Autoknowtive
Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen has built the Golf since 1974. Autoknowtive’s catalog has 16 of them, from the 1974 Volkswagen Golf I to the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Variant. Body styles here: Hatchback and Wagon. Sold new in North America, Europe and Asia.
- Built
- 1974–today
- Brand from
- Germany
- Body styles
- Hatchback and Wagon
- Sold new in
- North America, Europe and Asia
- In the catalog
- 16 cars, 4 of them concepts
How it changed
Power went from 54 hp in the 1974 Golf I to 333 hp in the 2025 Golf R Variant. It got heavier along the way: 845 kg for the 1974 car, 1,546 kg for the 2025. The most powerful here is the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R at 333 hp (248 kW), more than 72% of the cars in the catalog. Quickest from 0 to 62 mph: the 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTE, in 4.6 s.
Every Golf in the catalog
1983 Volkswagen Golf II
1998 Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet
Convertible version of the VW Golf IV was never made. Instead, the Golf III Cabrio was facelifted to give it the frontal styling of the Golf IV hatchbacks.
Text: press release via NetCarShow
Photo: NetCarShow
2007 Volkswagen Golf Variant RaVe 270 Concept
The Volkswagen Golf Variant RaVe 270 is a concept car. It makes it unmistakably clear how much potential lies in the Golf Variant, both in its design and basic technology.
Text: press release via NetCarShow
Photo: NetCarShow
2009 Volkswagen Golf
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
2010 Volkswagen Golf GTD
Volkswagen has launched a new Golf highlight on the market: the Golf GTD.
Text: press release via NetCarShow
Photo: NetCarShow
2012 Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion Concept
At the 2012 Paris Motor Show, Volkswagen has revealed one of the world's most fuel-efficient cars: a concept of the new VW Golf BlueMotion. This Golf - powered by another new 1.6-litre TDI (turbodiesel) - consumes just 3.2 l/100 km; this value equates to CO2 emissions of a mere 85 g/km.
Text: press release via NetCarShow
Photo: NetCarShow
2013 Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan Concept
2014 Volkswagen Golf R 400 Concept
2017 Volkswagen Golf GTD Variant
In the Golf GTD and GTD Variant, the crossbar and winglets have an all-chrome finish.
Text: press release via NetCarShow
Photo: NetCarShow
2017 Volkswagen Golf GTE
2020 Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf's design has always been considered the benchmark of its category - for seven generations it has been continuously enhanced, refined and in parts reinvented time and again.
Text: press release via NetCarShow
Photo: NetCarShow
2022 Volkswagen Golf R Estate
Photo: NetCarShow
2024 Volkswagen Golf Variant
2025 Volkswagen Golf R
2025 Volkswagen Golf R Variant
Specs side by side
| Car | Power | Torque | 0–62 mph | Top speed | Weight | Engine | Drive | Gearbox | EPA combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 Golf I | 54 hp (40 kW) | 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) | 16.8 s | 89 mph (143 km/h) | 845 kg (1,863 lb) | 1.6 L inline-4 | Front Wheel Drive | 4-Speed automatic | — |
| 1983 Golf II | 69 hp (51 kW) | 98 lb-ft (133 Nm) | 14.5 s | 99 mph (159 km/h) | 919 kg (2,026 lb) | 1.6 L inline-4 | Front Wheel Drive | 5-Speed manual | — |
| 1998 Golf Cabriolet | 90 hp (67 kW) | 149 lb-ft (202 Nm) | 13.4 s | 109 mph (175 km/h) | 1,170 kg (2,579 lb) | 1.9 L inline-4 | Front Wheel Drive | 5-Speed manual | 24 mpg |
| 2007 Golf Variant RaVe 270 | 140 hp (104 kW) | 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) | 9.8 s | 127 mph (204 km/h) | 1,377 kg (3,036 lb) | 2.0 L inline-4 | Front Wheel Drive | 6-Speed manual | — |
| 2009 Golf | 140 hp (104 kW) | 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) | 9.7 s | 131 mph (211 km/h) | 1,495 kg (3,296 lb) | 2.0 L inline-4 | Front Wheel Drive | 6-manual speed | 25 mpg |
| 2010 Golf GTD | 140 hp (104 kW) | 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) | 9.7 s | 131 mph (211 km/h) | 1,495 kg (3,296 lb) | 2.0 L inline-4 | Front Wheel Drive | 6-manual speed | 32 mpg |
| 2012 Golf BlueMotion | 140 hp (104 kW) | 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) | 9.7 s | 131 mph (211 km/h) | 1,495 kg (3,296 lb) | 2.0 L inline-4 | Front Wheel Drive | 6-manual speed | — |
| 2013 Golf Sportsvan | 200 hp (149 kW) | 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) | 5.1 s | 155 mph (249 km/h) | 1,361 kg (3,000 lb) | 2.0 L inline-4 | All Wheel Drive | 6-speed manual | — |
| 2014 Golf R 400 | 200 hp (149 kW) | 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) | 5.1 s | 155 mph (249 km/h) | 1,361 kg (3,000 lb) | 2.0 L inline-4 | All Wheel Drive | 6-speed manual | — |
| 2017 Golf GTD Variant | 184 hp (137 kW) | 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) | 7.9 s | 144 mph (232 km/h) | 1,475 kg (3,252 lb) | 2.0 L inline-4 | Front Wheel Drive | 6-speed manual | 29 mpg |
| 2017 Golf GTE | 310 hp (231 kW) | 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) | 4.6 s | 155 mph (249 km/h) | 1,505 kg (3,318 lb) | 2.0 L inline-4 | All Wheel Drive | 7-speed automatic (DSG) | 29 mpg |
| 2020 Golf | 310 hp (231 kW) | 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) | 4.6 s | 155 mph (249 km/h) | 1,505 kg (3,318 lb) | 2.0 L inline-4 | All Wheel Drive | 7-speed automatic (DSG) | 32 mpg |
| 2022 Golf R Estate | 320 hp (239 kW) | 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) | 4.7 s | 155 mph (249 km/h) | — | 2.0 L inline-4 | All Wheel Drive | 7-automatic speed DSG | 28 mpg |
| 2024 Golf Variant | 150 hp (112 kW) | 162 lb-ft (220 Nm) | — | 139 mph (224 km/h) | 1,365 kg (3,009 lb) | 1.5 L inline-4 | Front Wheel Drive | 7-speed automatic DSG | 27 mpg |
| 2025 Golf R | 333 hp (248 kW) | 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) | — | 155 mph (249 km/h) | 1,473 kg (3,247 lb) | 2.0 L inline-4 | All Wheel Drive | 7-speed automatic DSG | 27 mpg |
| 2025 Golf R Variant | 333 hp (248 kW) | 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) | — | 155 mph (249 km/h) | 1,546 kg (3,408 lb) | 2.0 L inline-4 | All Wheel Drive | 7-speed automatic DSG | 27 mpg |
Power is the figure quoted for that version. Fuel economy is the best EPA combined rating, US models only.
Rivals
Cars from other brands in the same class, with similar power and from the same years:
Think you’d know one?
Every car on this page can turn up in the game. Spot It starts with a blurry close-up, Model Year asks you to date the photo, and the Daily gives you six guesses at one car. More Volkswagen models are on the Volkswagen page.