This could have resulted in a properly fun little hatchback, if the Mk4 GTI wasn't quite so soft.
However, a slick manual gearbox with six speeds and a stout mid-range with the turbocharger on song means there's definitely enjoyment to be had should you get the revs right.Īnd let us not forget, while the Mk4 GTI seemed heavy in the late 1990s, it's actually nearly 200kg lighter than the current Mk8 GTI. It's by no means rapid – officially 0-62mph takes 7.9 seconds and 138mph is where things finish. Thankfully, later on, VW introduced a 180hp turbo 1.8, which is the one we're driving here. Performance was always going to be an issue for the Mk4. Y'see, that's pretty much the same power as the original Golf GTI, but with nearly 50% more weight. Both were pretty tame, but when VW later swapped the entry-level 125hp 1.8 for a 115hp 2.0-litre, people were left scratching their heads. VW introduced the Mk4 GTI with a non-turbo 1.8-litre petrol making 125hp or a turbo version of the same engine making 150hp. So, the Mk4 Golf GTI is dull to look at but well made and thought-out inside.
OK, so it doesn't have Apple CarPlay, but there is a single CD Player, tape player and radio to keep you entertained. The ergonomics are good, the front seats get standard lumbar adjustment, there's climate control, remote locking is present and correct and the Mk4 Golf was the first car to get Isofix mounting points for child seats in the rear. VW spent a lot of money developing the Mk4 Golf and it shows. The switches feel extremely solid and nothing rattled on our car, despite it having been assembled some 18 years ago. Still, the Mk4's interior is bland but brilliantly built. Inside, our car has optional leather seats and faux wood dash and door trim, making it feel more luxurious than sporty inside, truth be told. That said, there is the 25th Anniversary Edition introduced in 2001 which came with BBS alloy wheels and a more aggressive body kit, making it easily the most desirable Mk4 GTI out there. To some, that'll be a draw, but we'd like just a little more drama. Although next to some of today's garish hot hatches, you could argue it's now looking much better.Įven so, our car is a late 2003 model with optional 17-inch alloys, and in its Reflex Silver metallic paint it could, quite frankly, be just about any other Mk4 Golf. Just some smoked rear lights, subtle GTI badging and alloy wheels gave the game away. Instead, it was barely possible to distinguish a GTI from the rest of the Golf range. There was much frowning in 1997, mainly because the Mk4 Golf GTI was revealed and it looked, err, bloated.Īfter the brilliantly angular first and second generations, then more muted third-gen GTI, the Mk4 was VW's chance to turn things around and really win back GTI fans. Let's see if it's still quite so average. Here, we're driving one of the last ever produced and thus probably the best a Mk4 GTI can be. However, while the Mk4 got off to a slow start (literally) it did improve over its life. Unfortunately, while the standard Mk4 Golf family hatch was a solid car, the supposedly spicier Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk4 proved less convincing from the off. The Golf 4 model is a car manufactured by Volkswagen, sold new from year 1999 until 2003, and available after that as a used car.Following a class-defining first release, a difficult but successful second album, yet a mediocre third, Volkswagen had its work cut out to get buyers back on side with the fourth generation of its Golf GTI. For stopping power, the Golf 4 2.0 braking system includes Vented Discs at the front and Discs at the rear. Stock tire sizes are 195 / 65 on 15 inch rims at the front, and 195 / 65 on 15 inch rims at the rear. anti-roll bar front suspension and - rear suspension. On the topic of chassis details responsible for road holding, handling behavior and ride comfort, the Golf 4 has Independent. The power is transmitted to the road by the front wheel drive (FWD) with a 5 speed Manual gearbox. This engine produces a maximum power of 115 PS (113 bhp - 85 kW) at 5200 rpm and a maximum torque of 170 Nm (125 lb.ft) at 2400 rpm.
With a fuel consumption of 7.9 litres/100km - 36 mpg UK - 30 mpg US (Average), 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 10.5 seconds, a maximum top speed of 121 mph (195 km/h), a curb weight of 2478 lbs (1124 kgs), the Golf 4 2.0 has a naturally-aspirated Inline 4 cylinder engine, Petrol motor, with the engine code APK/AQY.