Even though Volkswagen still sells the GTI and the Golf R in the US, it’s been years since the car they’re based on has been on the market. VW dropped it from the American lineup at the end of 2021. One of the major reasons for it was the fact that VW still built the Golf in Germany, and the costs were making it hard to justify exporting them to the States. This was even before tariffs were imposed by the Trump Administration. However, that production issue is going away quite soon, and the CEO of VW’s American branch sounds open to the model’s return.
Volkswagen Golf hatchback from the front three-quarter angleVolkswagen
The Production Shift Comes Next Year
We’ve actually known for a while about the production changeover, and it starts in 2027. The move isn’t specifically to bring the car back to the US, but is rather to help VW cut costs, something the company is racing to do at all levels to keep itself afloat. However, a report from Automotive News makes it clear that a Golf return is on the table. The news outlet spoke with Kjell Gruner, VW’s CEO for America, and he said that there’s a definite chance of non-GTI Golf models returning, though exactly which ones would still be dependent on what tariffs are in place. At the moment, there are still tariffs on vehicles produced in Mexico.
Volkswagen Golf hatchback from the rear three-quarter angleVolkswagen
As for what Golf models could be on the table, we’re not sure, but we can at least narrow things down. VW has already committed to GTI and Golf R for America for the foreseeable future, and making them more affordable to build and sell will only cement them further. VW is also only bringing production of Golf models that use combustion engines to Mexico, with the new electric model’s production staying in Europe. Furthermore, these Mexican-built Golfs will probably be versions of the current generation, since the next one isn’t expected until 2029.
Regarding body styles, VW does still sell the Golf in hatch and wagon forms. The wagon probably isn’t particularly likely, but we wouldn’t rule it out. Then, with powertrains, VW does still sell diesel Golfs, but we can safely rule that out. Multiple gas powertrains are available, though none of the specific configurations are available in the US, including the mild and plug-in hybrids. Fitting an already certified American-spec engine like the 158-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder might even be used.
Volkswagen Golf wagon from the sideVolkswagen
The Golf Struggled In The US Even Before Rising Costs And Tariffs
While the Golf has a long history and dedicated fans in the US, the number of people that have bought them in recent years has been small. Let’s take one of the last normal years for the model: 2019. The main model’s discontinuation was a couple years away, and the pandemic hadn’t turned the world upside down. VW sold 5,644 regular Golf models that year. In the same year, it sold more than 100,000 Jettas. Even the GTI outsold the regular Golf in 2019 with more than 11,000 sales. Golf sales didn’t get any better in the next two years, either.
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VW To America: Slow Sales Ain’t Gonna Kill The GTI
Volkswagen’s hot hatch is practically immune to slow sales thanks to its near-legendary status in the company’s history.
Meanwhile, after the Golf disappeared, VW introduced the Mexican-made Taos subcompact SUV, and VW sold more than 31,000 examples in 2021, and it sold more than 55,000 last year. If that isn’t a sign of American buying preferences, we don’t know what is.
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The Volkswagen Golf Is No Longer The People’s Car It Once Was
With fewer than one-third of its former global sales, the Golf is a shell of its former self.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
We certainly like the idea of more Golf models coming back, and a return of the wagon would be especially neat. If VW can keep the Golfs price down, too, which should be possible with Mexican production, it could be a competitive option. We’re not convinced that there’s enough demand for VW to even bother, though, especially with both the Jetta and the Taos available at the affordable end of the automaker’s offerings.
Source: Automotive News
