Launched in 1999, the Volkswagen Golf Mk4 (or VW Typ 1J) was the best selling car in Europe in 2001 (though it slipped to second place, behind the Peugeot 206, in 2002). The Mk4 was a deliberate attempt to take the Volkswagen Golf series further upmarket, with a high-quality interior and higher equipment levels. Overall the level of maturity of the design and its target audience were also evident — the humorous plays on the game of golf which resulted in special edition models of the three earlier generations being called "Golf Ryder", "Golf Driver", not to mention the GTI's "golf ball" gearlever knob were dropped, and replaced with a more subtly styled golf ball knob. It was replaced in 2004 by the Volkswagen Golf Mk5.
Appearances[]
- In a 1998 Episode of the Old Top Gear format, Clarkson put the newly launched Mk4 Golf GTI 1.8T against the Peugeot 306 GTI-6 and Fiat Bravo 20v HGT where it finished last in a drag race. However, it still ended up being Clarkson's favourite.
- In Clarkson's Top 100 Cars home movie DVD, he put the Mk4 Golf GTI head to head with some other hot hatches, including the original Mk1 Golf GTI as well as the Punto HGT, Astra G SRi, Saxo VTS and Leon Cupra 20VT, in which the Mk1 Golf GTI finished 1st and the Mk4 Golf GTI finished last.
- In Series 1, Episode 6, Jason Dawe looked at used variants of the Mk4 Golf, including one in "Hulk Green" colour, telling the public to be careful when searching for used cars in undesirable colours.
- In Series 1, Episode 9, Clarkson reviews the MK4 Golf R32 and compares it to the recently launched Ford Focus RS.