Get Transporting Guide for Volkswagen Golf 4 Door 2023

luggage compartment cover, or on the top of

the instrument panel.

Transporting

Always remove hard, heavy, or sharp objects

from clothing and bags in the vehicle interior

and stow them securely in the luggage com-

partment.

·

Stowing luggage

Always stow all luggage securely in the vehicle

Passengers must never ride in an incorrect seat-

ing position because objects are being trans-

ported in the vehicle.

— Distribute the load in the vehicle and, if applica-

ble, on the roof as evenly as possible.

— Always put luggage and heavy items in the lug-

gage compartment.

Never let anybody sit in a seat that is blocked by

objects being carried in the vehicle.

·

— Put heavy objects as far forward as possible in the

luggage compartment and securely latch the rear

seat backrest in the upright position.

Never let anyone ride in the luggage compart-

ment.

— Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating → page 324, Weights

and axle weights.

WARNING

Transporting heavy objects causes the handling

characteristics of the vehicle to change and in-

creases braking distances. Heavy loads which are

not properly stowed or secured in the vehicle can

lead to a loss of vehicle control and cause serious

personal injury.

— Secure luggage in the luggage compartment us-

ing suitable straps and the tie downs → page 216,

Tie-downs.

— Securely stow small objects as well.

Transporting heavy items causes the handling

characteristics of the vehicle to change by shift-

ing the vehicle's center of gravity.

— Have the headlight range adjusted, if necessary

→ page 112, Lights.

·

— Check the pressure in all 4 tires when the tires are

still cold. Never reduce air pressure in warm tires

to match cold tire inflation pressure. Heed the in-

formation on the tire pressure label → page 276,

Tire inflation pressure.

Always distribute luggage evenly and as low as

·

possible within the vehicle. The vehicle capacity

weight figures apply when the load is distribut-

ed evenly in the vehicle (passengers and lug-

gage).

— Pay especially close attention to your vehicle's

Tire Pressure Monitoring System when driving

with a heavy load → page 260, Tire Pressure Mon-

itoring System (TPMS).

Always stow luggage and heavy items in the

·

luggage compartment as far forward of the rear

axle as possible and secure them with appropri-

ate straps to the tie-downs provided.

WARNING

Secure the load properly to keep it from shift-

ing.

·

Unsecured or incorrectly stowed items can fly

through the vehicle, causing serious personal in-

jury during hard braking or sharp steering or in an

accident. Loose items can also be struck and

thrown through the passenger compartment by

the front airbags if they inflate. To help reduce the

risk of serious personal injury:

Never exceed the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight

·

Rating or Gross Axle Weight Ratings, which are

printed on the Safety Compliance Certification

Label located on the door jamb of the driver

door. Exceeding the permissible weight can

cause the vehicle to skid and behave differently.

Always stow all objects securely in the vehicle.

Always put luggage and heavy items in the lug-

gage compartment.

·

Always adapt your speed and driving style to

accommodate your payload and its weight dis-

tribution within your vehicle.

·

Always secure objects in the passenger com-

·

Be especially cautious and gentle when step-

ping on the accelerator pedal and avoid sudden

braking and other maneuvers.

·

partment properly with suitable straps so that

they cannot move into the deployment zone of

a side or front airbag during sudden braking, in

a sudden maneuver, or in a collision.

Brake earlier than you would if you were not

driving a loaded vehicle.

·

Always keep storage compartments closed

while driving.

·

Never stow hard, heavy, or sharp objects in the

vehicle's open storage compartments, on the

·

Stowing luggage

213

Installing the luggage compartment cover

NOTICE

— Press the luggage compartment cover into the

side brackets from above → fig. 141 (bottom ar-

rows).

The defroster heating wires or antenna in the rear

window can be damaged by objects that rub against

them.

— Hook the supporting cords onto the trunk lid

→ fig. 141 (top arrows).

The ventilation slots in the luggage compart-

ment must not be blocked so that stale air can

escape from the vehicle.

WARNING

Please review the information on loading

a roof rack → page 218, Roof rack.

In a sudden braking or other maneuver, or in a col-

lision, unsecured or improperly secured objects or

animals on the luggage compartment cover can

cause serious personal injury.

Never leave hard, heavy, or sharp objects in

bags or loose on the luggage compartment cov-

er.

·

Luggage compartment cover

Never let animals ride on the luggage compart-

ment cover.

·

WARNING

Clothes or other items on the luggage compart-

ment cover behind the rear seat backrest may limit

visibility and cause accidents and severe personal

injuries.

Always hang clothes so that they do not limit

visibility.

