VOLKSWAGEN Golf VI 5 Doors 2008-2012 Photos, engines & full specs

Volkswagen introduced the sixth generation of the Golf in 2008 with three and five doors, at a time when the car industry was going down due to the world financial crisis.

There were difficult times for automakers, and some considered that they should stay put and postpone any new models until the economy bounced back. But Volkswagen didn't want to wait. The idea behind the project was, as VW's head of design, Mr. Walter da Silva stated, "to create an iconic car for the future."

From the outside, the 2008 Golf featured a three-slats design for the grille and rounded swept-back headlights. The apron was complemented with the fog lights on the outboard and a wide, trapezoidal, black grille. The five-door version was a very practical vehicle for those who needed rear seats for children or teenagers. In addition, the rear doors featured narrower windows that could completely roll down. Finally, at the back, the Golf VI got a sharper design for the taillights, with horizontal reversing lights extended from the rear quarter panels onto the tailgate.

The dashboard featured an instrument cluster with a design inspired by the Passat CC. It sported two big dials and two smaller ones, placed inside the former ones. A center stack with the infotainment system and a big area reserved for the climate controls, inspired by the VW Passat CC. The bucket seats were typical for the entire Volkswagen range. The rears split-folding bench could host up to three adults, but not for long distances.

The Golf was offered with a wide choice of engines. There were five gasoline units, five turbodiesels, and 1 with CNG. The latter was fit for fleet users. The standard transmission was a 5- or 6-speed manual depending on the engine. A 7-speed automatic was offered for diesel and gasoline versions, and an all-wheel drive system was also on the options list.