Volkswagen Golf,  Page 1

Performance

The Golf 1.8TSI had impressive road reviews: quiet, smooth and comfortable, yet fluid in its handling, even when pushed. Steering was effortlessly light but accurate, although notably a couple degrees slower than the GTI’s quick response rate. The GTI packed on a lot of desirable equipment (bigger wheels, lowered sports suspension, extra gear in the manual transmission, etc.), but the Golf held its own as an enjoyable car to drive in both 1.8T and TDI form. Brakes felt quick and precise with good feedback and pedal resistance in both 1.8T and TDI models. The most surprising aspect of this generation TDI is its smoothness. From inside the cabin, even with the windows down, it seems there is only the whisper of diesel clatter.

The most popular Golf’s were the 1.8-liter gasoline TSI, the 2.0-liter gasoline GTI, and the 2.0-liter TDI turbodiesel, while the niche Golf R appealed to performance junkies and the all-electric e-Golf had limited availability. The TSI and TDI share the same suspension and driving characteristics – turn-in is crisp and the performance on par, though the diesel has an advantage in torque, making it feel a bit snappier than the 1.8. If you seek more performance, the GTI could be had with either a 6-speed manual gearbox or DSG automatic, offering more horsepower for those who crave hard driving. With 292-horsepower on tap, the Golf R was the best performing model by far. Standard 4motion all-wheel drive allowed for 0-60 mph bursts in under five seconds and provided good road traction in hard cornering.

The 1.8-litre gas engine uses regular unleaded fuel, saving about 10-percent at the pump compared to premium unleaded which is required on the GTI and R.

Reliability/Service

You may have heard stories from Volkswagen owners about the cars reliability. Most such stories, however, involved cars from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Volkswagens have become much more reliable since then, with the cars from the late 2000s onward about average or even a bit better for the first four to six years of ownership (after which they do tend to take a turn for the worse). Overall, there are no glaring reliability issues related to this generation of Golf’s. Frequency of needed repairs is low, though yearly costs are slightly higher than the average cost for compact cars.

Recalls on these vehicles have involved issues with front air bags, engine and engine cooling, service breaks and the fuel system. Most recently, in March of 2019, Volkswagen issued a recall of more than 60,000 vehicles for issues related to the rear spring coils in the suspension which are at risk of breaking. A fractured rear coil spring can damage the rear tires and cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles. Before buying any used vehicle, confirm that all recalls have been taken care of.

Please be aware that this vehicle's 2015 2.0 liter diesel engine models (TDI) are involved in a Notice of Violation of the Clean Air Act issued by the EPA to Volkswagen for producing and selling 4-cylinder diesel cars that include a software device that circumvents EPA emissions standards for certain air pollutants. This is known as a “defeat device.” Use of the defeat device results in cars that meet emissions standards in the laboratory, but emit up to 40 times more pollutions during normal on-road driving conditions. A partial settlement was reached in June, 2016 which required Volkswagen to either buy back affected vehicles at September, 2015 retail rates or to offer consumers the option of keeping their cars and having them modified to comply with emissions standards. This, coupled with the longevity and mileage gains of gasoline engines has worked to erode the diesels traditional resale advantage of gas models. Taxes on diesel fuel can also be high, often more than offsetting lower consumption rates.

Safety

2015 safety features included: EBA (Engine Braking Assist) HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assistant) Automatic post-collision braking managed by its ICRS (Intelligent Crash Response System). ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation) ESC (Electronic Stability Control) HHA (Hill Hold Assist) EDL (Electronic Differential Lock) and XDS (Cross Differential System) - anti-spin features. Height-adjustable front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load-limiters

Additional safety features were added in 2016 and 2019.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the four-door Golf a 2015 Top Safety Pick. It received the highest rating of Good in five crash tests, as well as the second-best rating of Acceptable in the passenger-side small overlap front test. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the two-door Golf an overall rating of five out of five stars, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side crash tests.

Value

The compact class is crowded and competitive. Products from Mazda, Hyundai and Kia have particularly made gains in recent years. One of the tactics they’ve used is delivering high quality interiors, a trait that used to be Volkswagen’s forte. Mazda has cut in on Volkswagen’s popularity with driving enthusiasts, and Chevrolet’ Cruz Diesel is challenging their lock on the diesel market. In this sea of competition, however, the Golf continues to deliver it’s unique mix of solidity, rewarding driving experience, and muted but tasteful styling inside and out. It doesn’t need to shout, “look at me”.

Current E-Class pricing

Competitors