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Volkswagen Golf 2014 review

EXPERT RATING
9
VW have added an elongated station wagon body style to the Mk7 lineup, following a once-common formula before the emergence of the all occasions-ready SUV.

It’s no secret that Volkswagen’s Mk7 Golf is an excellent piece of machinery. It ran away with Carsguide’s 2013 Car of the Year honour, and is a class act from the entry 90TSI, to the diesel 110TDI, to the top-tier GTI hot hatch.

Now VW have added an elongated station wagon body style to the Mk7 lineup, following a once-common formula before the emergence of the all occasions-ready SUV.

Volkswagen is also in on the SUV party with the Golf-based Tiguan and bigger Touareg, but joins only Skoda, Peugeot, Hyundai and Holden in offering a cheaper, more dynamic and more efficient small car station wagon.

DESIGN

Riding on the same 2620mm wheelbase as the Golf hatch, the wagon stretches its rear overhang by 308mm to boost cargo space to 605L with the seats up and 1620L seats down. This is a significant boost over the current hatch’s 380/1270L figures, and also the previous wagon’s 505/1495L.

Ensuring that this load space is uninterrupted during family use are three top-tethered child-seat anchorage points in the rear, with ISOFIX mountings in the outer positions.

Rear seat accommodation is largely identical to the hatch models, save for a 10mm increase in headroom due to the flatter roofline and 5mm increase in overall height. Despite the Golf’s 80mm wheelbase deficit to many of its rivals, there’s a plenty of legroom for most adults, and headroom is sufficient for passengers well beyond 6 feet tall.

The new wagon weighs as much as 79kg over the Golf hatch, but is up to 165kg lighter than the previous wagon due to the Mk7’s use of Volkswagen’s new MQB platform. Stepping above the Skoda Octavia wagon that shares this same platform, the Golf features a four-link independent rear suspension across all variants.

The Golf Wagon is also now built in Volkswagen’s Mosel plant in Germany, unlike the Mexican-built Mk6 Golf wagon. Also like the hatch, the Golf wagon comes with a spacesaver spare on all variants.

RANGE/PRICING

Like all Golf hatches beneath the GTI, the new wagon is available with either a 1.4-litre turbo petrol in 90TSI or 103TSI grades, or a 2.0-litre turbodiesel wearing 110TDI badges. Unlike the current hatch and the previous wagon, the new Golf Wagon is only available with automatic transmissions.

The entry 90TSI Golf wagon comes equipped with a 5.8 inch multimedia screen, Bluetooth phone and audio, air conditioning, leather steering wheel and gearknob, speed-limiting cruise control with rear air vents, heated mirrors and 15 inch alloys.

The 90TSI Comfortline scores chrome roof rails, dual-zone climate control, reversing camera with parking sensors front and rear, overhead console, storage drawers beneath the front seats, auto headlights and wipers, brushed silver interior details, a ski port and 16 inch alloys.

Highline models can be identified by their chrome detailed front bumper and lower window trim, and upgrade to sports bolstered seats with partial alcantara trim, satnav, piano black interior details, LED ambient interior lighting and 17 inch alloys.

Further options include a powered panoramic glass sunroof, leather trim and Bi-Xenon headlamps with LED DRLs on Highline models, satnav on Comfortline models, and an anti-theft alarm system on Comfortline and Highline models.

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION

The 1.4-litre turbo petrol 90TSI makes 90kW/200Nm and is available in the entry wagon and Comfortline trim with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and carries a 5.3L/100km combined fuel figure.

The lightly tweaked 1.4-litre turbo petrol 103TSI makes 103kW/250Nm and is available only in Highline trim and with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto. Impressively, the 103TSI betters the 90TSI’s fuel figure with 5.2L/100km combined.

The 2.0-litre turbodiesel 110TDI turbodiesel makes 110kW/320Nm and is also Highline-only, with a six-speed dual-clutch auto that manages a frugal 4.7L/100km.

Both petrols need 95RON Premium unleaded, and the 90TSI and 110TDI fuel figures are 0.1 and 0.2L/100km better than their hatch counterparts due to the more aerodynamic wagon body’s 0.02 better 0.27Cd drag coefficient.

SAFETY

Standard safety gear includes seven airbags including driver’s knee and front and rear curtain airbags, multi-collision braking, XDL electronic diff-lock, fatigue detection, and ABS and stability control.

