Volkswagen Golf (Germany, 1997-2006)

The VW Golf Mk4 debuted in 1997, drawing everybody’s attention to its more mature design, superior quality and sophistication, along with improved equipment levels. It eventually became the most sold car in Europe and stood in that position for a while.
Nevertheless, the Golf Mk4 was actually a tad more expensive than the similar models within its class at that point in time, due to its higher sophistication and quality interiors. Volkswagen wanted their vehicles to climb up in the class scale, i.e. move them up to the premium class instead of the conventional one.
There was no Mk4 Cabriolet release for the Golf, despite Mk3’s Cabrio minor “facelift” that made it similar to the sedan version, while adopting some of the Mk4 hatchback’s frontal design characteristics. On the other hand, the Mk4’s sedan version that the Golf generated was the VW Bora.
Although the Golf Mk4 has been replaced by its subsequent generation in 2003 (in Europe), some countries still manufactured and/or sold it until 2006.

For the Golf’s fourth generation, Volkswagen provided some extra innovation in high-performance engines, especially for the 2002’s R32 version with its 3.2L VR6 engine. It was also included on the Mk4’s range a 1.8L turbocharged gas engine, as well as the 12-valve 2.8L VR6.
In general, petro engines available ranged from a humble 1.4L to the R32’s 3.2L, while varying among 8, 10, 16, 20 or 24-valve. In a general perspective, these engines had an output power between 74 and 238hp.
The diesel engines were all 1.9L 8-valve, available in SDI and TDI versions and ranging from 67 to 148hp outputs.
Available transmissions for the Mk4 Golf were the 5-speed and 6-speed manual, as well as a 4-speed automatic.
The Golf’s variants could come either with front-wheel or four-wheel drive.

Platform The Golf Mk4 is based on a Volkswagen A4 platform.   Suspension (no data)   Steering (The 109 GT TDI Mk IV has two-way steering adjustment)   Brakes (Mk4 Golf’s anti-lock brakes have an anti-skid electronic stability program.)

The Golf Mk4 comes in three standard versions: three-door hatchback, five-door hatchback and a five-door station wagon.
This car stood out from its previous generations because of the higher levels of interior quality, equipment and design maturity that it was supplied with, along with a somewhat arched styling. Volkswagen provided it with twin front airbags, side airbags, ABS and Isofix system on the back seats for a child seat attachment.