2004 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Minor appearance changes to the Jetta and the midyear addition of a high-performance all-wheel-drive Golf make 2004 news for Volkswagen's best-selling line. Jetta and Golf are essentially the same car, but Jetta far outsells Golf. Jetta comes as a 4-dr sedan or wagon, Golf as a 2- or 4-dr hatchback. Roughly parallel lineups feature identical powertrains. A 2.0-liter 4 cyl is in GL and GLS models. A turbo 1.8-liter 4 cyl powers the 1.8T models and Golf GTI. A 2.8-liter V6 is in Jetta GLI VR6 and Golf GTI VR6. A 1.9-liter turbodiesel is in TDI models. All 4-cyl engines are offered with manual or automatic transmission except in the midyear-addition Jetta GLI 1.8T, which, along with the V6 models, comes with manual only. The manual on Golf GTI VR6 and both Jetta GLI models is a 6 speed; other Jettas and Golfs have a 5 speed. The automatic used with the 2.0-liter engine is a 4 speed; 1.8Ts have a 5 speed with manual shift gate. All Golfs and Jettas come with antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, front torso side airbags, and head-protecting curtain side airbags. Traction control is standard except on 2.0-liter and TDI models, where it's unavailable. An antiskid system is standard with the V6 engine, optional elsewhere. For '04, Jettas get a new grille and taillights, and GTI and GLI have restyled wheels. Newly optional for all models is an OnStar assistance system. Added midyear was the R32 high-performance Golf 2-dr hatchback. It has AWD, a 240-hp 3.2-liter V6, 6-speed manual transmission, sport suspension, and unique trim.