Which battery does the Volkswagen Golf take? Generation by generation

Car battery by model

It depends on the generation and on whether your Volkswagen Golf has Start-Stop. With Start-Stop, the Volkswagen Golf Mk7 5G (2012-2021) usually takes a battery like the Varta A7: AGM, 70 Ah and 760 A; without Start-Stop, the Varta A8 (AGM, 60 Ah). The Volkswagen Golf Mk5 1K (2003-2009) almost always takes a battery like the Varta E11: conventional, 74 Ah and 680 A, case size L3. Below you will find all 7 generations, each with its battery.

  • 7 generations
  • from 1983
  • 142 engines
  • AGM · EFB · conventional

Check with your number plateWe show you only the batteries that fit your exact version.

Volkswagen Golf generations and their battery

Newest first. If you are not sure which one you have, go by the year of manufacture or check with your number plate.

How the Volkswagen Golf battery has changed

Start-Stop becomes widespread with the Volkswagen Golf Mk6 5K (2008), and with it come AGM and EFB batteries. Earlier generations —Volkswagen Golf Mk2 1G, Volkswagen Golf Mk3 1H, Volkswagen Golf Mk4 1J and Volkswagen Golf Mk5 1K— use conventional batteries from 41 to 95 Ah. The most common case size is L3, but not every generation uses it: check yours before you buy.

How to tell which Volkswagen Golf you have

Each generation has its own production years and model code, which you will find in the car’s documents. These are the body styles of each one:

GenerationYearsBody styles (model code)
Volkswagen Golf Mk8 (CD)from 2019Golf VIII (CD1, DA1), Golf VIII Variant (CG5, DB5)
Volkswagen Golf Mk7 (5G)2012-2021Golf VII (5G1, BQ1, BE1, BE2), Golf VII Variant (BA5, BV5)
Volkswagen Golf Mk6 (5K)2008-2016Golf VI (5K1), Golf VI Convertible (517), Golf VI Variant (AJ5), Golf VI Van (5K1_), Golf VAN VI Variant (AJ5)
Volkswagen Golf Mk5 (1K)2003-2009Golf V (1K1), Golf V Variant (1K5)
Volkswagen Golf Mk4 (1J)1997-2014Golf IV (1J1), Golf IV (9B3), Golf IV Cabriolet (1E7), Golf IV Variant (1J5), Golf IV Van (1J1), Golf VAN IV Variant (1J5)
Volkswagen Golf Mk3 (1H)1991-1999Golf III (1H1), Golf III Cabriolet (1E7), Golf III Variant (1H5), Golf III Van (1H1), Golf Van III Variant (1H5)
Volkswagen Golf Mk2 (1G)1983-1992Golf II (19E, 1G1), Golf II Van (19E, 1G1)

Frequently asked questions

Which battery does the Volkswagen Golf take?

It depends on the generation and on whether your Volkswagen Golf has Start-Stop. With Start-Stop, the Volkswagen Golf Mk7 5G (2012-2021) usually takes a battery like the Varta A7: AGM, 70 Ah and 760 A; without Start-Stop, the Varta A8 (AGM, 60 Ah). The Volkswagen Golf Mk5 1K (2003-2009) almost always takes a battery like the Varta E11: conventional, 74 Ah and 680 A, case size L3. Below you will find all 7 generations, each with its battery.

Do all Volkswagen Golf generations take the same battery?

No. The battery changes with the generation, the engine and Start-Stop: the Volkswagen Golf Mk7 (5G) mostly takes the Varta A7 (AGM) and the Volkswagen Golf Mk5 (1K) the Varta E11 (conventional).

Since when has the Volkswagen Golf had Start-Stop?

It became widespread with the Volkswagen Golf Mk6 5K (2008). Those versions need AGM and EFB; if your Volkswagen Golf is older or has no Start-Stop, it takes a conventional battery.

How do I know which generation my Volkswagen Golf is?

By the years of manufacture (Volkswagen Golf Mk5 (1K): 2003-2009; Volkswagen Golf Mk6 (5K): 2008-2016; Volkswagen Golf Mk7 (5G): 2012-2021; Volkswagen Golf Mk8 (CD): from 2019) or, more easily, with your number plate: our search identifies the exact model and engine and shows you only the batteries that fit.

Updated: · Source: battery application data by engine (KType TecDoc), the same data our number plate search uses, plus the datasheet of each battery.

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