- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.4T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
90kW, 200Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 5.3L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Volkswagen Golf Wagon first drive review
If you don’t need follow the flock into four-wheel-drive territory but still need to haul a small family around town the latest Golf Wagon ticks all the boxes.
Station wagons may have fallen out of fashion recently, but are still among the most popular new cars in Europe. And this latest-generation Volkswagen Golf Wagon asks the question why you’d ever need a compact SUV if you don’t plan on venturing too far off the beaten track.
From the driver’s seat, it feels every bit as smooth, refined and as well-built as the hatch on which it is based with levels of comfort and luxury only matched by premium soft-roaders and mid-sized wagons with a starting price well above the Golf.
As far as load-carrying ability goes, it is even more impressive; with its 605 litres of boot space, which is better than both its direct rivals – the Hyundai i30 Tourer and Holden Cruze Sportwagon – and its sister model, the Skoda Octavia. Surprisingly, it’s even larger in the boot than the benchmark compact SUV, the Honda CR-V.
It’s also easier to access thanks to its lower loading height, and is conveniently configured to expand further (to a massive 1628L capacity) with the 60/40 split fold rear seat having easily accessible handles on either side of the walls to quickly create a flat-floored load area with enough space for trips to Ikea, oversized Christmas presents or a couple of bicycles.
And, while there’s generous rear vision, the fact the base model misses out on parking sensors and a reverse camera is a clear indication that it is positioned more for its starting price as the next model up, the Comfortline, is bound to be the most popular.
In fact, the Comfortline is also the sweetest of the range in terms of mixing comfort and value. The 90kW 1.4-litre turbo four-cylinder needs to be worked a little harder than the more more-powerful 103kW version (according to the official figures it also uses marginally more fuel), but it still has a linear spread of pulling from low in the rev range and works well with the seven-speed dual-clutch to seamlessly be in the right gear at the right time.
It also rides better on its higher-profile 16-inch tyres than the range-topping Highline 103TSI and 110TDI models, which are noticeably sharper in absorbing harsh bumps in the road.
The diesel’s additional pulling power (320Nm compared to 200Nm in the 90TSI and 250Nm in the 103TSI) adds a bit more punch for overtaking and makes it more relaxed while cruising, but you’d need to clock up a lot of kays during its lifetime to recoup the extra cost of its starting price.
All of them handle exceptionally well for a regular family runabout, with well-weighted steering and predictable dynamics that doesn’t suffer the same degree of body roll and pitching as higher-riding SUVs thanks to the electronic torque-vectoring differential borrowed from the Golf GTI hot hatch.
And, like the Golf hatch, the cabin is well-trimmed, has plenty of storage holes, including oversized door bins, supportive seats and enough rear seat space for two adults to travel in relative comfort.
The Golf Wagon may look a little too conventional for some, but it is no doubt a more convincing, practical, efficient and all-round better option than the city-focused SUVs that surround it for the same money.
Volkswagen Golf Wagon pricing and specifications
Price: $25,540 (90TSI), $29,290 (90TSI Comfortline), $33,840 (103TSI Highline), $36,340 (110TDI Highline)
Engines: 1.4-litre turbo petrol/1.4-litre turbo petrol/2.0-litre turbo diesel
Power: 90kW/103kW/110kW
Torque: 200Nm/250Nm/320Nm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic/7-speed dual-clutch automatic/6-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel use: 5.3L/100km, 5.2L/100km, 4.7L/100km