As well as the well-known safety extras, the Golf Mk3 is also associated with many other of the product line’s milestones: its body was the first to house the six-cylinder engine (VR6), the cruise control system, the first oxidising catalytic converter for diesel engines (1991), the first diesel direct injection engine (TDI, 1993 and SDI, 1995) and the first side airbags (1996). Also in 1996, in September, ABS became standard equipment for all Golf vehicles. Based on the third Golf, Volkswagen had also introduced a new convertible, a new syncro II (all-wheel drive model) and the first estate model in this product line in 1993. One year later, the product line broke through the sound barrier of 15 million produced specimens. In 1997, the third generation was phased out after production of 4.83 million vehicles.

Golf Mk3 annual figures

1991 Debut of the third Golf generation 1991  VR6 engine as the first six-cylinder in the compact class 1991  Service interval display in the cockpit 1991  Oxidising catalytic converter 1991  Water-soluble paints 1992  Driver and front passenger airbags 1993  Debut of the first Golf Variant 1993  Debut of the second Golf Cabriolet 1993  Debut of the second Golf syncro generation 1993  The first turbo diesel direct injection engine (TDI) in a compact vehicle 1994  The sound barrier of 15 million produced Golf vehicles is broken through 1995  The first suction diesel direct injection engine in a compact vehicle (SDI) 1995  Laser welding: the first series attempts with 80cm roof joints in the Golf Variant 1996  ABS becomes standard for all Golf vehicles 1996  Side airbags in the Golf “Family” special model fitted as standard, as option in all other Golf models 1996  Phase-out of the third generation after 4.83 million vehicles produced.