Car comparison

Volkswagen Golf IV 2.8 VR6vsVolkswagen Golf III 2.9 VR6 Syncro

Compare specs, acceleration, fuel consumption, dimensions, practicality, and estimated running costs side by side.

New comparison

Volkswagen Golf IV

2.8 VR6

204 hp2792 ccGasolineAWDManualNaturally aspiratedHatchback1999-2003

Volkswagen Golf III

2.9 VR6 Syncro

190 hp2861 ccGasolineAWDManualNaturally aspiratedHatchback1994-1997

Comparison overview

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

Volkswagen Golf IV 2.8 VR6

Quickest 0-100 km/h
7.1 s
Fastest top speed
235 km/h
146 mph
Most powerful
204 hp
152 kW
Highest torque
270 Nm
199 lb-ft
Lightest
1,400 kg
3,086 lb
Best power-to-weight
146 hp/t
109 kW/t
6.9 kg/hp
Lowest highway consumption
8.1 L/100 km
29.0 mpg US
34.9 mpg UK
Largest trunk
245 L
Best overall score
56/100
Best performance score
53/100
Best practicality score
62/100

Volkswagen Golf III 2.9 VR6 Syncro

Lowest city consumption
11.8 L/100 km
19.9 mpg US
23.9 mpg UK
Best economy score
79/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	VolkswagenGolf IV2.8 VR6	VolkswagenGolf III2.9 VR6 Syncro
Power	204hp152kW	190hp142kW
Torque	270Nm199lb-ft	245Nm181lb-ft
Curb weight	1,400kg3,086lb	1,410kg3,109lb
Gross weight	1,910kg4,211lb	1,800kg3,968lb
Top speed	235 km/h 146 mph	224 km/h 139 mph
To 99% top speed	75.8s99% target: 233 km/h / 145 mph Calculated	74.7s99% target: 222 km/h / 138 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	7.1s	7.5s
0-200 km/h	28.2s Calculated	33.2s Calculated
0-60 mph	6.7s Calculated	7.1s Calculated
Fuel consumption	-	10.5L/100 km22.4mpg US26.9mpg UK
Fuel consumption city	15.3L/100 km15.4mpg US18.5mpg UK	11.8L/100 km19.9mpg US23.9mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	8.1L/100 km29mpg US34.9mpg UK	9.6L/100 km24.5mpg US29.4mpg UK
Quarter mile	15.1s Calculated	15.4s Calculated
Power-to-weight	146hp/t109kW/t66hp/1000 lb Calculated	135hp/t100kW/t61hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	193Nm/t129lb-ft/ton Calculated	174Nm/t116lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	-	619km385mi Calculated
Displacement	2,792cc170cu in	2,861cc175cu in
Length	4,149mm163in	4,020mm158in
Width	1,735mm68in	1,695mm67in
Height	1,439mm57in	1,405mm55in
Wheelbase	2,518mm99in	2,475mm97in
Front track	1,513mm60in	1,450mm57in
Rear track	1,487mm59in	1,432mm56in
Trunk volume	245L	230L
Max trunk volume	1,185L	587L
Doors	3	3
Seats	5	5
Fuel tank	62L	65L

Performance charts

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

Dyno simulation

Estimated stock-style power and torque curves by engine speed.

Volkswagen Golf IV 2.8 VR6Volkswagen Golf III 2.9 VR6 SyncroPowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
VolkswagenGolf IV2.8 VR6	6,200 rpm	3,200 rpm	6,450 rpm
VolkswagenGolf III2.9 VR6 Syncro	5,800 rpm	4,200 rpm	6,050 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	VolkswagenGolf IV2.8 VR6	VolkswagenGolf III2.9 VR6 Syncro
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	6.7 s	7.1 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	7.1 s	7.5 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	28.2 s	33.2 s
Top speed	235 km/h 146 mph	224 km/h 139 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.6 s	2.6 s
330 ft 101 m	6.6 s	6.8 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.9 s	10.1 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.7 s	13.0 s
1/4 mile 402 m	15.1 s	15.4 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	156 km/h 97 mph	151 km/h 94 mph

Power comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power. Higher is better · hp / kW

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
VolkswagenGolf IV2.8 VR6	204 hp 152 kW
VolkswagenGolf III2.9 VR6 Syncro	190 hp 142 kW

Volkswagen Golf IV 2.8 VR6 has 14 hp more than Volkswagen Golf III 2.9 VR6 Syncro.

