2006 Volkswagen Golf Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Write a review
2006 was a changeover year for the Volkswagen Golf. While awaiting the introduction mid-year of a completely redesigned Golf (rechristened the Rabbit), Volkswagen continued to sell the previous-generation models, which were available in three versions.
The four-door Golf GL hatchback came with a 115-hp, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which was also dropped into the higher-end four-door GLS package. The GLS 1.9 TDI, meanwhile, came with a 100-hp, 1.9-liter diesel engine with the TDI (turbo direct injection) feature. A five-speed manual transmission was standard for all three versions, while a four-speed automatic was optional for the gas-engine Golfs. A five-speed automatic was optional with the diesel Golfs.
Standard features for the GL package included air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, front and side airbags for the driver and passenger, anti-lock brakes, a tilt/telescoping steering column, an anti-theft alarm system, a keyless entry system, cruise control, and a stereo system with a CD player. The GLS added a power sunroof, among other features. Stability control is optional across the line.
In mid-year, the Golfs were replaced in showrooms by the Rabbit, which was essentially the next-generation Golf. The Rabbit was available in both two- and four-door versions, with such high-end features as a fully independent suspension system, an electro-mechanical steering system, and a laser-welded body for heightened body strength.
Power was provided by a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine that pumped out 150 hp. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, while a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic was available as an option.
Drivers were quick to recognize the Rabbit's affordability (at least for the base models) and its German-made quality. They also responded positively to the smoothness of its ride, its redesigned interior and exterior, and its economical gas mileage.
Published Aug 8, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 2006 Volkswagen Golf
Write a reviewUser rating:
by Harry K
Nov 21, 2020
Really great condition for the year!!! Description is accurate Nov 21, 2020
by Kelly-jo D
Sep 25, 2010
From a r32 to a Golf gt tdi,well what could a girl say!!!I love Golfs so im happy with this 1..Performance,acceleration not bad for a diesel..tax is nice and cheap..all in all u cant go wrong with a Golf..Sep 25, 2010
by Vukasin P
Sep 09, 2010
It was a grat car,4 cyliders engine,106 bhp,top speed arount 120 mph/200
kmph,Standard "GREAT"Volks Wagen brakes,German shasy on scale from 1 to
10,pure 10,good enterier,GTi stering wheel,we both him a new one,it cost
somewere around 21 000 eurosSep 09, 2010
User rating:
by Harry K
Nov 21, 2020
Really great condition for the year!!! Description is accurate Nov 21, 2020
by Kelly-jo D
Sep 25, 2010
From a r32 to a Golf gt tdi,well what could a girl say!!!I love Golfs so im happy with this 1..Performance,acceleration not bad for a diesel..tax is nice and cheap..all in all u cant go wrong with a Golf..Sep 25, 2010
by Vukasin P
Sep 09, 2010
It was a grat car,4 cyliders engine,106 bhp,top speed arount 120 mph/200
kmph,Standard "GREAT"Volks Wagen brakes,German shasy on scale from 1 to
10,pure 10,good enterier,GTi stering wheel,we both him a new one,it cost
somewere around 21 000 eurosSep 09, 2010
by Mattias P
Jun 20, 2010
My Golf isn't a 2006. It's a 2007 and nothing else. The most fabulous winter car
I've owned. 140 hp/320 Nm combined with a very efficient 4WD system
(Haldex) makes for a deadly combination when it gets slippery. The 2-zone
climat control is also very nice.
It's fun to drive, it uses about 0,6 liters of diesel per 10 km, it's resonably
comfortable and the quality seems excellent. The only thing that has been
repaired is the cruise control that broke down during the summer of 2010.
Another problem that will have to be fixed soon is the rear right door. The lock
doesn't open as it should. It works just fine half of the times when I unlock the
doors.
The downside is that it's a bit noisy and that the seats are a joke. No real
support for the lower back. A real problem in my case since I have problems
with discs in my back. If you have a good, strong back they shouldn't give you
any problems.Jun 20, 2010
by Petrie J
Jun 14, 2010
Ek is mal oor my kar en sal nie 'n ander kar wil he nie. Dit ry regtig vir my baie lekker en dit het baie krag. My kar het ook speed control en het lekker sound. Danki pa vir my lekker kar.
Jun 14, 2010
by Stephen T
May 10, 2010
good motor and fairly quick for engine size. very well built an sturdy and fairly high spec. mileage good on motorway in 6th gear and in cruise mode but not the best around town. overall a very good buy even though changing this year.May 10, 2010
by Dejan F
May 06, 2010
It` the best car!! Becouse it` mine :P Ga pa prodam, če kdo kup, ugodno. Dva bureka pa je tvoj, pa mrbit še jogurt zraun, sam bi raj neki piu pa je. Kr burek, je kr slan hehe a ni res?May 06, 2010
by Gary K
Jan 24, 2010
no balls, german engineering so few repairs, it will look good when I switch the lights and put my rims on, 40 bucks a tank, i like it, my olf golf was a little more fun though, and I miss my old pile of a ford sometimesJan 24, 2010
by Isaac S
Dec 20, 2009
Impressionante los 170cv con el cambio DSG, buen mix!! Lastima que los neumáticos no lo aguantan todo!!!
