Build quality inside the Golf is top-notch. The seats are very supportive, and there’s more than enough space in back for two adults, although three across is compact-car tolerable for short distances. The cabin is also pretty quiet on the highway.
However, the overall appearance inside the car is a little unexciting, but that’s a personal opinion. The base radio’s faceplate looks old-style European, and wheel-mounted audio controls should be standard because it is in competitors that cost as much as the Golf.
As for trunk space, the 3-door Golf can swallow 420 litres of your belongings. That’s less than in all the other compact hatchbacks, save the Suzuki SX4. If cargo space is what you need, you can always opt for the Golf Wagon, which is the most spacious among compact wagons.
Alas, our Golf tester is typical of VW’s reputation for flicky electrics. While our photographer was on the highway, heading to the location of his photo shoot, the car’s alarm system triggered. Imagine driving at 100 km/h, horn honking and lights flashing. Oh well.
The 2010 Golf Trendline 3-door starts at $20,175. Our test car also includes the 6-speed automatic ($1,400), the Cold Weather Package ($275) and the stability control system ($450), for a total of $22,300. That’s not exactly cheap, and we’re talking about the base model here.
In comparison, we’d be looking at 2-door coupes such as the Honda Civic, the Kia Forte Koup, the Chevrolet Cobalt and the Ford Focus. As for small 3-door hatchbacks, there are only two on our market, the Hyundai Accent which doesn’t compare well with the Golf, and the base MINI Cooper that starts at around $23,000.
So will the latest-generation Golf finally succeed in North America? That’s hard to tell. The Canadian market isn’t a problem for VW, as we’ve always loved hatchbacks and we seem to connect well with European culture. But we’ll have to wait a while and see how our neighbours to the south react to the small-car buzz that manufacturers are trying to develop right now. It won’t be easy.
But it won’t be the new Volkswagen Golf’s fault, because it has many virtues; it’s fun to drive, well-finished and spacious inside. It might not be as fuel-efficient as its Japanese enemies, but the trade-off is performance and driver involvement.
Message to VW: don’t change the car’s name ever again.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
 |
| Build quality inside the Golf is top-notch. |
However, the overall appearance inside the car is a little unexciting, but that’s a personal opinion. The base radio’s faceplate looks old-style European, and wheel-mounted audio controls should be standard because it is in competitors that cost as much as the Golf.
As for trunk space, the 3-door Golf can swallow 420 litres of your belongings. That’s less than in all the other compact hatchbacks, save the Suzuki SX4. If cargo space is what you need, you can always opt for the Golf Wagon, which is the most spacious among compact wagons.
Alas, our Golf tester is typical of VW’s reputation for flicky electrics. While our photographer was on the highway, heading to the location of his photo shoot, the car’s alarm system triggered. Imagine driving at 100 km/h, horn honking and lights flashing. Oh well.
The 2010 Golf Trendline 3-door starts at $20,175. Our test car also includes the 6-speed automatic ($1,400), the Cold Weather Package ($275) and the stability control system ($450), for a total of $22,300. That’s not exactly cheap, and we’re talking about the base model here.
In comparison, we’d be looking at 2-door coupes such as the Honda Civic, the Kia Forte Koup, the Chevrolet Cobalt and the Ford Focus. As for small 3-door hatchbacks, there are only two on our market, the Hyundai Accent which doesn’t compare well with the Golf, and the base MINI Cooper that starts at around $23,000.
So will the latest-generation Golf finally succeed in North America? That’s hard to tell. The Canadian market isn’t a problem for VW, as we’ve always loved hatchbacks and we seem to connect well with European culture. But we’ll have to wait a while and see how our neighbours to the south react to the small-car buzz that manufacturers are trying to develop right now. It won’t be easy.
But it won’t be the new Volkswagen Golf’s fault, because it has many virtues; it’s fun to drive, well-finished and spacious inside. It might not be as fuel-efficient as its Japanese enemies, but the trade-off is performance and driver involvement.
Message to VW: don’t change the car’s name ever again.
 |
| The 2010 Golf Trendline 3-door starts at $20,175. |
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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