·

NOTICE

To help prevent damage to the luggage compart-

ment cover, the luggage compartment may only be

loaded to a height at which the luggage compart-

ment cover will not press on the cargo when the

trunk lid is closed.

Fig. 141 In the luggage compartment: Installing and

removing the luggage compartment cover.

When you open or close the trunk lid, the supporting

cords, when attached, will automatically raise or

lower the luggage compartment cover.

NOTICE

You can put light clothing on the luggage compart-

ment cover, however, your view through the rear

window must not be obstructed.

Things on the luggage compartment cover can dam-

age it.

The defroster heating wires or antenna in the rear

window can be damaged by objects that rub

against them.

·

Removing the luggage compartment cover

— Unhook the supporting cords from each side of

the trunk lid → fig. 141 (top arrows).

The ventilation slots in the luggage compart-

ment must not be blocked so that stale air can

escape from the vehicle.

— Push the luggage compartment cover upward

from below → fig. 141 (bottom arrows) until it re-

leases from the side brackets.

— If necessary, flip the luggage compartment cover

over and stow it under the variable luggage com-

partment floor → page 215, Variable luggage

compartment floor. Remove one or both of the

side panels in the luggage compartment to make

more room, if necessary → page 216, Storage

areas in the luggage compartment.

214

Transporting

of the guides on the sides of the luggage com-

partment.

Variable luggage compart-

ment floor

— Insert the luggage compartment floor into the

guides at the required height and push it forward

as far as it will go.

Removing the luggage compartment floor

— Grasp the recessed handle → fig. 142, lift the lug-

gage compartment floor, and pull it rearward out

of the guides on the sides of the luggage com-

partment.

— Remove the luggage compartment floor and store

it in a clean, dry location.

WARNING

During hard braking or an accident, loose objects

can fly through the passenger compartment and

cause serious or even fatal injuries.

Fig. 142 In the luggage compartment: Opening the

variable luggage compartment floor.

Even if the luggage compartment floor panel is

·

properly raised, it is still necessary to secure all

objects.

NOTICE

Do not let the luggage compartment floor fall freely

when closing it. Always guide it down into place. The

trim or the luggage compartment floor could be

damaged.

If you store the luggage compartment cover

under the variable luggage compartment

floor, insert the luggage compartment floor into the

upper guides.

Fig. 143 In the luggage compartment: Variable lug-

gage compartment floor folded up.

Some models are equipped with a variable luggage

compartment floor, which is height-adjustable.

Opening and closing the luggage compartment floor

— To open: Lift the recessed handle → fig. 142 and

guide the floor upward until it is held in position

by the stops on either side of the luggage com-

partment → fig. 143 (arrows).

— To close: Guide the luggage compartment floor

past the stops and downward into position. If

necessary, gently pressing the stops can help the

floor pass through →

.

Adjusting the height of the luggage compartment

floor

— Grasp the recessed handle → fig. 142, lift the lug-

gage compartment floor, and pull it rearward out

Variable luggage compartment floor

215

Tie-downs

Luggage compartment – fea-

tures

Storage areas in the luggage com-

partment

Fig. 145 In the luggage compartment: Tie-downs.

There are tie-downs in the front and rear of the lug-

gage compartment, which you can use to secure

luggage or other items → fig. 145 (arrows).

Some tie-downs may have to be folded open for use.

Elastic straps can snap back toward you if they are

Fig. 144 In the luggage compartment: Side storage

compartment with removable panel.

not properly attached →

.

Storage compartments in the luggage compartment

If you use elastic straps to secure items in the lug-

gage compartment, be sure to securely attach them

to the tie-downs just behind the rear seat backrest

first and then to the tie-downs at the loading edge

of the luggage compartment.

There may be additional storage compartments on

the sides of the luggage compartment. The vehicle

tool kit may be stored in this compartment

→ page 227, Vehicle tool kit.

The side panels can be removed to make room for

larger objects in the luggage compartment.

Remove the hooks from the tie-downs in the reverse

order described above, first from the tie-downs at

the loading edge and then from the tie-downs be-

hind the rear seat backrest so that if the hooks come

loose suddenly, they will move away from you.

— To remove: Pull the side panel upward in the di-

rection of the arrow → fig. 144.

— To install: Insert the side panel in the opposite di-

rection of the arrow.

WARNING

Unsuitable, worn, or damaged tie-down straps

(elastic or non-elastic) can snap or come loose dur-

ing braking or other maneuvers or in a collision.

Objects secured with these straps can then come

loose and fly through the passenger compartment,

causing severe personal injuries or death.

To help prevent baggage or other items from

coming loose and flying around, always use

suitable undamaged tie-down straps.