The biggest power difference is between Volkswagen Golf III 2.9 VR6 Syncro and Volkswagen Golf IV 2.8 VR6: 14 hp (10 kW).

Torque comparison

Bar comparison chart for Torque. Higher is better · Nm / lb-ft

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
VolkswagenGolf IV2.8 VR6	270 Nm 199 lb-ft
VolkswagenGolf III2.9 VR6 Syncro	245 Nm 181 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Curb weight. Lower is better · kg / lb

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
VolkswagenGolf IV2.8 VR6	1,400 kg 3,086 lb
VolkswagenGolf III2.9 VR6 Syncro	1,410 kg 3,109 lb

Top speed without limiter comparison

Bar comparison chart for Top speed without limiter. Higher is better · km/h / mph

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
VolkswagenGolf IV2.8 VR6	235 km/h 146 mph
VolkswagenGolf III2.9 VR6 Syncro	224 km/h 139 mph

0-100 km/h comparison

Bar comparison chart for 0-100 km/h. Lower is better · seconds

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
VolkswagenGolf IV2.8 VR6	7.1 s
VolkswagenGolf III2.9 VR6 Syncro	7.5 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between Volkswagen Golf IV 2.8 VR6 and Volkswagen Golf III 2.9 VR6 Syncro: 0.4 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power-to-weight. Higher is better · hp/t / kW/t

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
VolkswagenGolf IV2.8 VR6	146 hp/t 109 kW/t 6.9 kg/hp
VolkswagenGolf III2.9 VR6 Syncro	135 hp/t 100 kW/t 7.4 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
VolkswagenGolf IV2.8 VR6	204 hp 152 kW	7.1 s	235 km/h 146 mph
VolkswagenGolf III2.9 VR6 Syncro	190 hp 142 kW	7.5 s	224 km/h 139 mph

Most attractive quadrant

Scatter chart with performance score on the X axis and practicality score on the Y axis.

Vehicle

Performance score

Practicality score

VolkswagenGolf IV2.8 VR6

Power	204 hp 152 kW
0-100 km/h	7.1 s
Top speed 235 km/h 146 mph

Doors/seats	3 doors 5 seats
Trunk	245 L 8.7 cu ft
Length	4,149 mm 163.3 in
Height	1,439 mm 56.7 in

VolkswagenGolf III2.9 VR6 Syncro

Power	190 hp 142 kW
0-100 km/h	7.5 s
Top speed 224 km/h 139 mph

Doors/seats	3 doors 5 seats
Trunk	230 L 8.1 cu ft
Length	4,020 mm 158.3 in
Height	1,405 mm 55.3 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

VolkswagenGolf IV2.8 VR6

VolkswagenGolf III2.9 VR6 Syncro

Power

204 hp

152 kW

190 hp

142 kW

Torque

270 Nm

199 lb-ft

245 Nm

181 lb-ft

Acceleration

7.1 s

7.5 s

Top speed

235 km/h

146 mph

224 km/h

139 mph

Lightness

1,400 kg

3,086 lb

1,410 kg

3,109 lb

Fuel consumption

10.5 L/100 km

22.4 mpg US

26.9 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	3 doors 5 seats
Trunk	245 L 8.7 cu ft
Length	4,149 mm 163.3 in
Height	1,439 mm 56.7 in

Doors/seats	3 doors 5 seats
Trunk	230 L 8.1 cu ft
Length	4,020 mm 158.3 in
Height	1,405 mm 55.3 in

Range score

619 km

385 mi

Trunk score

245 L

8.7 cu ft

230 L

8.1 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

146 hp/t

109 kW/t

6.9 kg/hp

135 hp/t

100 kW/t

7.4 kg/hp

Overall

Fixed score

Fuel cost and annual usage

Estimate running costs from combined consumption, your annual distance, and the fuel price in your local currency.

Average annual distanceDistance unitFuel price in your local currencyPrice unit

Enter the fuel price in your local currency, for example €/L, $/gal, £/L or any other local currency.

LC = Local Currency

Fuel cost and annual usage
Vehicle	Volkswagen Golf III 2.9 VR6 Syncro
Consumption	10.5 L/100 km22.4 mpg US26.9 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	18.38 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	29.57 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,575 L416 US gal346 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,756 LC/year