Hard to be sure, but the Golf is occupying the same niche, small hatchback, that it was 40 years ago. Half a tonne of extra weight is hard to explain easily tho

Hard to be sure, but the Golf is occupying the same niche, small hatchback, that it was 40 years ago. Half a tonne of extra weight is hard to explain easily though. Wikipedia shows basic dimensions, but doesn't really explain where the weight went. But it's all cars, in all categories, getting bigger and heavier and almost becoming the next model up. There's nothing in what used to be small any more. A BMW 1 series is bigger than the old 3. Today even downmarket brands like Kia and Daewoo don't have 70s and 80s era lack of equipment - everything comes with air bags, electric windows, ABS, GPS and so on. You used to buy a car and get a heater, maybe a radio. Pay extra for electric windows, sometimes even for mirrors and fog lights. That and more legroom doesn't explain hundreds of kilos and half tonne gains in cars of all types. I think the rest must be structural for crash resistance. Side impact protection needing thicker heavier doors, etc. Random find: https://www.carthrottle.com/post/10-images-that-show-just-how-fat-cars-have-become/ https://www.carthrottle.com/post/10-images-that-show-just-ho... Comparing current and Mk1 Golf GTI's: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/golf/87232/long-term-test-review-volkswagen-golf-gti-pictures http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/golf/87232/long-term... Amazing even the premium GTI had no power steering and no electric windows in the mk1.