Nearly 2.5 million Golf family models sold in the U.S. market
Production in Puebla, Mexico, ends in January
Herndon, VA — Volkswagen of America announced today that the critically-acclaimed Volkswagen Golf ended production for the U.S. market last week. Volkswagen expects that the model year 2021 Golf models built at the Puebla, Mexico plant will sustain sales of the affordable, European-designed hatchback through year-end. The Golf family name will carry on in the model year 2022 with the introduction of the all-new Mk 8 Golf GTI and Golf R, arriving this Fall.
“Over four decades, the Golf has delivered a great value to American drivers,” said Hein Schafer, Senior Vice President, Product Marketing and Strategy, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “It exemplified what Volkswagen does best—melding dynamic driving characteristics with purposeful packaging and unmatched quality. While the seventh-generation Golf will be the last of the base hatches sold here, the GTI and Golf R Golf will carry its legacy forward.”
In the U.S., nearly 2.5 million Golf family models have been sold since 1974. A Golf model has earned a spot on Car and Driver’s 10Best list for the last 15 years in a row, and the current-generation Mk 7 Golf was named North American Car of the Year when it debuted for the 2015 model year.
The 2021 Golf is available in one well-equipped trim—the Golf TSI. It features a 1.4-liter turbocharged and direct-injection engine, which makes 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The TSI® engine is mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic® and achieves EPA-estimated fuel economy of 29/39/33 (city/highway/combined) and 29/36/32 respectively.
The value-driven Golf TSI offers a host of standout features. On the exterior, LED DRLs and taillights give an unmistakable lighting signature, and automatic headlights with rain-sensing windshield wipers are standard, as are heated washer nozzles. Golf rides on 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, wrapped in 205/55 all-season tires, and features KESSY® keyless access and a panoramic tilt-and-slide sunroof. Inside, premium materials are used throughout the driver-centric cabin, where the leatherette steering wheel and seating surfaces and heated front seats are standard. Volkswagen Car-Net® and App-Connect keep drivers connected, and driver assistance features include Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring (Front Assist), Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Traffic Alert.
Pricing for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf with a standard six-speed manual transmission starts at $23,195. The eight-speed automatic transmission starts at $23,995. The destination charge for all Golf models is an additional $995.
Seven Generations of Golf (U.S. Model Years) Golf I: MY 1975-1984
First sold in December 1974 as “Rabbit” in the U.S.
The 1.5-liter engine with 70 hp
GTI introduced in 1983 with a 1.8-liter 90 hp engine
Golf II: MY 1985-1992
Sold as “Golf” in the U.S.
Dimensions grow by nearly 7 inches in length, 3 inches in wheelbase, and 2 inches in width
The standard engine is revised 1.8-liter with 85 hp, GTI introduces 2.0-liter engine with 131 hp
The catalytic converter, anti-lock braking system, and power steering debut
Golf III: MY 1993-1999
Design shifts to a wedge shape
The base powertrain is 2.0-liter with 115 hp, GTI goes to available 2.8-liter VR6® with 172 hp
Front and side airbags debut, advances in body construction result in improved crash safety
VR6® engine and cruise control offered for the first time
Golf IV: MY 1999.5-2005
All-new design with flatter windshield and roofline carried further back with the steeper rear window
Electronic stability control and side curtain airbags debut
1.8T engine introduced for GTI, bringing turbocharging to this generation of GTI
R32 introduced for 2004 with 240 hp, six-speed manual, and 4MOTION all-wheel drive
Golf V: MY 2006-2009
New multi-link rear suspension; rain-sensing wipers introduced
Sold as “Rabbit” again in the US
DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmissions debuts as an option for GTI and the standard transmission for R32; Bi-Xenon® headlights introduced on both models
The base engine is 150 hp 2.5-liter, GTI moves to 200 hp 2.0-liter turbocharged direct-injection engine
R32 reintroduced for 2008 with 250 hp
Golf VI: MY 2010-2014
“Golf” name returns for the U.S.
A prominent character line runs from headlights to taillights
The base powertrain is 2.5-liter with 170 hp
Golf R introduced for 2012, with the VR6 engine replaced by a 2.0-liter turbocharged direct-injection engine pushing 256 hp
Golf VII: MY 2015-2021
Based on Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) architecture
Golf grows in size yet drops in weight, despite a plethora of new and upscale features
Facelift in MY 2018 features included revised headlight and taillight designs, redesigned bumpers, and infotainment and driver assistance updates
Base 1.8-liter TSI 170 hp engine replaces 2.5-liter to gain an EPA-estimated 6 mpg highway, later replaced by the 1.4-liter TSI engine in 2019
GTI and Golf R powered by new versions of the 2.0-liter TSI engine, with up to 228 hp for GTI and up to 288 hp for Golf R (both achieved with premium fuel) Available driver-assistance technology includes Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, Forward Collision Warning, Park Distance Control
