2015 Golf Sportwagon: space and style
How do you make a Golf hatchback even more practical? Turn it into a station wagon. This is the Golf to buy for those who regularly need a lot of cargo space, or just prefer the look. The Sportwagon is virtually identical to the five-door hatchback from the front bumper to the rear doors. From there on, the rear portion of the car is stretched by about 300 mm, or 11.5 inches. Wheelbase is unchanged.
That means the extra length is dedicated to cargo space, as it should. With the rear seatbacks in place, volume is up by 34% to 860 litres compared to the hatchback; with the rear seats folded flat, maximum cargo volume is improved by 26%, totalling 1,880 litres.
As is the case with the hatchback, two engines are offered in the 2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagon. A 170-hp turbocharged 1.8L four-cylinder is standard, and for an extra $2,300 to $2,500, the turbo-diesel 2.0L TDI engine serves up 150 hp. Both can be chosen with either manual or automatic transmissions.
Volkswagen’s turbocharged four-pot engines are delightful, with plenty of low-rpm torque to play with. This is arguably the best compact car for driving enthusiasts. Aside from price, the difference between the two engines is obviously fuel economy. The TDI consumes about 2 L/100km less around town than the 1.8L TSI, and about a litre less on the open road.
The new gas engine is more rev-happy and about 16% more efficient than the old five-cylinder lump. For that reason, unless you drive 30,000 km a year or more, I don’t see the point in investing the extra dough for the TDI.
As usual with Volkswagen products, three trim levels are offered; in this case, Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. Pricing starts out at $22,495 before freight and delivery charges, and adding an automatic transmission costs $1,400. The entry price for the Sportwagon has been reduced compared to last year’s model, and there are more standard features.
Not is all perfect, though. Like the hatchback, the Golf wagon’s centre stack touchscreen is small and features small button zones, and the automatic gearboxes’ throttle response is still plagued by an irritating lag when you press on the gas to accelerate – though more noticeable under spirited driving.
Stylish, refined and fun to drive, the 2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagon is a good choice for those who seeks interior space, but want a more dynamic vehicle than an SUV or a crossover. And it’s currently unique in its segment, which makes it even more interesting.