Photo Gallery:
2015 Volkswagen Golf
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
 Click Image to Enlarge |
It’s the seventh generation Golf and it is here for the 2015 model year with a new chassis that promises better efficiency, lighter weight and more space on the inside. Powered by a new 1.8L TSI engine that produces 170 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque.
Thanks Volkswagen for not killing the manual transmission; not only that, they provided me with the standard five-speed for my test this week. It is obvious that Volkswagen is trying to get back “to the people” and make a car that is fun, affordable and practical.
 Click Image to Enlarge |
My tester is probably the volume seller for Volkswagen, save for the manual transmission. That is the Comfortline model with Convenience Package.
The Comfortline upgrades the base model Golf to include desirable features like: 16-inch aluminum wheels, leatherette interior, cruise control, rear-view camera and fog lights.
The convenience package adds in those little extras that makes the car just that little bit more feature rich, including dual-zone automatic climate control, automatic headlamps, auto dimming rear-view mirror, rain sensing wipers and a huge panorama tilt and slide power sunroof.
Basic, sensible, practical transportation is the theme this week, but Volkswagen aims to make this transportation fun as well as providing the typical German feel and ability to soak up the road.
Pricing: 2015 Golf 5-Door
Base price (Comfortline): $22,895
Options: Convenience Package – $1,695
A/C tax: $100
Destination: $1.395
Price as tested: $26,085
Competitors:
Ford Focus Hatchback
Mazda3 Sport
Hyundai Elantra GT
Kia Forte 5-door
Subaru Impreza 5-door
Toyota Matrix
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
 Click Image to Enlarge |
Every year it seems to get harder and harder to justify spending big money on a fancy car when even economy/compact cars are coming with interiors that are top notch and somewhat luxurious. The 2015 Golf is certainly no exception here with a leatherette interior that could fool most anyone into believing it is real cow hide to the perfect feeling steering wheel and two-tone dash layout.
When you first open the door the first thing you notice is the piano black steering wheel accents and the dash that looks like brushed aluminum. Yes it is plastic but the texture and look is really well done and certainly makes the interior feel upscale. The leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever continue the theme and with typical Volkswagen quality interior pieces this is one fine looking interior indeed.
 Click Image to Enlarge |
Of course most people buying a Golf are looking for the hatchback practicality and the Golf delivers that as well. The trunk opening is massive and with the seats folded down (nearly perfectly flat) there is a ton of room for your gear. Below the cargo cover where the spare tire sits is even more space for smaller items to stow away as well. Folding the seats is easy to do with a pull lever on the top of each seat, just pull and push and away you go. The only annoying part is the huge tonneau cover that kind of gets in the way, but I wouldn’t give that up as it is useful for normal day-to-day usage.
The rear leg, hip and head room is surprisingly roomy as well for a compact car, but the transmission tunnel is massive and makes the middle seat in the back really an impossible affair. I can only imagine that is this because same chassis is used for the all-wheel drive versions (not yet offered here), otherwise why the huge tunnel?
The front seats though are roomy and comfortable with enough seat adjustment that most drivers both super tall and super short should have no problems getting comfortable in the Golf. When lowered fully the sunroof seems miles away from my head. So much so that in a rare occurrence I actually raised the seat to get comfortable.
Although other reviewers have mentioned great visibility in the Golf I find the side mirrors pretty narrow making it a little difficult at times to see, but shoulder checking certainly does solve that.
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
 Click Image to Enlarge |
Where do I start with the driving dynamics of the 2015 Golf? The higher profile 16-inch tires soak up the road and offer nearly zero road noise; those wishing for the 15-inch tires on the base should try the 16s because they are surprisingly smooth and quiet.
But tires can be changed easily enough, what about the parts of the car that cannot be changed so easily? The five-speed manual transmission is fun too with which to row your gears and the clutch is light enough for day-to-day use while still providing great feedback.
 |
The engine offers a good amount of torque right from idle and the power builds smoothly as the revs rise, with no perceptible turbo lag. The only downside is the spacing of the gears, obviously spaced for fuel economy as you switch from third to fourth gear and the rpms drove up nearly an entire thousand.
This means around town fourth gear is nearly lugging the engine and at times you end up cruising in third gear, but it also means on the highway the engine is turning below 2,000 rpm and just above above posted speed limits.
The steering is light and not really that communicative but the Golf still handles well and turns in sharply. The brakes are easy to modulate as well and stop the car quickly.
I’ve never been a huge Golf fan (which is rare for an auto journalist I hear) but I really do like this new Golf, it ticks a lot of the right boxes — so far my only pet peeve is the missing USB slot… instead they provide a proprietary connection – uncool!
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
 Click Image to Enlarge |
The gearing really is a little odd on this Golf, hit a little hill at 50 km/h in town and third gear is barely adequate. Maybe it is just me, but I’m used to driving cars with a lot less torque that can easily run around town in fifth gear and fourth in a tight situation. I find myself using second a lot in the Golf, which is odd.
The bonus to that issue is that the Golf is a super quiet highway cruiser and you can easily drive it all day and get out feeling refreshed. The Germans really do have that figured out and they provide that same luxury car feeling and poise even in their inexpensive compact “everyday” cars.
Fuel economy was fairly impressive this week as well; I averaged 6.7 L/100 km over the week, got stuck in a few traffic jams, booted it a few times and included a trip up to Calabogie which is mostly cruising at around 90 km/h but with lots of hilly terrain.
What car doesn’t have its little idiosyncrasies right? The Golf has a few but overall it impressed me with its poise as a fun-to-drive daily driver with great cargo capacity and comfort. And a full tank (about 700 km) only cost me $55 — I could live with that!
