The Volkswagen Golf generation commonly associated with production from 1991 to 1997 is the Mk3.
The third-generation Golf made its home-market debut in August 1991, replacing the Mk2. It brought a slightly larger and more rounded design, improved crash protection, and new technology, including the Golf’s first available front airbags from 1992.
The Mk3 range expanded beyond the traditional three- and five-door hatchbacks. Volkswagen introduced the first Golf estate in 1993, while the Vento served as the related saloon model in many European markets. The generation also gained notable engines such as the first Golf TDI and the narrow-angle VR6.
The Mk4 replaced the regular Mk3 in Europe in late 1997, although Mk3 production and sales continued longer in some markets. That regional overlap explains why references may list the generation’s production as 1991–1998 or even later for certain body styles and countries.