·

Securely fasten the tie-down straps to the tie-

downs.

·

Loose or improperly secured objects in the lug-

gage compartment can slide about suddenly

and change the vehicle's handling.

·

Secure even small and light objects. Loose ob-

jects in the luggage or passenger compartment

can fly about during sudden braking maneuvers

·

216

Transporting

or in the event of an accident and injure occu-

pants.

WARNING

Never use the shopping bag hooks as tie-downs.

The hooks could break during sudden braking or in

a collision.

Never attach a child restraint to the tie-downs.

·

WARNING

NOTICE

Elastic straps have to be stretched when being at-

tached to the tie-downs in the luggage compart-

ment. Hooks on these straps can cause serious

personal injury if not handled properly and attach-

ed securely.

The maximum load for each shopping bag hook is

5 lbs. (2.5 kg).

Always protect eyes and face from injury from

the hooks when attaching them to the tie-

downs in the luggage compartment.

·

Luggage compartment pass-

through

Always hold the hooks on elastic straps firmly

when attaching to the vehicle and do not let

them snap back and hit you.

·

First attach the hooks on the straps to the tie-

·

downs at the rear seat backrest in the luggage

compartment and then to the tie-downs near

the loading edge of the luggage compartment.

This way, if one of the hooks on the elastic

straps snaps back, it will move away from you,

decreasing the risk of personal injury.

For suitable straps and luggage stowage sys-

tems, please see an authorized Volkswagen

dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Fig. 147 In the rear seat backrest: Opening the lug-

gage compartment pass-through.

Shopping bag hooks

Fig. 148 In the luggage compartment: Opening the

pass-through.

Fig. 146 In the luggage compartment: Shopping bag

hooks.

There may be a pass-through for transporting things

like skis in the rear seat backrest behind the center

armrest.

The shopping bag hooks can hold light shopping

bags. The shopping bag hooks are located in the up-

per left and right areas of the luggage compartment

→ fig. 146 (arrows).

To help prevent soiling the vehicle interior, cover

dirty items before sliding them into the pass-

through.

Luggage compartment – features

217

If the center armrest is folded down, no one can sit

on the middle seat of the rear bench.

WARNING

Transporting heavy or bulky loads on the roof rack

will change the way the vehicle handles by raising

the vehicle's center of gravity and increasing the

wind drag.

Opening the pass-through

— Fold down the rear center armrest → page 110,

Seat functions.

Always secure the load properly with suitable

and undamaged straps so that the load will not

shift.

·

— Pull the release lever in the direction of the arrow

→ fig. 147 1 and fold the pass-through cover all

the way forward.

Cargo that is large, heavy, bulky, long or flat will

have a negative effect on the vehicle's aerody-

namics, center of gravity and overall handling.

·

— Open the trunk lid.

— OR: Open the pass-through from the luggage

compartment. Press the release lever → fig. 148

in the direction of the arrow and push the cover

forward.

Always avoid sudden maneuvers and hard brak-

ing.

·

Always adapt your speed and driving to the

·

— Slide long objects from the luggage compartment

through the pass-through.

heavier load and the weight distribution in the

vehicle. Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility

conditions into account as well.

— Secure objects with the safety belt.

— Close the trunk lid.

Closing the pass-through

Attaching the roof rack base carrier

and roof rack

— Pull the release lever and fold the pass-through

cover back until it engages securely. The red mark

on the luggage compartment side must not be

visible.

Please read the introductory information and

heed the Warnings and Notice

on page 218.

— Close the trunk lid.

— If necessary, fold the center armrest up.

Roof rack

Introduction

The roof rack can be used to transport bulky loads

on the roof of the vehicle.

Special considerations for the roof rack

The roof of your vehicle has been designed to opti-

mize aerodynamics and does not have traditional

rain gutters that are used to attach many kinds of

roof racks.

Fig. 149 Mounting points for the base carrier and roof

rack.

Since the rain gutters are molded into the roof to

provide efficient aerodynamics, only Volkswagen-

approved base carrier mountings and roof racks can

be used.

The base carrier is the basis of a complete roof rack

system. For safety reasons, additional attachments

are necessary for transporting luggage, bicycles,

surfboards, skis, and small boats. Suitable accesso-

ries can be purchased from your authorized Volks-

wagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Fa-

cility.

The weight of the roof rack and the cargo being car-

ried on it reduce the remaining load your vehicle can

carry. Always follow the steps for determining the

correct load limit → page 296, Determining the cor-

rect load limit.

Mounting the roof rack base carrier and roof rack

Always attach the base carrier and roof rack correct-

ly.

