The Volkswagen Golf Mk5 (codenamed Typ 1K) is a compact car/small family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen, as the fifth generation of the Golf in three- or five-door hatchback (August 2003 – 2008) and a five-door station wagon (2007–2009) configurations, as well as the successor to the Golf Mk4. Using the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform, the Mk5 debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in October 2003 and went on sale in Europe for the 2004 model year.Motor Trend Newcomers: 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit Although the Golf Mk5 was marketed as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, the GTI model in those countries was marketed instead as the Volkswagen GTI.
The Golf Mk5 was replaced in 2009 by the Golf Mk6, which was built on the same platform.
Features
Design The Mk5 had revised suspension changes and chassis tuning and increased cargo volume, corresponding to a minor increase in size over the outgoing model. Its cargo volume is roughly greater.
It has a 0.32 drag coefficient.
Its replacement, the Mk6, was moved forward from the previously stated 2009 in Europe to the autumn of 2008, right after its official premiere at the Paris Motor Show in September 2008.
Powertrain Options for engines and transmissions vary from country to country, but the Golf Mk5 is available with 4-cylinder, 5-cylinder, and 6-cylinder petrol engines, and a new Pumpe Duse unit injector Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine. Transmission options include manual, automatic, Tiptronic, and Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG).
The Golf GTI included a 2.0-litre Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) engine rated at 5100–6000 rpm ( automatic) and torque at 1700–5000 rpm. Transmissions include a 6-speed manual or 6-speed DSG.
In September 2005, the Golf Mk5 GT was announced, which featured a choice of either 1.4 L petrol engine in twincharger (TSI) configuration, or a 2.0 litre TDI. Both are available as versions; while the diesel also is available as a variant in the UK. The diesel has of torque, which is more than the range topping R32.
The new Twincharger (TSI) petrol engine uses Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI), along with a pair of chargers forcing the induction of the air. The chargers are a single supercharger that disengages after a specified rev-range, at which point charging of the air is handled by a single turbocharger. This system benefits from the pumping efficiency of the supercharger at lower revs and the fuel efficiency of the turbocharger at high revs. This results in more constant power delivery through the rev range, and better fuel efficiency. Both petrol and diesel versions are also available with DSG (Direct-Shift Gearbox). Performance figures for the petrol vehicle are 0- in 6.9 seconds (6 speed) and 6.9 seconds (DSG), with the diesel taking 8.2 seconds, and both reaching top speed of .
US and Canada
United States and Canada base specification Rabbits use the same 2.5-litre five-cylinder gasoline engine that powers the Jetta and New Beetle in these markets, making and in 2006–2007 models, and and from 2008 onward. North American transmission choices include a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic for the Rabbit. Diesel engines have been unavailable on Rabbits, though they were offered through 2006 on the Jetta until tightening emissions regulations in the U.S. led to their temporary unavailability.
Volkswagen did not market the GT version to the US or Canada, though the VR6-powered R32 range-topping model was available in the United States.
Models
Variant (wagon) The station wagon version of the Golf Mk5 debuted at the International Geneva Motor Show in March 2007 and was marketed as the Golf Variant in European markets, in The United States as the Jetta SportWagen, and in Argentina and Uruguay as the Vento Variant. Designed by Murat Günak, it is more closely related to the Jetta saloon with a shared front fascia design and front doors. It was produced in Puebla, Mexico since April 2007 alongside the similar Jetta with a targeted annual production of 120,000 units.
Volkswagen did not intend to release the station wagon/estate version of the Golf Mk5 until later in its life cycle. Initially, Volkswagen expected the Golf Plus and Touran to be able to cover the station wagon segment left by the Golf, but it was reported that dealers and customers were asking for a conventional station wagon version.
The station wagon version was facelifted in late 2009, with changes including the front clip and interior from the Golf Mk6, while the remaining is based on the pre-facelifted model. It was marketed as the station wagon version of the Golf Mk6 as it was sold alongside it. The facelifted model was also marketed as the Golf Wagon and Variant in Canada and Mexico, while it continued to be sold as the Jetta SportWagen in the United States.
Jetta Mk5
Volkswagen marketed the three-box sedan variant of the Mk5 Golf since 2004 as the Jetta in North America and Europe, replacing the Bora name. It debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show on 5 January 2005. It was marketed as the Volkswagen Bora in Mexico and Colombia, Volkswagen Vento in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, and Volkswagen Sagitar in China. The Mk5 Jetta shared the front fascia, front fender panel and front doors with the Golf Variant, while the GLI variant adopted Golf GTI's front end. It is the last Jetta generation to be heavily based on the Golf, since the Jetta A6 used a dedicated bodywork. In the US market, the Jetta outsells the Golf/Rabbit by a ratio of 4 to 1.Volkswagen of America, Inc – Newsroom VOLKSWAGEN POSTS JUNE SALES INCREASE OF FIFTEEN PERCENT
Golf Plus
In December 2004, Volkswagen announced the Golf Plus variant of the Golf Mk5. It is taller than the standard Golf, and shorter than the other compact MPV of the marque, the seven-seater Volkswagen Touran. It is sold up to 2014 when it was replaced by the Golf Sportsvan, with a refresh in December 2008. A crossover-styled version was released as the CrossGolf (Golf Plus Dune in UK) in 2006.
