Volkswagen has officially ended production of the base-spec Golf, forecasting the age upon its iconic hatchback. However, it will not be the last of the nameplate in America as the Mk.8 GTI and the Golf R will be arriving soon on American soil. Perennially popular, the Golf has seen nearly 2.5 million units sold in the US, after VW first introduced it to the industry back in 1974.
With an opening price of just over $23,000, the Golf brings European flair for people on a budget. The modern Golf is built in VW's plant in Puebla, Mexico. Over the years, the factory has built the legendary Beetle and the 2022 Volkswagen Taos small SUV.
A couple of things to see whether the news of this Golf causes you to be stunned. VW says that there ought to be enough base Golfs to sustain sales throughout the close of this season. The next brings more expectations, particularly if you're a fan of "sensual hatches."
The Golf family will continue to make the all-new Golf GTI and Golf R. These sporty models are set to arrive this autumn. They have ostensibly not axed Golf hatchback models that will come with souped-up performance, a win-win situation.
Several Golf variants have made to Car and Driver's "10 Best lists" for the previous 15 years in a row, and also the current-generation Golf has been named North American Car of the Year as it surfaced for the 2015 model year.
“While the seventh-generation Golf will be the last of the base hatches sold here, the GTI and Golf R will carry its legacy forward,”- Hein Schafer, senior vice president of product marketing and strategy at Volkswagen of America
The 2021 Volkswagen Golf comes with a 1.4-liter turbocharged mill making 147 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque and currently remains available using an automatic or manual transmission.
The 2022 Golf GTI will have a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 245 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic as an option.
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Model |
Key Facts |
|---|---|
|
Golf I: MY 1975-1984 |
Sold as the “Rabbit” with a 70 hp motor, with the GTI trim debuting a 90 hp motor in 1983. |
|
Golf II: MY 1985-1992 |
First model to get the “Golf” badge in the US. Came with 85 hp as standard with a 131 hp GTI model. Catalytic converter, ABS & Power Steering made way with this model. |
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Golf III: MY 1993-1999 |
Power upgraded to 115 hp in standard model, 172 hp VR6 motor makes way in GTI. Cruise control, front and side airbags make their debut. |
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Golf IV: MY 1999.5-2005 |
Side curtain airbags, ESC debut. Turbocharging and AWD (R32 model with 240 hp) make their way in the lineup |
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Golf V: MY 2006-2009 |
VW brings back the “Rabbit” name. Base engine upgraded to 150 hp with GTI model tuned to 200 hp. The R32 model gets 250 hp. Multi-link rear suspension, rain-sensing wipers, DSG transmission & Bi-Xenon headlamps introduced. |
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Golf VI: MY 2010-2014 |
Golf R debuts replacing the VR6 motor with a 256 hp turbocharged motor. Base model powered bumped up to 170 hp. |
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Golf VII: MY 2015-2021 |
MQB based Golf debuts with a 1.8-liter 170 hp motor replacing the 2.5-liter. The 1.8 gets further replaced by a 1.4-liter TSI motor in 2019. GTI model upgraded to 228 hp and the Golf R to 288 hp. |
From a marketing prospect, it makes sense. Few new-car consumers are choosing small hatchbacks like the Golf in favor of crossover SUVs such as the VW Tiguan. Prices for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf start from $23,195 and the automatic transmission version starts from $23,995.