Consumos reducidos para una prestaciones muy aceptables. Lastima que los motores diesel siguen aún haciendo un ruido poco motivador. Jejejeje!!! XD
Good Value!!Dec 20, 2009
by Sam A
Oct 29, 2009
a very good and nice looking car with great performance. I will strongly recommend this car. The car has a very powerfull acceleration and elegant interior. it's fairly economical also. it's a very good choise for you who love to drive and having fun while driving :DOct 29, 2009
by Moe A
Oct 18, 2009
its too fast and too adngerous as a performance, as acceleration, braking, handling . takes alot of gas but it doesnt matter as long as u dont run alot with it. Most important is that its really fun to drive!!!AmzaingOct 18, 2009
by Elie M
Sep 21, 2009
performance - 0 to 100 km in 5.0 sec
build quality - never needed repairs, no sound what so ever
appearance - best volkswagen, a work of art from inside out
cost of ownership - it's pretty hard on the gaz less than 100 km per gallon
fun factor - it's super fun specially in fast turnsSep 21, 2009
by Martin Ø
Aug 31, 2009
Hvorfor er det man skal fyre sådan noget pis af her i denne quiz. Min golf kører perfekt og det er en dejlig bil, men der findes da selvfølgelig federe biler men golfen er altid et hit på driftssikkerhed... Troede da bestemt at det var nok, men den brokker sig jo konstant...Aug 31, 2009
by Panagiotis T
Aug 29, 2009
the acceleration is not that good coz it only 1.4lts but the braking and handling is superb.
the build quality is awesome.
the appearance is quite "macho" if u know what i mean.
cost of ownership very little so far.
the car is REALLY fun to drive.Aug 29, 2009
by Carlos Z
Aug 28, 2009
GOLF. Very smooth on the road and the highway, pretty good on gas. Good handling. The outisde appearance overall isn't very catchy but who needs looks when your driving smoothly on the road. Its a fun car to drive and to race with.Aug 28, 2009
by Chris K
Aug 26, 2009
It was a Golf 2.0TDi GT - loved it ! Quick, stuck to the road like glue. Shame about the lack of standard add on's like cruise control which the equivalent Honda had but generally a nice car. will have another one soon hopefully.Aug 26, 2009
by Mohamed S
Jul 16, 2009
its just a perfect car for all times, it has small body which helps in making the car more flexible. About performance, golf is known for its stability on the road hile driving with high speed and also it could be modified sportly with an amazing appearance !Jul 16, 2009
by Petar K
Jan 26, 2009
It's a very good car although the diesel egine is a little noisy and not so powerfull , but it's very economical. Tha interior is very well built and comfortable. That's a very appropriate car for a teenager.And its very good in city driving , it's easy to find a parking spot/Jan 26, 2009
by Gruja M
Jan 12, 2009
Actualy it is 2007 Volkswagen Golf of fifth generation,engine spec. 1.6l,105bhp.It`s a new car so evrything works vell,super disk brakes,solid acceleration for 1.6,much confort inside and its very great car to drive and own.Jan 12, 2009
by Jim J
Dec 31, 2008
I bought the Golf when my Passat died on me. It was on the lot, and the only manual transmission GLS model. It has the "2 Point Slow" engine which is not stunning for acceleration, or mileage. My 21 year old VW Scirocco, with a 1.8l both accelerates better and gets better mileage (33 mph vs. 28).
Dec 31, 2008
by Stefano R
Nov 11, 2008
Not so good in acceleration, it has only 110 hp but a good car, wondeful for long trip, comfortable also after 8 hours driving, no need repair until now, funny to drive, low cost of ownership, styling is ok, the new Golf 6 is very similar, the Dgs (directshift gearbox) is a sport automatic shift, really great.Nov 11, 2008
by Louis P
Oct 31, 2008
I have Golf V GT TSI 170 not in the list above...just a great car. It actually pushes 200+hp due to a special downpipe and a catbypass.
The power and torque are amazing. Road holding and brakes way above average.
The comfort is also one of the strong teatures of that car, it is just a pleasure to get in there and drive.Oct 31, 2008
by Claude L
Sep 16, 2008
The extra money and wait for this model were really worth it!
I love the extra 30 bhp and general feeling of the engine.
The original neutral behaviour of the older Golf generations lives on in a muchly improved manner in this model.
The extra touches of the "Edition 30" are not all that great, but make a nice touch, especially the red cord used for the stitching of the steering wheel and the shifter.
I never regretted buying the sunroof option either !
