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Photo of a Volkswagen Golf Plus

Volkswagen Golf Plus

The taller Golf with a 168 hp 1.4 TSI at the top of the range.12

Researched October 26, 2026 from 25 sources

At a glance

0100200
74–168 hpPower
01020
8.3–16.2 s0–100 km/h
0125250
161–216 km/hTop speed
0200400
126–320 N·mTorque
01,0002,000
1,293–1,501 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.12

Engine
1.2–2.0 L gasoline I4; 1.6–2.0 L TDI I4; 1.6 L BiFuel and MultiFuel1
Layout
Front engine, front-wheel drive1
Gearbox
5- or 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic; 6- or 7-speed DSG1
Built at
Wolfsburg, Germany; Eurocar, Solomonovo, Ukraine1
Units built
More than 930,000 (2004–2014)2

The story

Built to bridge the Golf–Touran gap, the Golf Plus combined a taller body and higher seating with a rear bench sliding 160 mm. Its 2,578 mm wheelbase matched the standard Golf.1345

2004: Bologna debut between Golf and Touran20042005: European launch and standard LED tails20052006: CrossGolf: raised, clad, front-drive20062007: 400 Golf Plus Dunes for the UK20072008: Bologna reveals the facelift · An espresso machine at Bologna20082010: CrossGolf returns with Budapest wheels20102014: January finish; Sportsvan takes over2014 Volkswagen Golf Mk3 (1H/1E): 1991–20021H/1EVolkswagen Golf Mk4 (1J): 1997–20141JVolkswagen Golf Mk5 (1K): 2003–20091KVolkswagen Golf Plus (5M): 2004–20145MVolkswagen Golf Sportsvan/SV: 2014–Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan/SV 19901995200020052010201520202025
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones124202122
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1991–2002Volkswagen Golf Mk3 (1H/1E)
1997–2014Volkswagen Golf Mk4 (1J)
2003–2009Volkswagen Golf Mk5 (1K)
2004–2014Volkswagen Golf Plus (5M)
2014–Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan/SV
2004Bologna debut between Golf and Touran
2005European launch and standard LED tails
2006CrossGolf: raised, clad, front-drive
2007400 Golf Plus Dunes for the UK
2008Bologna reveals the facelift
2008An espresso machine at Bologna
2010CrossGolf returns with Budapest wheels
2014January finish; Sportsvan takes over
  1. 2004

    Bologna debut between Golf and Touran

    The Golf Plus made its public debut in December, offering a taller alternative to the Golf below the seven-seat Touran.1

  2. 2005

    European launch and standard LED tails

    European sales began early in the year. Standard LED rear lights were a first for the compact class.14

  3. 2006

    CrossGolf: raised, clad, front-drive

    Volkswagen Individual's CrossGolf debuted at Paris with black body cladding and a raised ride height, while keeping front-wheel drive.1

  4. 2007

    400 Golf Plus Dunes for the UK

    The UK edition paired a 104 hp 1.9 TDI with 17-inch BBS wheels and suspension raised 20 mm.6

  5. 2008

    Bologna reveals the facelift

    A Golf Mk6-style nose debuted in December; Volkswagen had already found more than 500,000 European buyers.17

  6. 2008

    An espresso machine at Bologna

    The Collectors Edition show car had a center-console espresso machine; Volkswagen had yet to decide on series production.8

  7. 2010

    CrossGolf returns with Budapest wheels

    The revised crossover offered common-rail TDI engines, a chassis raised about 20 mm and 17-inch Budapest wheels.29

  8. 2014

    January finish; Sportsvan takes over

    Production stopped in January after more than 930,000 cars. The Golf Sportsvan succeeded it in 2014.24

Every generation

  • Volkswagen Golf Mk3
    1H/1E1991–2002
  • Volkswagen Golf Mk4
    1J1997–2014
  • Volkswagen Golf Mk5
    1K2003–2009
  • Volkswagen Golf Plus
    5M2004–2014
  • Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan/SV
    Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan/SV

Power over the years

From 74 hp to 168 hp in 2 years.

050100150200 2004200620082010 hp 2004 · 74 hp · 1.4 MPI2004 · 113 hp · 1.6 FSI2004 · 138 hp · 2.0 TDI PD2005 · 101 hp · 1.6 MPI2005 · 148 hp · 2.0 FSI2006 · 138 hp · 1.4 TSI twincharger2006 · 168 hp · 1.4 TSI BLG2007 · 120 hp · 1.4 TSI2008 · 158 hp · 1.4 TSI CAVD2009 · 104 hp · 1.2 TSI2009 · 104 hp · 1.6 TDI CR 168 hp 1.4 TSI BLG 74 hp 1.4 MPI
1210
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
2004741.4 MPI
20041131.6 FSI
20041382.0 TDI PD
20051011.6 MPI
20051482.0 FSI
20061381.4 TSI twincharger
20061681.4 TSI BLG
20071201.4 TSI
20081581.4 TSI CAVD
20091041.2 TSI
20091041.6 TDI CR

