12/02/2026
🇩🇪 Volkswagen Golf Country (Mk2) (1990)
The car that I will introduce you to in today's post is what the average modern crossover tried to be, but never became. History of creation, technical data and interesting features of a compact hatch with the character of an SUV - read more about this and other things ✍🏼
Mk2 occupies an important place in the history of German automobile manufacturing, because it is not only one of the most successful hatchbacks of the 80s, but also the second most numerous generation of Golf (≈6.3 million copies produced). However, despite the global popularity and prevalence of the car, few people guess about the existence of its unique limited Golf Country modification.
It all started in 1989, when Volkswagen presented a concept car called Montana at the Geneva Motor Show: in fact, it was a lifted Golf on wheels from a Jeep, assembled just for fun. But the public liked the car so much that the Germans still decided to put it into mass production, enlisting the support of the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch. It was she who at one time played a key role in the creation of the original Gelendwagen and had extensive experience in the development of utility vehicles. So the production cycle was set up as follows: the Austrians received a basic Golf Syncro, installed a tubular frame, underbody protection, reinforced suspension and larger wheels on off-road rubber, and from the opposite side of the assembly line came the finished Golf Country. The car not only looked like a full-fledged SUV, but actually was one, thanks to permanent four-wheel drive, 21 cm ground clearance and short overhangs that allowed you to feel confident on the road.
In just two years, 7,735 copies of the Golf Country were produced, i.e. 0.1% of the total circulation of the Mk2, and most of them settled in the alpine regions of Europe. But some reached our country as well (≈15 cars were registered), and the car in the photo is probably the best in terms of condition and degree of authenticity. By the way, Mr. Oleg, the owner of this Country, has 6 more interesting classic VWs in his collection, so I advise you to subscribe 👇🏼