And as for the wheels... well, you just got to love them!
It uses between 9,2 and 12,5 litres per 100 km, and my general average is about 10,5 / 100 km. Not bad for an engine with that performance !Sep 16, 2008
by Cameron J
Sep 07, 2008
I have owned this car since new, and it is fantastic.
The performance is wonderful for such a small car, the 113 kW (in the 2.0L Australian version) get you off the line, and the turbo is nice. There is hardly any dirty weight transfer going around corners. It is a beautiful car and the fuel economy is unparalelled amongst other cars of it's size.Sep 07, 2008
by John E
Aug 18, 2008
Got the opportunity to drive one of these beauties the other day. Loved every second of it. It's light, quick and unbelievably smooth. You need a feather light foot on the pedal to get this thing to do the speed limit. Anymore and this thing is gone! The smell of dead cow as you open the door from all the leather seats. Only let done was the plastic interior. Very grim and for the price of them you expect better.Aug 18, 2008
by Mikko M
Jun 18, 2008
4motion is nice and its quite economical too.Jun 18, 2008
by Liam R
Jun 09, 2008
this care is extremely strong and reliable (german) has no basic problems not so hot with its accelerationJun 09, 2008
by Michael S
Mar 28, 2008
Lots of space, nice handling - love to drive it.Mar 28, 2008
by Ruth D
Feb 20, 2008
My Golf GT is the best Car I have had. The 12 week wait when I ordered it was agony!!! The Turbo kicks and gives youa rush EVERY time.Feb 20, 2008
by Anonymous
Jan 13, 2008
I absoloutly love this car and can't fault it only i wish it could shift once setting off but saying that once it gets going its off! since it has all the hidden extras like heated wing mirrirs and cruise control would be good if they could put in the heated front screen thats the thing i can think off really, top car!Jan 13, 2008
by Olivier D
Jan 10, 2008
slow, ugly, not comfortable, bad handling, worst company car I ever had.Jan 10, 2008
by Jucee Jules C
Jan 04, 2008
brilliant drive and excellent handling loads of spaceJan 04, 2008
by Jason L
Dec 29, 2007
It is GREAT go get one now!!! I got mine in 2006 and it has well performed it expections! I reconmend it to anz one mine is the 1.6 FSI and it is also very economical, so zou save on the fuel costs!Dec 29, 2007
by Sam H
Dec 28, 2007
My first new vehicle, it has a bunch of add-on power just by having a chip or two installed. Fun to drive, but if I get a chance I want to install another turbo!Dec 28, 2007
by Anonymous
Dec 26, 2007
Exterior: Baby blue
Interior: Dark grey seat covers.. just plain and simple, with a MP3 frontloaderDec 26, 2007
What users have asked
Golf 5 FSI 2.0
I have Golf 5 fsi 2.0 engine and it loss power and it only reach 120speed and cannot goes up to 200 speed, what could be a problem? There are views that it can be a clutch kit problem.. what i can i do to solve the problem?
41 views
Golf 5 2.0 litre fans starts up even on cold start,keeps on running until ignition is turned off
When cold-starting or when starting my car,the fans starts working,only to stop when ignition is turned off.Took car to vw mechanic for diagnostig test,no error codes. Do you have any idea??
1885 views
Replacing a car engine
With what engine can I replace the golf 5 2.0 fsi
10 views
VW Golf 2006 Battery Drain Problem
HI all, I have been experiencing a battery problem with my Golf 5 (2006). I bought it a month ago, and everything was fine until 2 weeks afterwards. The battery was dead all of a sudden. Because the car is still under warranty, the dealer replaced the battery with a brand new one. However, the same problem occurred again 2 days ago. The battery drained in the morning. More or less 2 weeks after it was installed. After the new battery was installed everything was fine.. but I felt that the battery was getting weaker after 7-10 days of use. I wonder if this is due to a defect in the batteries, which was rather strange because the 2 batteries were actually new. I also wonder if this was caused by some electrical components drawing to much power. But in this case, it may be rather unlikely because otherwise the battery should have drained not long after they were installed. Has anybody experienced a similar problem? Any advise would be very much appreciated.
8891 views
Top Comparisons
Have you driven a 2006 Volkswagen Golf?Compare this car
2006 Volkswagen Golf Pricing
Original MSRP
$16,660 to $20,210Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Storage: cargo tie-down anchors and hooks
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 8
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching · Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Power windows: remote operation · Rear wiper: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · Premium Brand: Monsoon · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Storage: cargo tie-down anchors and hooks
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 8
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power glass
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching
Wheels
Wheel locks: front and rear
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Power windows: remote operation · Rear wiper: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · Premium Brand: Monsoon · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Storage: cargo tie-down anchors and hooks
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 8
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: remote operation
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching
Wheels
Wheel locks: front and rear
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Power windows: remote operation · Rear wiper: intermittent