Volkswagen says goodbye to the Golf for U.S. buyers

Is Volkswagen really going to cancel the VW Golf?
Our manufacturing partner, Volkswagen, has built some of the most memorable vehicles in the history of the automotive industry. Since VW has a global presence, it has to make some tough decisions sometimes that those of us who are real fans of the automaker might not like. So, is Volkswagen really going to cancel the VW Golf? Yes, it appears they are. However, if anyone is looking for a silver lining, the VW Golf will still live on in Europe and other foreign markets. While we’ll be sad to see the Golf leave the active roster, the manufacturer is sending the popular hatchback off in style. Let’s take a look at what the future of the American VW lineup will be.

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“Over four decades, the Golf has delivered a great value to American drivers. It exemplified what Volkswagen does best—melding dynamic driving characteristics with purposeful packaging and unmatched quality. While the seventh-generation Golf will be the last of the base hatches sold here, the GTI and Golf R will carry its legacy forward.”

— Hein Schafer, Senior Vice President, Product Marketing and Strategy, Volkswagen of America, Inc.
If you’re as sad as we are about the cancelation of the VW Golf from the American lineup, join us in finding solace that we’ll still see the 2022 Mk 8 Golf GTI and the Golf R this fall. We don’t know a lot about the redesigned Golf GTI, but we have learned that the Golf R will be the most powerful Golf hot hatched ever built with its upgraded suspension system and turbocharged-engine will make 315 horsepower.

Why is VW dropping the Golf in the U.S.?
The automotive business doesn’t always leave a lot of room for nostalgia. Volkswagen didn’t expressly say why it decided to pull the Golf from the American marketplace. However, the reasons seem pretty clear from where we sit. Customer tastes have changed, and crossover SUVs have become the most popular vehicle platform. This is evidenced by some things we can already see like the coming Volkswagen Taos, a gasoline-powered crossover SUV and the VW ID.4, an electric crossover SUV platform.

If you have any questions about the current VW lineup, make an appointment with a Schworer VW product expert today.