There's no way you can gloss over the Volkswagen Golf when you're talking about all-time iconic vehicles. Volkswagen initially found success with its first 'people's car' the Beetle. However, during the 70s several other cars had overtaken the Beetle, and sales were beginning to drop. Volkswagen was starting to struggle, and the need for change was beginning to become very real.
After several years of prototyping, the first Golf made it off the production lines and got the honor of being one of the few classless cars on the road. Everyone loved the vehicle, from celebrities to regular everyday individuals, even the Pope had his Golf. Ever since it came out in 1974, the car has made it through seven generations. Each generation is bringing out an iconic vehicle that would reinvent people's opinions on small cars.
Here's a catalog of all the best Volkswagen Golf through the years!
15 1974 Volkswagen Golf MKI
The car that is known as the Beetle killer, the original Volkswagen Golf MK-1, is available in both a 3-door or 5-door version. It was incredibly successful selling millions of units in the first year of production. It changed up the formula with front-wheel drive, and an engine in the front, with most small hatchbacks following!
14 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI MKI
Two years after the MK-I, Volkswagen wanted to generate a formula for a faster car. They took the same body from the original MK-I and put in a more powerful engine. The new 1.6-liter is capable of producing 108-horsepower. This Golf GTI is capable of going from 0-60mph in 9.0 seconds!
13 1982 Volkswagen Golf – GTI Oettinger
The Golf GTI MK-I is marketed as the quickest Volkswagen ever, and it became a benchmark for the hot-hatch category. However, under Volkswagen's noses, Volkswagen France, in partnership with Oettinger, came out with a limited edition of the Golf GTI 1.6. It featured a brilliant body-kit and an increased power output of 136-horsepower.
12 1985 Volkswagen Golf MKII GTI
For many car enthusiasts out there, the MK-II Volkswagen Golf GTI is where they managed to perfect the GTI formula. It was fast, powerful, and an absolute blast to drive. The car was more significant than the original Golf GTI, but it had a larger 1.8-liter engine. It's capable of going from 0-60mph in 8.7 seconds, and can reach a top speed of a 118mph!
11 1990 Volkswagen Golf GTI G60 MKII
The G60 is another edition of the performance GTI's that car enthusiasts covet. What makes the car so unique is the supercharged 1.8-liter inline-4 petrol engine. It allows the G60 to accelerate from 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds, and the vehicle can reach a top speed of 134mph. At the same time, the car offers a decent fuel economy!
10 1993 Volkswagen Golf GTI MKIII
While many car enthusiasts look back at the MK-III as a massive disappointment, its responsible for bringing in some crucial changes. It took the Golf economy up a level and became the benchmark for future cars to follow. However, the cumbersome size and lifeless steering make this one of the less coveted Golf's out there!
9 1993 Volkswagen Golf VR6
The VR6 is an exceptional vehicle. Despite being in one of the disliked generations of the Golf, you can't deny the quality of the VR6. At the heart of the car is the 2.8-liter V6 engine that would make close to 174-horsepower. This car was capable of blazing from 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds!
8 2000 Volkswagen Golf V6 4Motion
The MK-IV generation brought a comeback for the Golf and went a long way towards improving their tarnished reputation. It is powered by a 2.8-liter V6 petrol engine and is capable of producing a massive 201-horsepower. It's capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in 7.0 seconds. The brilliant 6-speed manual gearbox would distribute the power correctly!
7 2002 Volkswagen Golf R32
Volkswagen's Golf R32 is one of the shining lights in the much-maligned MK-IV generation. Underneath the hood is a 3.2-liter VR6 engine that's capable of producing 247-horsepower. The result is a 0-60mph time of 6.4 seconds. At the same time, the car is capable of taking on corners at high speeds.
6 2002 Volkswagen Golf GTI 337
The MK-IV had to go through a lot of criticism, but the 337 limited editions went some way towards improving their reputation. Powering the car is a 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder engine that's capable of producing 180-horsepower. It's also easily recognizable because of the brilliant shiny silver color, and custom red brake calipers!
5 2004 Volkswagen Golf GTI MKV
While the MK-IV is one of the more criticized generations of the Golf, the expectation for the MK-V was still through the roof. Volkswagen certainly delivered this time with a 197-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine. The engine supports the weight of the car correctly, and allows the vehicle to accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds!
4 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 30
The Edition 30 marks thirty years since the inception of the first Golf hot-hatch, and is available in both a 3-door and 5-door version. Powering the anniversary edition is a direct injection 2.0-liter inline-four engine that produces close to 227-horsepower. The car is capable of going from 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds!
3 2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI MKVI
With every generation of the new Golf, fans are super excited to see how capable the new Golf GTI is going to be. The MK-VI is one of the shining examples of Volkswagen getting the Golf right. It features a 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo engine that's capable of blazing from 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds!
2 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI MKVII
The seventh generation of the Volkswagen Golf GTI is faster than the previous generation while being more substantial in size as well. With a performance pack, the car has an engine that's producing a maximum of 220 horsepower. It's capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in a blazingly fast 6.4 seconds.
1 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI MKVII
While we're waiting for the release of the 8th generation of the Golf GTI, the current 7th generation is a perfect hot-hatch. It's got the same 2.0-liter turbo-four engine that's capable of producing 228-horsepower. However, Volkswagen manages to get more performance out of the car with it capable of going from 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds!