VW Golf Variant

Volkswagen Golf Variant
Production period:	Since 1993
Class :	Compact class
Body versions :	Station wagon

The VW Golf Variant is a station wagon model from the Volkswagen brand . The car is available in five generations (Golf III Variant, Golf IV Variant or Bora Variant, Golf V Variant, Golf VI Variant and Golf VII Variant), each based on the platform of the hatchback VW Golf of the corresponding generation.

Golf III Variant (1993–1999)

1st generation
VW Golf Variant (1993-1995)
Production period:	1993-1999
Body versions :	Station wagon
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.4–2.9 liters (40–140 kW) Diesel engines : 1.9 liters (47–81 kW)
Length:	4340 mm
Width:	1695 mm
Height:	1430 mm
Wheelbase :	2475 mm
Empty weight :	1060-1455 kg

Customers had to wait a long time for the first Golf Variant (type designations: initially 1HXO, later 1H for the passenger car and 1HXOF for the truck version). The company management often viewed it as a competitor to the VW Passat Variant, which was not that big at the time . In terms of size, this was ranked in the Passat B1 and B2 series between Opel Kadett Caravan and Opel Rekord E (from 1986: Omega ) Caravan.

The VW Passat B3 , released in mid-1988, showed excellent space utilization, so that it offered almost the same space as the Opel Omega Caravan. This created an additional market niche for a smaller station wagon.

This niche was filled in September 1993 with the appearance of the Golf III Variant. The "golf with a happy ending" (advertising slogan) was soon one of the hits in the golf program. The caravan models Opel Kadett / Opel Astra , which had been the market leader up to that point , now faced strong competition. The combination with the TDI engines, which were introduced around the same time, resulted in long delivery times for the Golf Variant. This combination is still a very popular company car today.

VW Golf Variant (1995–1999)

A light facelift was carried out in autumn 1995. Features were bumpers painted over the entire surface in the body color and rounded side indicators in the front fenders. Airbags were part of the standard equipment and a new SDI engine with 1.9 liters displacement with 47 kW (64 hp) and direct injection was added.

Due to the somewhat later introduction, it was continued to be built after the introduction of the Golf IV sedan in autumn 1997. At that time, however, production was relocated from Wolfsburg to Osnabrück, 200 km to the west, to the Karmann company . Production continued there for two years until the spring of 1999.

The Golf Variant was available with all known Golf III engines from 60 to 190 PS, with the exception of the petrol 1.6 (75 PS), 2.0 16V GTI (150 PS) and 2.8 VR6 (174 PS). For this, the 16 PS stronger 2.9 l was offered as an all-wheel drive. On the diesel side, the old swirl chamber engines with 64 and 75 HP ( TD ) were initially still available , as well as the widespread TDI of the first generation with distributor pump (90 and 110 HP).

There were also numerous special models: Bon Jovi, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Joker, Europe, Family etc. At the end of the term, there was also the special model yachting with a special front spoiler and rear extension. The Variant was also offered as a Syncro. In connection with the petrol engines with 90 PS, 115 PS and 190 PS, as well as with the diesel engine with 90 PS, the Golf Variant thus also covered the all-wheel drive sector.

Technical specifications

Golf IV Variant (1999-2006)

2nd generation
VW Golf Variant (1999-2006)
Production period:	1999-2006
Body versions :	Station wagon
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.4–2.0 liters (55–85 kW) Diesel engines : 1.9 liters (50–96 kW)
Length:	4397-4987 mm
Width:	1735 mm
Height:	1473-1485 mm
Wheelbase :	2515 mm
Empty weight :	1304-1538 kg

The second generation (1J5) was produced from April 1999 to June 2006. Technically, it is based on the Golf IV sedan, from which the engine range also originates, whose power spectrum for gasoline engines ranges from 55 kW (75 hp) in the 1.4-liter four-cylinder to 85 kW (115 hp) in the 2.0 Liters and for diesels from 50 kW (68 PS) for the 1.9 SDI to 96 kW (130 PS) for the 1.9 TDI PD. In countries in which the Bora Variant was not sold (e.g. Denmark, Sweden and Norway), VW also offered the Golf Variant with the more powerful petrol engine from 110 kW (150 PS).

There were also numerous special models of the Golf IV Variant (for example Edition, Champ, Pacific, Ocean, Special, GT Sport, Sport Edition). The last copies left the factory in Wolfsburg in June 2006.

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  Rear view

Technical specifications

Bora Variant (1999-2004)

1st generation
VW Bora Variant (1999-2004)
Production period:	1999-2004
Body versions :	Station wagon
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.6–2.8 liters (74–150 kW) Diesel engines : 1.9 liters (74–110 kW)
Length:	4409 mm
Width:	1735 mm
Height:	1473-1485 mm
Wheelbase :	2515 mm
Empty weight :	1344-1503 kg

The Bora Variant (type 1J6) was sold from April 1999 to December 2004 as a more luxuriously equipped variant of the Golf IV Variant. It differs from the Golf IV Variant only in a modified front section, more extensive equipment and a slightly different range of engines. The most powerful engines (petrol from 110 kW (150 PS) and TDI with 110 kW (150 PS)) were reserved for the Bora, while the weaker petrol and diesel engines with less than 74 kW (100 PS) were only available for the Golf.

The strategy of establishing the Bora Variant as a “noble combination” and thus being able to sell it more expensively did not work out. The model flopped.

The Bora Variant was also sold in the USA as the Jetta Wagon .

