Here lies the Volkswagen Golf: 1974-2021.
Volkswagen announced today that production of the practical hatchback with several sporty variants ended last week, at least for the U.S. market. Dealers can, of course, sell the Golfs still left on their lots. They are solid choices in the compact car segment, with fit and finish that belie their price point. But there will be no replacements coming.
At least, not for a while. The next generation Golf will arrive internationally late this year, as a 2022 model. VW’s announcement says that car will be sold in the U.S., but in more limited form than today. The cult-favorite sporty Golf GTI, and the specialty high-performance variant Golf R, will come stateside in limited numbers. But there will be no base model Golf.
Volkswagen loyalists shouldn’t despair. The 2021 VW Jetta remains to fill that small car niche. What’s more, those last Golfs may be available for lower prices as the news spreads. Buyers are often reluctant to invest in a discontinued model, so transaction prices tend to drop in the last few months of sales once an announcement has been made.
The base model Golf starts at $23,195, and is still available with a manual transmission.
