The Golf stormed the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show doors in two body-shapes, ending the six-year production period of its predecessor.
While its five-door sibling was most wanted as fleet cars and young families, the three-door model was the most expected version by those who didn’t really need rear seats other than a temporary storage area. It was also the version that brought the first GTI and invented the hot-hatch segment.

Like its predecessor, it featured clear-lenses over the dual headlamps and turn-signal as a light-strip at the bottom of them. The grille featured two slats that supported the chromed badge big enough to fill the space between the hood and the bumper. On its sides, the carmaker dropped the fender-mounted turn-signals and moved them to the door-mirrors assembly. Like its predecessor, the three-door version featured fixed rear side windows without an option for a pop-out venting system.

Inside, Volkswagen offered a two-tone interior only for specific versions, while the Trend trim-level featured only the bland black-and-gray color scheme. Its flat seats offered as standard didn’t provide too much grip for their occupants, but Volkswagen offered a better pair for extra money. In the back, the split-folding rear bench seatback could expand the trunk area.

Under the hood, Volkswagen installed a very wide range of engines for the Golf. It offered both gasoline and turbo-diesel units. The latter were blamed for their fake results in the Emission tests that started the Dieselgate scandal. Apart from the GTI version, its most powerful engine was a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel that offered 170 hp, while the most potent gasoline unit delivered 20 hp less.