Vehicle Overview
What it is: The Volkswagen Golf is available as a two- or four-door hatchback, or as a wagon. Power comes from a gas four-cylinder engine and the five-seat Golf competes with the Mazda3 hatchback, Hyundai Elantra GT and Mini Cooper. Volkswagen’s performance-oriented Golf GTI and Golf R are related, as is the e-Golf electric car.
(Skip to details on the Golf GTI, Golf R, e-Golf)
New for 2017
A Wolfsburg Edition trim level joins the lineup above the S trim. It features a moonroof, simulated leather upholstery, keyless access with push-button start, heated front seats, rain-sensing windshield wipers, 16-inch aluminum wheels, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a blind spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert, and Wolfsburg Edition badges and floormats.
Meanwhile, the S trim level of the Golf SportWagen is now available with all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive models can have a manual or automatic transmission.
Significant Standard Features
- 170-horsepower, turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder gas engine
- Five-speed manual transmission
- Front-wheel drive
- Heated side mirrors
- Split-folding rear seat with pass-through
- Tilt and telescoping steering wheel
- Air conditioning
- Touch-screen stereo with iPod connectivity
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Required in every new car: front airbags, antilock brakes and an electronic stability system
Significant Available Features
- Six-speed automatic
- All-wheel drive (Golf SportWagen)
- Heated front seats
- Fender premium stereo
- Navigation system
- Keyless access with push-button start
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers
- Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking
- Blind spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane departure warning
- Power moonroof
Golf GTI
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is a high-performance sibling of the Golf. It comes as a two- or four-door hatchback and has room for five people. Competitors include the Ford Focus ST, Subaru WRX and Mini Cooper S.
What’s Special
- 210-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine
- Thin honeycomb grille with red stripe
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Dual tailpipesÂ
- Plaid cloth upholstery; leather available
- Performance Package raises engine output to 220 hp and includes larger brakes and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential
- Available adaptive suspension
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Golf R
The Golf R is a range-topping performance hatchback based on the Golf and Golf GTI. It competes with the Subaru WRX STi and Ford Focus RS and employs all-wheel drive — a key difference from the front-drive Golf GTI. Drivers can choose a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic.
What’s Special
- 292-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine
- Xenon headlights with horseshoe-style LED daytime running lights
- Quad exhaust pipes
- Available adaptive suspension
- Available 19-inch alloy wheels
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e-Golf
Volkswagen joined the growing list of automakers offering all-electric cars with the debut of the e-Golf for the 2015 model year. Based on the Golf four-door hatchback, the e-Golf has an EPA-estimated range of 83 miles.
What’s Special
- Unique grille with blue accents
- Touch-screen that offers a deeper look at the electric powertrain’s operation
- 115-hp electric motor
- Lithium-ion battery pack that’s located in the floor under the seats
- Available 7.2-kilowatt onboard charger can replenish the battery in less than four hours
- Three regenerative braking programs