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  Rear view

Technical specifications

Golf V Variant (2007-2009)

3rd generation
VW Golf Variant (2007-2009)
Production period:	2007-2009
Body versions :	Station wagon
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.4–2.0 liters (59–147 kW) Diesel engines : 1.9–2.0 liters (77–103 kW)
Length:	4556 mm
Width:	1781 mm
Height:	1505 mm
Wheelbase :	2578 mm
Empty weight :	1255-1414 kg

With the introduction of the Golf Plus , the Golf V Variant was initially not a done deal. The combination variant was then implemented by the then CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder .

The vehicle, which is now based on the design of the VW Jetta V , was presented at the 77th Geneva Motor Show in March 2007 and, like this, was produced in Mexico. Deliveries began in June 2007, almost four years after the model launch of the Golf V sedan.

After only two years, it was replaced by the Golf VI Variant in May 2009.

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  Rear view

Technical specifications

Golf VI Variant (2009-2013)

4th generation
VW Golf Variant (2009-2013)
Production period:	2009-2013
Body versions :	Station wagon
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.2–1.6 liters (59–118 kW) Diesel engines : 1.6–2.0 liters (66–103 kW)
Length:	4534 mm
Width:	1781 mm
Height:	1504 mm
Wheelbase :	2578 mm
Empty weight :	1231-1471 kg

The Golf VI Variant was available from mid-May 2009 and, like the Golf VI, used the PQ35 platform on which the Golf V (sedan and Variant) was based.

The design of the predecessor model, which was based on the VW Jetta V , has been technically and visually adapted to the new Golf VI . The optical adjustments mainly affected the front and the dashboard, while the rear remained almost untouched. The TSI engines were also adopted from the Golf VI. As before, production took place in Mexico.

Production of the Golf VI Variant ended in April 2013. The successor came on the market in summer 2013.

The Golf VI Variant was also sold as the Jetta SportWagen in the USA and as the Golf Wagon in Canada. In both markets, the model was available a year longer than in Europe. In Argentina, the Golf VI Variant was marketed as the VW Vento Variant.

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  Rear view

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  cockpit

Technical specifications

Golf VII Variant (2013-2020)

5th generation
VW Golf Variant (2013-2017)
Production period:	2013-2020
Body versions :	Station wagon
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.2–2.0 liters (63–221 kW) Diesel engines : 1.6–2.0 liters (66–135 kW)
Length:	4562 mm
Width:	1799 mm
Height:	1481 mm
Wheelbase :	2635 mm
Empty weight :	1285-1574 kg

The fifth version of the Variant came on the market in August 2013 and uses the platform of the VW Golf VII .

After the predecessor was only a further development of the Golf V, a completely new vehicle was put on the wheels with the Golf VII. The engine range has also been modernized.

At the end of 2016 there was a facelift which was delivered from spring 2017. The changes affect the look of the front headlights, the taillights and the front and rear bumpers and, in the interior, primarily the infotainment system and the optional screen as an alternative to using analog instruments. The engines used include the 1.0 TSI three-cylinder gasoline engine with exhaust gas turbocharger for the least powerful variant and the 1.5 TSI four-cylinder gasoline engine with exhaust gas turbocharger. The range of turbodiesel engines remained largely unchanged, but the more powerful version of the 1.6 TDI now delivers 85 kW.

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  Rear view (2013-2017)

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  Interior (2013-2017)

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  Golf VII Variant (2017-2020)

Technical specifications

Life cycles

The lifecycles of the Golf VI and Golf VII continuously decreased and were more than three times shorter from seven years to two years.

model	construction time	cycle
Golf III Variant	1993-1999	6 years
Golf IV Variant	1999 - 2006	7 years
Golf V Variant	2007-2009	2 years
Golf VI Variant	2009-2013	4 years
Golf VII Variant	since 2013	since 6 years
Golf VIII Variant	Planned for summer 2020	-

literature

• VW Golf III instruction manual, Danish 09.1993
• VW Golf III operating instructions, Danish 07.1996
• VW Golf IV logbook, booklet 3.3 "Technical data", German 05.1999
• VW Golf IV logbook, booklet 3.3 "Tekniske data", Danish 05.2001
• VW Golf IV logbook, booklet 3.3 "Technical data", German 05.2002
• VW Bora logbook, booklet 3.3 "Tekniske data", Danish 05.1999
• VW Bora logbook, booklet 3.3 "Technical Data", English 05.2002
• VW Golf IV Variant 2.0 BiFuel additional instructions, German 12.2004
• VW Golf V Variant / Jetta logbook, booklet 3.3 "Technical data", German 05.2007
• VW Golf V Variant / Jetta supplement, German 06.2007
• VW Golf V Variant / Jetta supplement, German 11.2007
• VW Golf V Variant / Jetta addendum, German 12.2008
• The new Golf Variant technology and prices , model year 2014
• Den nye Golf Variant , October 2013 (Danish)
• Automobil Revue , Catalog 2003, ISBN 3-905386-03-8 (German and French)

swell

• VW Golf Variant 2007–2009 on cars-data.com (English)
• VW Golf Variant 2009-2013 on cars-data.com (English)

Web links

Commons : Volkswagen Golf Variant  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Official Volkswagen profile for the Golf III Variant
• Official Volkswagen profile for the Golf IV Variant
• Official website of the Golf VII Variant

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} List of Volkswagen car models not suitable for the E10 ( memento from February 25, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
2. ↑ VW Golf VI (Type 1K) data on autobild.de , accessed on April 20, 2014