Present: MkIII - The Story

[deemoE36]

Mark 3

Production 1994-1999
Assembly Wolfsburg, Germany
Puebla, Puebla, Mexico, Slovakia
Body style(s) 3-door hatchback
5-door station wagon
5-door hatchback
2-door convertible
Layout FF layout
Platform Volkswagen A3 platform
Engine(s) 1.4L 60hp I4

1.6L 75hp I4
1.8L 75hp I4
1.8L 90hp I4
1.9L 75hp I4 Turbo Diesel
1.9L 90hp I4 Turbo Diesel
2.0L 115 hp I4 8V
2.0L 150 hp I4 16V
2.8L 174 hp VR6 12V
2.9L 190 hp VR6 12V
Transmission(s) 4-speed automatic
4-speed/5-speed manual
Wheelbase 1992-95: 97.3 in (2471 mm)
1992-95 Cabrio: 97.3 in (2471 mm)
1996-99: 97.4 in (2474 mm)
Length 160.4 in (4074 mm)
Width 66.7 in (1694 mm)
Height 1992-95 & Cabrio: 56.0 in (1422 mm)
1996-99: 56.2 in (1427 mm)
Related Volkswagen Jetta
SEAT Ibiza
Volkswagen Polo
The third-generation Golf (given the internal designation Typ 1H) was launched in November of 1991, although it did not appear in North America until the spring of 1993. The delay in North America was due to Volkswagen's decision to supply U.S. and Canadian dealerships with Mk 3 Golfs (and Mk 3 Jettas) from the VW plant in Puebla, Mexico. Quality control problems led Volkswagen of America to reject Golfs and Jettas from Mexico; shortly thereafter, labor unrest at the plant delayed production there even further. The third-generation Golf and Jetta finally made it to North America, first as 1993 models in the San Diego, California area and in Canada, then in the fall in the rest of North America as 1994 models. Three-door Golfs of this generation were mostly only available in North America in GTI form. The 1993 through 1995 Golfs were called "Golf III" in the United States to make it clear that they were different from the previous generation. The second-generation Golfs had increased insurance premiums, due in part to stereo systems that could easily be stolen, and the third-generation models were meant to correct that situation. Once the badge distinction was no longer necessary for insurance purposes, the Mark 3 Golf lost its Roman numerals suffix for 1996.

The third-generation Golf was elected Car of the Year in 1992. For the first time a station wagon derivative was produced. The GTI variants (especially with the straight-four 4 cylinder engine) are considered to be the poorest of the performance Golfs, with significantly increased weight, but with minimal power increases. A "best of breed" VR6 variant exists which was available in a well regarded "Highline" trim; this 2.8 L VR6 engine gave a significant boost in power to 174 PS (128 kW/172 hp) for the Mk 3, a car weighing only about 1285 kg (2836 lb). Compare that to the Mk 2 GTI that weighed 285 kg (629 lb) less but had only 139 PS (102 kW/137 hp) and a much smaller engine to tune (1.8 L). A convertible version of the Golf Mk 3 was launched as the Cabrio (Typ 1E).

A 16-valve version of the third-generation Golf GTI was introduced in 1993. This model was greeted with a muted sense of disenchantment by the motoring press. The engine was enlarged to 2.0 L, with power now reaching 150 PS (110 kW/148 hp). While underpowered compared to the VR6, it was still relatively popular with driving enthusiasts in Europe (North America didn't get the proper GTI version, but had the name applied to the VR6 engine). Once again the Golf Driver version took its place as the official GTI-look-alike but with a more humble single-point injected 1.8 L engine.

The Golf Mark 3 was also the predecessor of the diesel craze that swept through Europe in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Volkswagen introduced the direct-injection system with the 90 PS Golf TDI in 1993. The 1996 TDI, at 110 PS (81 kW/108 hp) for a 1.9 L engine, wasn't the first diesel engine installed in a road car to achieve over 50 hp/L, but it showed the public that diesel engines could be powered without losing their fuel efficiency, while also retaining massive amounts of low-end torque, in the TDI's case, 235 N·m (173 lbf·ft) at 1900 rpm.

1998 Volkswagen Cabrio GLSAlso offered was a conventionally aspirated (i.e., not turbocharged) version of the 1.9L diesel engine, the SDI, offering 47kW, 65PS, 62 hp. This variant is considered to be particularly durable.

During the 1990s, Volkswagen sponsored three high-profile rock bands' European tours, and issued a special-edition Golf, with distinctive exterior markings, for each: the Golf Pink Floyd Edition (1994), the Golf Rolling Stones Edition (1995), and the Golf Bon Jovi Edition (1996).

In 1996 Volkswagen produced a limited 1000 special-edition 3-door "20th Anniversary" GTI model. This had the usual GTI specification but came equipped with chequered Recaro front sport seats and matching rear seats bearing the GTI logo, red seat belts front and rear, half-chromed and leather golf ball gear knob, red stitched leather steering wheel and handbrake gaiter. The release knob on the hand brake was also red and silver instrument dials. Floor mats also had red pipping along their edges. The red theme continued externally with a red striping on the bumpers and red brake calipers. The wheels were 16" x 7.5" split rim BBS RX II alloys, visually similar to the 15" that were found on VR6 model. Brush stainless steel rear twin tailpipes on the exhaust and smoked front fog and indicator lamps to match the rear lamps. 3 optional extras were made available; electric sunroof, air conditioning and metallic black paintwork. Insurance was based on the standard GTI which made this version a very desirable model. The edition was sold in only 6 colour schemes and the 1000 number figures that were produced was as follows; 600 8 valve models, 150 16 valve models and 250 TDI models. The diesel model was only produced for the European market and wasn't sold in the UK. The Golf Mk 3 was also available in "Ecomatic" Form. It was powered with a diesel engine and a clutchless manual transmission. The engine was switched off after 1.5 seconds of inactivity, whether by stopping or coasting. Re-starting the engine simply required depressing the accelerator pedal. VW had previously pioneered similar technology in the VW Polo "Formel E" in the 1980s.

As had happened with the Mark 1 and Mark 2, the Mark 3 remained available in US for a year after it was discontinued in Europe (199.

The MK3 continued to be produced for the 1999 model year where it was sold in Canada and South America. These 1999 MK3 cars were the last produced in the world and sold along side the MK4 in showrooms.