Looking back at the 1997 model year shows how Volkswagen balanced familiar classics with region-specific designs, reflecting different customer needs around the world. The lineup mixes city-friendly hatchbacks, compact sedans and a few niche offerings that reveal how VW adapted to local markets and regulations.
There are 19 1997 Volkswagen Car Models, ranging from Beetle to Voyage. For each model the table lists Body style(s),Markets,Engine(s) (L); you’ll find below.
Which markets were these 1997 Volkswagen models sold in?
Market availability varies by model—many were sold across Europe, with select models exported to North America, Latin America and parts of Asia. Check the Markets column to see where a specific model was offered and use that to narrow down region-specific trims, options and emissions equipment.
How should I use the Engine(s) (L) and Body style(s) information?
Engine displacement and body style quickly identify variants: Engine(s) (L) shows the available displacements for each market, while Body style(s) reveals whether a model was a hatchback, sedan, wagon, etc. Together they help match a car to service specs, parts compatibility, and historical listings.
1997 Volkswagen Car Models
| Model | Body style(s) | Markets | Engine(s) (L) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golf | hatchback,wagon | Europe,North America,Australia | 1.4,1.6,1.8,2.0,1.9 |
| Jetta | sedan | North America,Europe,Australia | 1.6,1.8,2.0,2.8,1.9 |
| Vento | sedan | Europe,Latin America,India | 1.6,1.8,2.0,1.9 |
| Passat | sedan,wagon | Europe,North America,Australia | 1.8,1.8T,1.9,2.8 |
| Polo | hatchback | Europe,Japan,Australia | 1.0,1.3,1.4,1.6 |
| Beetle | coupe | Mexico,Latin America | 1.6 |
| Cabriolet | convertible | Europe,North America,Australia | 1.6,1.8,2.0,2.8 |
| Sharan | minivan | Europe,Australia | 1.8,2.0,2.8,1.9 |
| Galaxy | minivan | Europe,Australia | 1.8,2.0,2.8,1.9 |
| Transporter | van | Europe,North America,Australia | 2.0,2.5,2.8,1.9 |
| Eurovan | van | North America | 2.0,2.8,2.5,1.9 |
| Caddy | compact van | Europe,Australia,Latin America | 1.4,1.6,1.9 |
| Santana | sedan | China,Latin America | 1.8,2.0 |
| Gol | hatchback | Brazil,Latin America,South Africa | 1.0,1.6,1.8 |
| Parati | wagon | Brazil,Latin America | 1.0,1.6,1.8 |
| Voyage | sedan | Brazil,Latin America | 1.6,1.8 |
| Saveiro | pickup | Brazil,Latin America | 1.6,1.8 |
| Logus | coupe,hatchback | Brazil,Argentina | 1.6,1.8 |
| Pointer | hatchback,sedan | Mexico,Brazil | 1.6,1.8 |
Images and Descriptions
Golf
The Golf (Mk3 in 1997) was VW’s compact mainstay, sold as hatchback and Variant wagon. Popular worldwide, it offered a broad engine range and remained a practical, familiar choice for buyers looking for reliable everyday transport.
Jetta
Jetta was the compact sedan sibling to the Golf, prominent in North America and many markets. In 1997 it continued as a mainstream family sedan with petrol and diesel options, including higher-performance VR6 engines in select markets.
Vento
Vento was the name for the Jetta-type sedan in many markets in 1997. It offered familiar small‑car engines and diesel choices, serving buyers who wanted a simple, spacious sedan without Golf hatchback packaging.
Passat
The Passat was VW’s mid-size family car; the B5 generation was new in the mid‑1990s and sold in 1997 with modern engines including 1.8T, 1.9 diesel and a V6. It aimed at buyers stepping up from compact cars.
Polo
Polo was VW’s small hatchback, popular across Europe and exported elsewhere in 1997. It focused on economy and city use with small-displacement petrol engines and compact packaging suited to first-time buyers and urban commuters.
Beetle
The classic Beetle (Mexican-built) was still in production and sold in some markets in 1997. A cultural icon rather than a modern compact, it remained notable for its simple air-cooled roots and long-lived classic silhouette.
Cabriolet
The Volkswagen Cabriolet (Golf-based convertible) offered open‑top motoring in 1997, blending Golf mechanicals with a soft-top. It appealed to buyers wanting a relaxed convertible with familiar VW underpinnings rather than exotic sports-car dynamics.
Sharan
Sharan was VW’s seven-seat MPV in 1997, co-developed with Ford. It served families needing space and flexibility, offered petrol and diesel engines, and was a practical alternative to smaller cars for those needing regular passenger capacity.
Galaxy
The Galaxy was Volkswagen’s large MPV sibling to the Sharan, sold primarily in Europe. In 1997 it competed in the family van market with roomy interiors and a choice of petrol and diesel engines for long-distance comfort.
Transporter
The Transporter (T4 generation) was VW’s midsize commercial van and passenger carrier in 1997. Used as cargo vans, minibuses and camper conversions, it was valued for durability and flexible body layouts across many markets.
Eurovan
Marketed as the Eurovan in North America, this T4-based van provided European-style cargo and passenger capability. In 1997 it was sold primarily in the U.S. and Canada with petrol and diesel engine choices aimed at buyers wanting a Euro-style people mover.
Caddy
The Caddy was Volkswagen’s small commercial vehicle in 1997, used by trades and small businesses. Compact and economical, it offered modest petrol and diesel engines and car-like driving manners for urban delivery and light-duty work.
Santana
Santana was a longstanding VW sedan, heavily produced in China and sold across Latin America in 1997. Known for simple, robust engineering, it was a popular taxi and fleet choice where low-cost, easy maintenance mattered most.
Gol
Gol was VW’s best-selling compact in Brazil and much of Latin America in 1997. Tuned to regional needs, it offered small, inexpensive engines and a variety of body styles, forming the backbone of Volkswagen’s presence in those markets.
Parati
Parati was the station-wagon variant of the Gol family, popular in Brazil for its cargo flexibility and affordability. In 1997 it appealed to buyers needing extra load space without stepping up to a larger, pricier model.
Voyage
Voyage was the Gol’s four-door sedan sibling sold mainly in Brazil and neighboring countries. In 1997 it provided a simple, economical sedan option tailored to regional tastes and local production advantages.
Saveiro
Saveiro was the compact pickup derived from the Gol platform and aimed at Latin American markets in 1997. Practical and inexpensive, it served small businesses and rural buyers needing a light-duty cargo bed on a car-based chassis.
Logus
Logus was a Brazil-market VW coupe/hatchback produced under the Autolatina partnership and still on sale in 1997. It targeted buyers wanting a sporty-styled compact with locally sourced components and straightforward mechanicals.
Pointer
Pointer was a Volkswagen-badged model sold in parts of Latin America in 1997, based on a partnership platform. It offered simple petrol engines and was positioned as an affordable, locally adapted compact for regional buyers.
