Throughout automotive history, there have been iconic cars that managed to stand the test of time, and the Volkswagen Golf is one such automobile. While the Golf has persistently remained a popular choice for a fun-to-drive, compact, and practical vehicle, it's worth looking at how its turning circle fares in comparison to other cars on the market and how it has changed throughout its illustrious history.
VW Golf - How has the turning circle changed over the generations?
In its inception, the Golf I had a turning circle of 10.5 meters, and this seemingly adequate figure remained unchanged for quite some time. Even as we entered the Golf II era, the turning circle remained at 10.5 meters. However, this started changing with the arrival of the Golf III, which featured a 10.7 meters turning circle. This trend continued in subsequent Golf IV, V, and VI models, increasing to 10.9 meters, which is where it now stands in the latest Golf VIII.
VW Golf generations
(Turning circle)
VW Golf generations| Generation year | Turning circle |
|---|
| Golf, Model year 1974 (I) | 10 m |
| Golf, Model year 1978 (I (1. Facelift)) | 10 m |
| Golf, Model year 1980 (Golf I (2. Facelift)) | 10 m |
| Golf, Model year 1983 (Golf II) | 10 m |
| Golf, Model year 1987 (Golf II (1. Facelift)) | 10 m |
| Golf, Model year 1991 (Golf III) | 10 m |
| Golf, Model year 1997 (Golf IV) | 10 m |
| Golf, Model year 2003 (Golf V) | 10 m |
| Golf, Model year 2008 (Golf VI) | 10 m |
| Golf, Model year 2012 (Golf VII) | 10 m |
| Golf, Model year 2017 (Golf VII (1. Facelift)) | 10 m |
| Golf, Model year 2019 (VIII) | 10 m |
| Golf, Model year 2024 (Golf VIII (1. Facelift)) | 11 m |
The difference in Turning circle between first generation (I) from 1974 and last generation (Golf VIII (1. Facelift)) from 2024 is 1 m.
The turning circle of the current generation of Golf is 11 m.
Variants
VW Golf variants: Golf vs. Golf Variant
(Turning circle)
Turning circle: VW Golf variants| Variant name | Turning circle |
|---|
| Golf | 11 m |
| Golf Variant | 11 m |
The turning circle compared to other VW models
Now, let us see how the Golf stacks up against its siblings in the Volkswagen lineup. The up! models (standard, GTI, cross up!, and e-up!) all boast a 9.8 meters turning circle, making them the Gold Standard for compact turning in the Volkswagen family. The all-electric ID.3 and ID.4 models enjoy a 10.3 and 10.2 meters turning circle, respectively. Those in the market for something sportier may seek solace in the VW Polo, which has a 10.6 meters turning circle, narrowly outdoing the Golf by a few decimeters. On the higher end, larger models such as the Passat, Tiguan, and Touareg feature turning circles ranging from 11.5 to 12.2 meters, making the Golf a competitive and practical choice within the lineup.
VW Golf vs other current cars by VW
(Turning circle)
Turning circle: Golf vs. other models by VW| Variant name | Turning circle |
|---|
| up! | 9 m |
| up! cross up! | 9 m |
| up! e-up! | 9 m |
| up! GTI | 9 m |
| ID.5 | 10 m |
| ID.4 | 10 m |
| Golf | 10 m |
| Golf GTD | 10 m |
| Golf GTE | 10 m |
| Golf GTI | 10 m |
| Golf R | 10 m |
| ID.7 | 10 m |
| ID.3 | 10 m |
| Polo | 10 m |
| Polo GTI | 10 m |
| Taigo | 10 m |
| T-Cross | 10 m |
| ID.5 GTX | 11 m |
| ID.4 GTX | 11 m |
| Golf Alltrack | 11 m |
| Golf R Variant | 11 m |
| Golf Variant | 11 m |
| Arteon | 11 m |
| Arteon R | 11 m |
| Arteon R Shooting Brake | 11 m |
| Arteon Shooting Brake | 11 m |
| Tiguan | 11 m |
| Tiguan Allspace | 11 m |
| Tiguan R | 11 m |
| T-Roc | 11 m |
| T-Roc Cabriolet | 11 m |
| T-Roc R | 11 m |
| Passat Alltrack | 11 m |
| Passat GTE Limousine | 11 m |
| Passat GTE Variant | 11 m |
| Passat Limousine | 11 m |
| Passat Variant | 11 m |
| Touran | 11 m |
| Touareg | 12 m |
| Touareg R | 12 m |
How does the turning circle of the VW Golf compare to it's nearest competitors?
As for the Golf's rivals, the Hyundai i30's turning circle is slightly smaller at 10.6 meters, while the Mazda 2 outclasses both with its compact 9.4 meters turning circle. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta matches the Golf's 10.9 meters, but the Honda Civic trumps them with an 11.3 meters turning circle. The Golf outmaneuvers its main German competitor, the Audi A1, which has a 10.6 meters turning circle, whereas the Golf also outperforms the Toyota Yaris at 9.8 meters. When it comes to the French contenders, the Renault Clio almost mirrors the Golf with a 10.5 meters circle, while the Peugeot 208 has a marginally smaller circle at 10.4 meters. With other competitors like the SEAT Ibiza and the KIA Rio also embracing the 10.4 meters circle figure, the VW Golf firmly remains a formidable competitor in the turning circle arena.
VW Golf vs. similar cars
(Turning circle)
Turning circle: VW Golf vs. similar cars| Car model | Turning circle |
|---|
| Estrima Birò 2022 | 5 m |
| ARI Motors 452/802 2019 | 6 m |
| ARI Motors Soleno 2024 | 7 m |
| ARI Motors 902 2023 | 7 m |
| Fiat Topolino 2023 | 7 m |
| Citroen Ami 2024 | 7 m |
| Aixam Ambition 2023 | 8 m |
| Daewoo Nexia 1995 | 9 m |
| Ligier Myli 2023 | 9 m |
| Rover 45 2004 | 10 m |
| Ford Ka+ 2018 | 10 m |
| BYD Dolphin 2023 | 10 m |
| Alpine A290 2024 | 10 m |
| Peugeot 4008 2012 | 10 m |
| Alfa Romeo 147 2005 | 11 m |
| GWM ORA 03 2024 | 11 m |
| Sono Motors Sion 2021 | 11 m |
| GWM ORA 07 2024 | 11 m |
| NIO ET5 2023 | 11 m |
| Toyota Prius 2004 | 11 m |
| KIA Stinger 2017 | 11 m |
| Mercedes-Benz T-Klasse 2022 | 11 m |
| Jaguar E-Pace 2018 | 11 m |
| Ford Kuga 2008 | 11 m |
| Renault Koleos 2008 | 11 m |
| Hyundai Santa Fe 2001 | 11 m |
| VW Golf 2024 | 11 m |
| BMW i4 2021 | 12 m |
| Citroen C-Crosser 2007 | 12 m |
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