Beetle as Volkswagen’s number one seller two years ago.
Now, almost a year after it went on sale in Europe, the fifth generation Golf is on sale in Australia.
The first iterations we see are all five-door hatchbacks, but there is plenty of other choice with two petrol and two diesel engines, three transmission types and three specification levels to mull over.
Stronger, safer (a five-star Euro NCAP performer) and cheaper than its predecessor, Golf V is an evolutionary but compelling entrant in the small car category.
Model release dates: August 2004 - February 2009
Previous model
A gutsy new diesel may be the headline act of the fifth generation Golf range, but an oil-burner wasn't available in the previous, fourth generation Golf launched here in October 1998. Featuring a fully galvanised body, it was also the first Golf with a V5 engine, while Golf IV also spawned the R32, its 177kW V6 making it the most powerful Golf ever. Golf sales eclipsed those of Beetle when 21,517,415 units were produced globally by 2002, while production of the fourth generation Golf was phased out in 2003 after 4.3 million units.
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