Performance models GT
The Golf Mk5 GT features a choice of either 1.4 L petrol engine in twincharger (TSI) configuration, a 2.0 litre TDI diesel engine or a 2.0 (FSI) direct injection petrol engine. TSI petrol and diesels are available as versions. The PD diesel engine has of torque, which is more than the range topping R32. The petrol engined offering contains the new TSI engine, which is based on the recent Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI), but with a pair of chargers forcing the induction of the air. The chargers are a single supercharger that disengages after a specified rev-range, at which point charging of the air is handled by a single turbocharger. This system benefits from both of the efficiency of the supercharger in the lower rev ranges, with the longevity of the turbocharger higher in the rev range. This results in little turbo lag, constant power delivery along the rev range, and better fuel efficiency than similarly powered 2.4 L V6 engine due to its small size. However, the power delivery of the petrol TSI engine was criticised as being very jerky by Jeremy Clarkson.
In the UK the GT sport badge was marketed as offering both high power and low emissions, sparking some controversy. The diesel offers 156g/km and returns 47.9 mpg combined with the petrol equivalent offering 175g/km and 38.2 mpg respectively.
Both petrol and diesel versions are also available with Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG). Performance figures for the petrol vehicle are 0- in 7.9 seconds (6-speed manual) and 7.7 seconds (DSG), with the diesel taking 8.2 seconds, and both reaching top speed of .
The Golf GT features the same brakes as the Golf GTI, with ventilated front discs, and solid rears. It has also lowered suspension, which lowers its centre of gravity, it borrows the GTI's suspension/damper settings, uses 7Jx17" "ClassiXs" alloy wheels fitted with wide 225/45 R17 tyres, and has twin exhaust outlets.
GTI
The Golf GTI features a 2.0 litre turbocharged inline 4-cylinder petrol engine with Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) direct-injection technology, rated at 5100–6000 rpm ( automatic) and torque at 1700–5000 rpm. It is available in both 3-door and 5-door hatchback body shapes, and comes with a choice of either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG), which reduces shift time to 8ms.
Some Mk 5 GTIs bound for the North American Market produced in late 2008 and early 2009 came with a different engine. The EA113 engines used in the earlier years were traded for a new design in late 2008 as VW Audi Group began producing new engines for the upcoming Mk 6 GTI (among other models) which was released for sale in late 2009. Some of the Mk 5s exported to North America in these years received this new engine and were delivered to customers with the redesigned EA888 engine. This early version of the EA888 engine produced very similar horsepower and torque numbers compared to the EA113.
The main design changes came in the form of addressing known issues with the previous platform. A new high pressure fuel pump cam follower design that did not require periodic replacement due to wear was chief among them. Failure of this component in the EA113 design had the potential to lead to catastrophic engine failure if not replaced often enough. Further, the timing belt was replaced with a timing chain. This was done to address the reported problems with failed timing belts and tensioner assemblies that caused severe damage when not maintained properly in this interference engine design. One other notable change was the air intake and intake manifold design. The air intake was no longer integrated into the plastic engine cover and instead was routed around the right hand side near the battery. This design provided slightly reduced intake restriction and access to cooler air further from the engine.
The concept GTI was first shown to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2003. The first production model was initially unveiled at the Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris in September 2004, and went on sale around the world shortly thereafter. At the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 2006, the GTI made its long-awaited North American debut in 3-door guise (a 5-door variant was eventually made available), where it is marketed solely under the 'GTI' moniker, with no reference to the Rabbit. The new GTI has a considerable price increase over the previous model, mainly due to the features mentioned above, and the fact that the exterior itself had not seen such a dramatic design change in years. The price is further raised because it is built in Germany, unlike the Mk4 some of which were built in Brazil. The innovative DSG transmission and the TFSI engine all helped raise the retail price of the car. The Mk5 GTI was named 2007 Automobile of the Year by Automobile Magazine, in December 2006.
This generation marked the only generation in Canada to have the GTI as a separate nameplate rather than a trim of the Golf. When Volkswagen announced the revival of the Golf in the US and Canada for the 2010 model year, Volkswagen reverted the GTI nameplate as a Golf trim, although the GTI remains a separate nameplate in the United States.
In Mexico, it is only sold as a 3-door hatchback. A special edition of the GTI was sold in 170 copies under a "Pirelli" limited edition with a 230 CV engine and only in a black colour.
R32
In September 2005, the Mk5 R32 went on sale in Europe. United Kingdom sales began in November that year. It features an updated 3.2-litre VR6 engine of that fitted to the previous Mk4 version, with an extra due to a reworked inlet manifold. Maximum power is now at 6,300 rpm; torque is unchanged at . It reaches an electronically governed top speed of . Going from 0 to will take 6.5 s, reduced to 6.2 s with the Direct-Shift Gearbox.