Although you may need a few instructions here. A little handiwork is required to get that surface nice and flat, which consists of first lifting the seat cushion of the second row then folding the seatbacks down. There’s no need to remove the headrests any longer. A luggage cover is also included to hide the contents of the trunk from prying eyes, one that must be removed prior to folding down the seats, however, and that doesn’t have its own storage compartment. Hmmm, what to do with it?
A question of fuel economy – and power
Once you’ve loaded everything up and the family has settled down comfortably, it’s time to hit the road. And that’s when the fun really starts for Dad (and likely Mom as well). Under the hood slumbers a 2.0-litre TDI engine, an undeniably marvellous piece of clean, turbo diesel engineering.
Everyone can agree that the best thing about this engine is its fuel efficiency. At the end of a weeklong, no holds barred road test, I managed an average of 7.2 litres per 100 km. And let me say it again: no holds were barred.
The second best thing about it is obviously the power (limited to 140 hp) and torque it produces. The latter allows you to literally blast off from a standstill as soon as you hit the pedal. The latter also gives the impression of infinite power – at least for the first few hundred metres, as the engine does have its limits and tends to get a little winded despite its great enthusiasm.
The automatic DSG transmission is also responsible for all that fun behind the wheel, a technological marvel that allows you to pre-select the next gear.
The car does have a small weakness though: it’s longer than the basic version of the Golf and doesn’t handle as well in tight corners. It’s not the end of the world, it just feels a little less sporty.
And to put the supreme fear of the uninitiated to rest, no, the diesel engine doesn’t smell, and no, it doesn’t scream like a banshee, but rather it contents itself with a slightly more insistent purring at idle. Nothing more.
Conclusion
We were in need of an attractive wagon, both in its proportions and cargo capacity as well as its driving enjoyment. And Volkswagen has even thrown in a clean, thrifty engine. An inspired ride. Indeed, if it weren’t for the slightly stiff price of its Highline incarnation, it would be almost perfect.
A question of fuel economy – and power
Once you’ve loaded everything up and the family has settled down comfortably, it’s time to hit the road. And that’s when the fun really starts for Dad (and likely Mom as well). Under the hood slumbers a 2.0-litre TDI engine, an undeniably marvellous piece of clean, turbo diesel engineering.
Everyone can agree that the best thing about this engine is its fuel efficiency. At the end of a weeklong, no holds barred road test, I managed an average of 7.2 litres per 100 km. And let me say it again: no holds were barred.
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| Under the hood slumbers a 2.0-litre TDI engine, an undeniably marvellous piece of clean, turbo diesel engineering. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
The second best thing about it is obviously the power (limited to 140 hp) and torque it produces. The latter allows you to literally blast off from a standstill as soon as you hit the pedal. The latter also gives the impression of infinite power – at least for the first few hundred metres, as the engine does have its limits and tends to get a little winded despite its great enthusiasm.
The automatic DSG transmission is also responsible for all that fun behind the wheel, a technological marvel that allows you to pre-select the next gear.
The car does have a small weakness though: it’s longer than the basic version of the Golf and doesn’t handle as well in tight corners. It’s not the end of the world, it just feels a little less sporty.
And to put the supreme fear of the uninitiated to rest, no, the diesel engine doesn’t smell, and no, it doesn’t scream like a banshee, but rather it contents itself with a slightly more insistent purring at idle. Nothing more.
Conclusion
We were in need of an attractive wagon, both in its proportions and cargo capacity as well as its driving enjoyment. And Volkswagen has even thrown in a clean, thrifty engine. An inspired ride. Indeed, if it weren’t for the slightly stiff price of its Highline incarnation, it would be almost perfect.
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