Versions

11 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Comfortline

    Standard

    Comfortline

  • Standard

    Highline

  • Standard

    BlueMotion

    104 hp

  • Standard

    1.6 BiFuel

    2010–2014

    97 hp
  • Goal

    Special

    Goal

    2006

  • Special

    Team

    2010

  • Style

    Special

    Style

    2011

  • Special

    Match

    2012

  • Life

    Special

    Life

    2013

  • Golf Plus Dune

    Limited

    Golf Plus Dune

    2007

    104 hp

  • Special

    Collectors Edition (show car)

    2008

How to spot one

Look for

  • Golf-like outline with taller, deeper body panels.3
  • Round LED elements sit inside trapezoidal rear light clusters.18
  • Early cars have wraparound headlights with three separate lamp groups.18
  • A side crease runs above the door handles from headlight to taillight.18

Year by year

  1. From the 2006 Goal edition

    Rear script changed from Golf to Golf Plus across the range when Goal appeared.213

  2. 2009 facelift

    The grille became horizontal: black on S, three chrome bars on SE. New headlights added daytime running lights.119

  3. 2009 facelift

    The rear bumper became body-colored with a gloss-black lower center; the LED rear lamps gained a dark cherry-red finish.7

  4. 2009 facelift

    Roof rails became standard: silver on Highline, black on Trendline and Comfortline.27

  5. 2009 facelift

    White-backlit gauges and new climate-control panels mark the revised cabin.27

  6. 2010 CrossGolf update

    CrossGolf gained a reshaped front, more integrated cladding and new 17-inch Budapest alloy wheels.9

Don’t confuse it with

  • Golf Mk5

    The Plus stands 95 mm taller; standard LED rear lights also distinguish it from the regular Golf.1

  • Photo of a Volkswagen Golf Plus
    Golf Plus
    Photo of a Touran
    Touran

    Touran

    The Touran is more slab-sided; the Plus has deeper, taller panels and large circular rear lamps.3

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 11 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 12 stories from its legend
    • “Warkuß, Schreyer and Mindt's Golf”
    • “Karl Lagerfeld's 2011 models”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 5 things to check before buying one
Read the full file in SPOT

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 25 sources
  1. Volkswagen Golf Plus - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  2. VW Golf Plus – Wikipedia de.wikipedia.org
  3. Volkswagen Golf Plus review (2004-2009) | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  4. Golf Plus | Volkswagen Newsroom volkswagen-newsroom.com
  5. Volkswagen Golf Plus autozine.org
  6. VW launches limited edition Golf Plus | Car Reviews | by Car Enthusiast carenthusiast.com
  7. NOVEDADES VOLKSWAGEN EN EL SALÓN DEL AUTOMÓVIL DE BOLONIA 2008 – Volkswagen volkswagen.es
  8. Volkswagen Golf Plus Collectors Edition motorpasion.com
  9. Nuova CrossGolf ordinabile da subito | Volkswagen Medienportal vwpress.ch
  10. DOSSIER: CROSSGOLF – Volkswagen volkswagen.es
  11. Quoi de neuf : Volkswagen Golf Plus - L'argus largus.fr
  12. Volkswagen Golf Plus VI - Auto Review anwb.nl
  13. VW: Goal-Sonderedition zur Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft autoflotte.de
  14. Volkswagen präsentiert Sondermodelle „TEAM“ | Volkswagen Medienportal vw.media-corner.ch
  15. VW präsentiert die Antwort auf die Stilfrage für 2011 kfz-auskunft.de
  16. VW Golf MATCH: Sondermodelle für den Kompaktwagen sehr erfolgreich meinauto.de
  17. Volkswagen lance la Golf Plus "Life" autoplus.fr
  18. DOSSIER: GOLF PLUS – Volkswagen volkswagen.es
  19. Volkswagen Golf Plus (2009-2014) review | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  20. Volkswagen Golf Mk3 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  21. Volkswagen Golf Mk4 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  22. Volkswagen Golf Mk5 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  23. VW Golf Plus 2.0 TDI DSG SE review | | | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  24. Volkswagen Golf Plus | Tow Car Awards thetowcarawards.com
  25. Fiabilité Volkswagen Golf Plus : que vaut le modèle en occasion ? caradisiac.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • de.wikipedia.org
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • volkswagen-newsroom.com
  • autozine.org
  • carenthusiast.com
  • volkswagen.es
  • motorpasion.com
  • vwpress.ch
  • largus.fr
  • anwb.nl
  • autoflotte.de
  • vw.media-corner.ch
  • kfz-auskunft.de

Photo credits

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