An optional Driver Assistance package is available on Comfortline and Highline models, which adds adaptive cruise control, front assist with City Emergency Brake automatic braking, driver profile selection, the Park Assist 2 automatic parking system, and a proactive occupant protection system that pretensions seatbelts and closes windows if an impending collision is detected.

DRIVING

Like the Mk7 Golf hatch, the new Golf Wagon punches well above its small mainstream class in terms of refinement. Regardless of trim level or wheel and tyre package, it exceeds comfort and noise level expectations for a car of this class.

The 15 and 16-inch wheels of the 90TSI do offer a slightly plusher ride on rough roads, but the 17-inch equipped Highline models could not be described as harsh. This comfort doesn’t translate to a dynamic compromise however, and the Golf Wagon manages bodyroll and winding road composure beautifully when asked.

From the driver’s seat, there’s an impression of a low centre of gravity and excellent suspension travel, and the wide track stance and independent at all corners suspension makes for a sure-footedness previously reserved for performance models.

Identifying the hatch from the sedan from the driver’s seat would require back-to-back comparison, despite the marginal weight increase and extra 308mm of overhang behind the rear wheels.

In fact, there’s a perception of overall lightness through the steering wheel at any speed, but the grip levels are still well telegraphed through the electric power steering.

We drove all three drivetrain options at the Golf Wagon’s Australian launch, and the entry petrol 90TSI performed surprisingly well around town, with its 200Nm accessible just of idle at 1400rpm all the way to 4000rpm.

The extra grunt of the petrol 103TSI is most apparent as speeds increase, with its 13 extra kW and 50Nm making it that much more prepared for overtaking and climbing hills. With a load on board, this difference is likely to be further amplified.

The 110kW/320N 110TDI is easily the performer of the bunch, and its DSG auto makes the most of its slow-revving nature despite only being a six-speed unit. Like the best modern diesel units, diesel clatter is barely detectable at speed, and its 4.7L/100km combined figure suggests a realistic range of about 1063km on the open road from the 50-litre tank.

The seven-speed DSG autos paired with the petrol models perform very well at speed, with rapid shifting, and intuitive downshifting when either terrain or your right ankle requires a lower ratio. When put to their ultimate ‘three-point turn on an incline’ test, the typical dual-clutch slow-speed jerkiness has been largely rectified by the Golf’s standard hill-hold function.

VERDICT

The new Golf wagon may not have the elevated driving position or extra ground clearance of an SUV, but it’s still a practical small wagon with better on-road manners and efficiency, and it’s lighter on your wallet. It loses none of the magic of the Mk7 Golf hatch, and deserves to convert many would-be SUV buyers.

2014 Volkswagen Golf Wagon pricing

Volkswagen Golf Wagon 90TSI – 7sp DSG auto - $25,540 (down $1,450)
Volkswagen Golf Wagon 90TSI Comfortline – 7sp DSG auto - $29,290
Volkswagen Golf Wagon 103TSI Highline – 7sp DSG auto - $33,840
Volkswagen Golf Wagon 110TDI Highline – 6sp DSG auto - $36,340

Volkswagen Golf Wagon
Price: from $25,540
Warranty: 3 years/unlimited km
Service interval: 12 months/15,000km
Capped servicing: six years
Safety: 5 stars
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo; 90kW/200Nm (90TSI)
Transmission: 7-speed auto, front-wheel-drive
Thirst: 5.3L/100km (premium unleaded)
Dimensions: 4.5m(L), 1.8m (W), 1.48m (H)
Weight: 1312kg (tare)
Spare: space saver

Pricing guides

$15,999
Based on 250 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months
Lowest Price
$8,800
Highest Price
$32,190

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
77 TDI Trendline 1.6L, Diesel, 7 SP AUTO $10,450 – 14,300 2014 Volkswagen Golf 2014 77 TDI Trendline Pricing and Specs
90 TSI Trendline 1.4L, PULP, 6 SP MAN $8,470 – 11,990 2014 Volkswagen Golf 2014 90 TSI Trendline Pricing and Specs
90 TSI 1.4L, PULP, 6 SP MAN $9,020 – 12,650 2014 Volkswagen Golf 2014 90 TSI Pricing and Specs
103 TDI Comfortline 2.0L, Diesel, 6 SP $11,550 – 15,400 2014 Volkswagen Golf 2014 103 TDI Comfortline Pricing and Specs
EXPERT RATING
9
Malcolm Flynn
Editor

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Pricing Guide

$8,800

Lowest price, based on 241 car listings in the last 6 months

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Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication.  Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.