The Volkswagen Golf Car has to be one of the pioneers in the small hatchback car sector, and is now a benchmark for others.. But Volkswagen cars and the Golf has had a bit of an up and down journey throughout its life.

The first Volkswagen Golfs were launched in Europe in 1974 as the replacement for the long running VW Beetle, and appeared in the U.S. about year later known as the VW Rabbit.

Ten years on and after a redesign, VW changed the North American version to the official "Golf" name. But this didn't last, and in 2006, after selling three generations of Volkswagen Golfs to American buyers, VW changed its mind again and gone back to the Rabbit for the U.S. market.

The early generation VW Golfs, were an instant hit thanks to their solid build, precise handling on the road and high-quality components. Available as either a two-door or four-door hatchback, the Golf offered a lot of space for people and their things thanks to its boxy but roomy body style. There have also been other Golf variants, beyond the basic, but well-trimmed economy hatchbacks. VW offered both a convertible, first called the "Cabriolet" and later just "Cabrio" and the now legendary, Golf GTI the hot hatch that spawned a new generation.

1985-'92, saw the Mk2 Volkswagen Golf which had a better range of engines from the 1.4 to a 2.0-liter petrol, with the 1.6 being the main choice of engine. A modest 52hp diesel and a classic in the 131-hp 16-valve Golf GTI was also available.

Most VW Golfs from this era had a 1.6 75hp four-cylinder, or the 90hp 1.8 which was later re-tuned up to a 100. Although a lot more durable than the previous generation of Volkswagen Golf Cars, sadly the Volkswagen Golf Mk 2 generally wasn't known for its ultimate longevity.

The third generation or Mk3 VW Golf ran from 1993 to mid-1999 and sported a more rounded design than previous models, with bumpers that blended into the body and a stronger body-line to its profile. This time the 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-liter in-line-4 were the volume engine, while the GTI offered the VR6, a narrow-angle 2.8-liter V6 that provided a thrilling 170 hp. The Golf TDI models found all over Europe were offered intermittently to North America during this generation, as VW had difficulty getting its 90-hp turbo diesels to meet the U.S. emissions regulations.

Although OK to drive, this generation of the Volkswagen Golf became heavier, and gained a reputation for being unreliable, mainly due to electrical problems.
All of the VW Golfs produced throughout the '80s and '90s were usually powered by four-cylinder engines with a choice of 1.4,1.6,1.8 or 2.0-liters displacement, there were also diesel variants and a V6 engine as well.

Although still respectable in terms of handling, performance and fairly trouble-free ownership, these Volkswagen golf cars was beginning to show their age of design and began to suffer at the hands of the less exciting, but far more reliable and durable offerings coming from Japan.

The latest offering from Volkswagen has seen the VW Golf greatly improve its reliability record without losing its unique German-engineered feel behind the wheel. Although the small cars from Asia still sport superior track records for reliability, the Golf still merits consideration from driving enthusiasts shopping for a small, space-efficient economy car on the used market.

Introduced halfway through1999, the Golf Mk 4 model sold up until mid-2006, this fourth-generation VW Golf sported cleaner lines, a more impressive array of standard features and the availability of powerful turbo diesels -- a rarity in any sector at the time, let alone in a small family hatchback range. Again the usual, three body styles were available: a two-door hatchback, a four-door hatchback and a convertible.

Now far better to drive thanks to its upgraded chassis, the mk4 Golf also offered a variety of new engines. The GTI with a 2.8-liter six-cylinder "VR6" engine (a compact, narrow-angle V6, which made up to 200 horsepower) or a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. The turbo, or 1.8T, made either 150 or 180 hp, depending on the year; the 150-horse version was available on the standard four-door Golf in 2000 and 2001.

The TDI, Golf's diesel offered a 1.9-liter turbo diesel in line-4, initially with 90 hp and was capable of returning nearly 50 mpg on a run. Also Golf TDI models sold from 2004-'06 had an uprated version of the 1.9-liter that delivered 110 hp. Late in 2004 the limited-edition, high-performance R32 was offered, with a 3.2-liter, 240-hp VR6, four-wheel drive and customised body kit.

Most people shopping for used Volkswagen Golf cars within these years, will probably be looking at the high volume-seller Golfs (the GL, GLS and SE trim levels), most of which were powered by an outdated two-valves-per-cylinder 1.6 and 1.8 four-cylinder engines. With just 115 hp, compared to the 125- to 150-hp ratings of most others, and below-average fuel mileage, this power plant offered the worst of both worlds.

Buyers looking at the 1999 Volkswagen golf cars should also note that both third- and fourth-generation Golfs were sold that year. Power is the same, but the engines in the new VW Golf cars have an upgraded cylinder head design, giving better bottom end power.

The pick of the bunch would be a fourth generation Volkswagen Golf with either the 1.9-liter TDI or the 1.8-liter turbo used in he GTI. The Golf TDI has been very popular and will be relatively easy to find on the used car market, while four-door VW Golf 1.8T models may be hard to come by because of their short, two-year run. If you want the turbocharged 1.8-liter engine, you're far more likely to find it in the two-door Volkswagen GTI.

Overall the Volkswagen Golf has been a quality vehicle to drive, compared to other economy cars or hatchbacks of the time. The VW Golf has always stood out because of its longevity, high-quality cabin materials and its generally fun-to-drive nature. The only downside to owning a VW Golf nowadays is the high price when new (now largely negated by depreciation), and the certain air of kudos which has surrounded all Volkswagen Golf cars, which guarantees its higher than average second hand values.