Over the course of its four-decade career, the Volkswagen Golf has drawn many emulators, but none offer the same superior fit and finish, performance and style. While it was originally intended to be a replacement for the VW Beetle, Golf set its own path and instead became an icon of hatchback design.

When it first hit U.S. shores in 1974, the Golf (formerly called Rabbit) came with a water-cooled engine, front-wheel drive and a pretty sophisticated suspension system for its size. It was also much more aerodynamic than its looks led on, flaunting a design by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The first-generation's styling had a strong influence on the look of other cars in the segment, sparking the phrase "Golf class," a term that continues to be used in many parts of the world. Additionally, the original Rabbit GTI spawned a whole division of fun-to-drive, performance-focused hatchbacks, and its successor is still incredibly popular.

Today, the award-winning Golf remains a leader in its segment, offering excellent fuel economy, advanced features and a class-leading interior that "wouldn't look out of place in an Audi," according to the editors at Edmunds.com. The hatchback has come a long way over four decades, gaining all-wheel-drive options, a larger frame and larger engines, among other changes. There's even a high-performance, diesel-equipped GTD in Europe that may eventually be offered in the states, but until then shoppers can look forward to an all-new generation of Golf in the 2015 model year.