218

Transporting

Always carefully follow the installation instructions

from the base carrier or roof rack manufacturer.

Maximum permissible roof load

The maximum permissible roof load is 165 lbs.

(75 kg). The maximum permissible roof load is the

combined weight of the roof rack and the items be-

The front mounting holes are on the underside of

the roof frame. They are sealed with plastic screws

that must be removed before installation → fig. 149

(magnified view on left). The rear markings for the

base carrier are on the underside of the roof frame

→ fig. 149 (magnified view on right).

ing carried on the roof →

.

Be sure you know the weight of the roof rack and

the items you want to transport on the roof. Weigh

them if necessary. Never carry a total of more than

the maximum permissible roof load.

The holes and markings are only visible when the

door is open.

When using a roof rack with a lower load limit, do

not load the rack to the maximum weight men-

tioned above. In this case, you may only load the

roof rack to the weight limit specified in the sys-

tem's installation instructions.

Only mount the roof rack base carrier on the mark-

ings shown in the illustration.

Once you have installed the base carrier correctly,

you can secure the roof rack on the base carrier ac-

cording to the manufacturer's instructions.

Distributing the load

Distribute the load evenly and secure it properly

WARNING

→

.

Installing or using a base carrier or roof rack im-

properly can cause the entire system to fly off the

vehicle, causing accidents and injuries.

Checking the mountings

After the base carrier and roof rack have been instal-

led, check all bolts and fasteners after driving

a short time and at regular intervals thereafter.

Always follow the installation instructions pro-

·

vided by the manufacturer.

Use the base carrier and roof rack only if they

are undamaged and properly installed.

·

WARNING

If the maximum permissible roof load is exceeded,

accidents and substantial vehicle damage may oc-

cur.

Secure the roof rack base carrier only at the at-

tachment points shown in the illustration

→ fig. 149.

·

Never exceed the specified roof load, the maxi-

mum Gross Axle Weight Rating, or the Gross

Vehicle Weight Rating.

·

Always install the base carrier and roof rack

properly.

·

Make sure that all bolts and fasteners are prop-

·

Do not exceed the loading capacity of the roof

rack, even if the permissible roof load is not

fully utilized.

·

erly installed and properly tightened before ev-

ery trip and retighten them as needed after

driving a short distance. During a long trip,

check all bolts and fasteners at each stop.

Always make sure that loads are evenly distrib-

uted and that heavier items are, as far as possi-

ble, toward the front.

·

Always properly install special fixtures for items

such as bicycles, skis, surfboards, etc.

·

Do not modify or repair the base carrier or roof

rack.

·

WARNING

Loose or improperly secured items can fall off the

roof rack and cause accidents and injuries.

Follow the instructions provided for installing

the roof rack system. Always carry them in the

vehicle.

To help prevent baggage or other items from

·

coming loose and flying around, always use

suitable, undamaged tie-down ropes and ratch-

et straps.

Secure the load properly.

·

Securing a load on the roof rack

NOTICE

Please read the introductory information and

heed the Warnings and Notice

on page 218.

When opening the trunk lid, make sure that it will

not hit anything secured to the roof rack.

It is not possible to secure a load unless the roof

rack system has been properly installed →

.

Roof rack

219

Tips and troubleshooting

Please read the introductory information and

heed the Warnings and Notice

on page 218.

When to remove the roof rack

— When it is no longer needed.

— Before driving through an automatic car wash.

— When the vehicle would otherwise be too high for

minimum clearance to enter, for example, a ga-

rage.

NOTICE

Always remove the roof rack before driving

through an automatic car wash.

·

Your vehicle is higher when the roof rack is instal-

·

led, especially when it is loaded. Compare the ve-

hicle height with existing clearance heights, such

as underpasses and garage doors.

Always make sure that the roof rack system and

·

anything being carried on it does not interfere

with the roof antenna, the power sunroof, or the

trunk lid.

Make sure that the trunk lid does not touch items

on the roof rack when opened.

·

If a roof rack is installed, fuel consumption in-

creases due to increased air resistance.

Trailer towing

Important information

For technical reasons, your vehicle is not designed to

tow a trailer.

Never install a trailer hitch on your vehicle. Towing

a trailer will cause expensive damage to the vehicle

→

.

WARNING

Towing a trailer can cause an accident and serious

personal injuries.

Never install a trailer hitch on the vehicle.

·

Never tow a trailer with the vehicle.

NOTICE

Installing a trailer hitch and towing a trailer will

cause expensive damage to your vehicle that will not

be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty.

220

Transporting

Transporting for Your Volkswagen Golf 4 Door 2023

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