If the Golf Wagon reminds you of last year’s Jetta Wagon, you’re not hallucinating. It’s basically the same car but with the 2010 Golf’s changes and improvements. We wondered why VW changed the car’s name, but seeing the new Jetta in pictures, and how it now differs from the Golf, we understand the reason behind their decision.
Unlike the three- and five-door versions of the Golf who receive a revised posterior with new taillights, the Wagon only gets a facelift. And the oval headlamp clusters are a modern evolution of the Golf’s familiar face. Roof rails are standard, and the car looks smart with them.
Although a 140-horsepower turbodiesel engine is available in the Golf Wagon, our tester is equipped with a 20-valve, 2.5-litre inline-5 that develops 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a 6-speed automatic with manual mode, it fires to 100 km/h in about 9 seconds, but it feels faster than that because of the engine’s generous low-end torque.
Our fuel economy average is 9.8 L/100 km; not bad, but it could be better. The TDI engine can easily hand you an average of around 7.0 L/100 km, but it’s more expensive.
Like all Golfs, the wagon version is pretty fun to drive, with sharp steering and a taut but pleasant suspension. It’s one of the sportiest cars in the compact segment, and more involving than the Elantra Touring.
The Golf Wagon in base Trendline trim costs $22,675, while our mid-level Comfortline starts at $24,075 and also includes the 6-speed automatic ($1,400), rear side airbags ($450), the Multimedia Package ($1,300) and the aforementioned panoramic sunroof ($1,780), for a eyebrow-twitching $29,005. That’s getting expensive for a compact.
A loaded Elantra Touring GLS Sport with an automatic is just $21,899. Shame on me for comparing a Hyundai with a VW? No. Of course, the Golf feels like it’s a higher quality product, and it is, but a $7,000 difference is significant, especially for small families looking for a small car on a small budget.
You could also check out the Mazda3 Sport, the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback, the Subaru Impreza and the Toyota Matrix, but like I said, they’re all hatchbacks and offer less cargo space.
We like wagons, but not at any price. But if you’re willing to spend some extra bucks, the Golf Wagon is a very roomy, nicely-finished and fun to drive car.
Unlike the three- and five-door versions of the Golf who receive a revised posterior with new taillights, the Wagon only gets a facelift. And the oval headlamp clusters are a modern evolution of the Golf’s familiar face. Roof rails are standard, and the car looks smart with them.
Although a 140-horsepower turbodiesel engine is available in the Golf Wagon, our tester is equipped with a 20-valve, 2.5-litre inline-5 that develops 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a 6-speed automatic with manual mode, it fires to 100 km/h in about 9 seconds, but it feels faster than that because of the engine’s generous low-end torque.
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| Our Golf is equipped with a 170-horsepower, 2.5-litre inline-5. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Our fuel economy average is 9.8 L/100 km; not bad, but it could be better. The TDI engine can easily hand you an average of around 7.0 L/100 km, but it’s more expensive.
Like all Golfs, the wagon version is pretty fun to drive, with sharp steering and a taut but pleasant suspension. It’s one of the sportiest cars in the compact segment, and more involving than the Elantra Touring.
The Golf Wagon in base Trendline trim costs $22,675, while our mid-level Comfortline starts at $24,075 and also includes the 6-speed automatic ($1,400), rear side airbags ($450), the Multimedia Package ($1,300) and the aforementioned panoramic sunroof ($1,780), for a eyebrow-twitching $29,005. That’s getting expensive for a compact.
A loaded Elantra Touring GLS Sport with an automatic is just $21,899. Shame on me for comparing a Hyundai with a VW? No. Of course, the Golf feels like it’s a higher quality product, and it is, but a $7,000 difference is significant, especially for small families looking for a small car on a small budget.
You could also check out the Mazda3 Sport, the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback, the Subaru Impreza and the Toyota Matrix, but like I said, they’re all hatchbacks and offer less cargo space.
We like wagons, but not at any price. But if you’re willing to spend some extra bucks, the Golf Wagon is a very roomy, nicely-finished and fun to drive car.
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