The Golf's superior passive safety system now includes the option of side airbags integrated into the front driver and passenger seats to better ensure that no matter where the front occupants adjust his or her seat position, the airbag maintains its protective relationship. This cannot be assured if the side airbag is installed in the door or the roof pillar.
Also new for 1998 is a standard radio-frequency remote central locking system that operates a standard anti-theft alarm system, panic button and hatch release.
Like its high-performance sibling, the GTI-VR6, the 1998 Golf GL is built for drivers. Its fuel-injected 2.0 liter, 115 horsepower engine with a cross-flow cylinder head develops 122 foot pounds of torque at just 3,200 revolutions per minute, giving the Golf strong mid-range performance.
The Golf's 2.0 liter powerplant is mated to a standard five-speed manual transmission that uses a rod linkage for confident and quick shifting. For 1998, the Golf's four-speed automatic has been improved with a new shift logic pattern.
With its spirited performance, the Golf GL, equipped with the five-speed manual transmission, still manages to be economical, achieving EPA fuel mileage figures of 24 miles per gallon in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Big on the inside and small on the outside, the Golf GL's versatile layout is a function of its front-wheel drive hatchback design pioneered by Volkswagen. With a transverse engine and front-wheel drive, the Golf's drivetrain is up front in the shortest possible length, maximizing space available for passengers and their belongings.
This rigid hatchback body also contributes to rock-solid handling by providing a strong, rigid platform.
As you would expect in a German-engineered car, the Golf uses a four-wheel independent suspension system. The front suspension utilizes a strut design, with control arms, stabilizer bar and coil-spring struts. The rear suspension employs a "V" profile independent torsion beam with integral sway bar and trailing arms. The torsion beam rear axle is mounted to the vehicle with Volkswagen's unique track-correcting bushings-a feature designed to minimize unwanted steering effects.
The Golf GL is loaded with comfort and convenience equipment in an interior that is clean, uncluttered and logical. The driver's seat sits up high for better visibility and is height adjustable. As suits a driver's car, tachometer and speedometer are prominent, yet Volkswagen hasn't forgotten small touches like dual front vanity mirrors with covers, center console with two beverage holders and abundant storage areas and pockets in front and back. The 1997 Golf includes standard cloth seating and a full-size glove box.
The Golf also comes with a convenient central locking and unlocking switch on the dash, which allows the driver to open or lock all doors, the hatch and fuel filler door.
With its split/folding rear seatbacks down, the Golf provides 41 cubic feet of cargo space. Conversion from a five-seat automobile to versatile cargo hauler is as easy as releasing two seatback latches. Cargo lighting is provided for added convenience.
Other standard features on the Golf GL include an electric rear-window defogger with rear wiper and wash feature, two-speed front wipers with an intermittent feature, eight speaker stereo prep, digital clock, power remote hatch release, rear concealed beverage holder, and service reminder display.
Environmentally, the Golf has long been built in a recycling friendly manner. Since different types of plastics cannot be mixed, Volkswagen marks all Golf's plastic parts weighing more than 100 grams to make sorting these components more feasible for possible recycling. And recycled plastic is also used to build the current Golf, including the safety fuel tank. Air conditioning is CFC-free and brake linings are asbestos-free. Even the temporary protective coating used on Golf models during shipping is solvent free.
Active safety comes from precise handling, the security of front-wheel drive and other accident avoidance aids like daytime running lights (DRL). Passive safety includes a standard driver and front passenger airbag supplemental restraint system.
Both front seat occupants can adjust the shoulder belt height of the three-point safety belts which are also equipped with emergency tensioning retractors.
To help secure a child safety seat, which should only be used in the rear seats, automatic locking retractors (ALR) and emergency locking retractors (ELR) are provided.
Other safety features include anti-intrusion side door beams, protective side door reinforcement and padding, and Volkswagen's safety cage construction that works in conjunction with crash-absorbing crumple zones to help protect the occupants during a collision.
Additional frontal impact protection comes from the steering system via a collapsible steering column and a steering wheel designed to absorb impact energy.
Further details of how the Golf GL's interior provides occupant protection are found in the absence of sharp interior edges, recessed handles and control switches, crushable sun visors and a foldable rearview mirror. The Golf also adds a high-mounted stop lamp in the rear window and open door warning reflectors for all doors.
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