 2013 Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI Clean Diesel. Click image to enlarge |
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Long-Term Test: 2012 Toyota Prius C
Manufacturer’s website |
Review and photos by Jonathan Yarkony
Photo Gallery:
2013 Volkswagen Golf Wagon
When searching out vehicles for long-term tests, we try to find something that will serve us well in our daily lives, yet is something that our readers will find of particular interest. Well, it doesn’t get much more perfect than the Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI Clean Diesel.
Our readers have voted with their clicks that this is one of their all-time favourites on Autos.ca, and we can see why. Quietly handsome, with a functional and high quality interior, it’s a car that handles as well as anything on the compact market, yet delivers hybrid-like efficiency on the highway with compact SUV cargo space. I think my family of three, soon to be four, will find it an ideal transport and a relief at the pumps compared to some of our recent rides, and Social Editor Mike Schlee also finds it an ideal combination of style, refinement, and efficiency.
  2013 Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI Clean Diesel. Click image to enlarge |
Only yesterday we took delivery of our Candy White Golf Wagon Highline, and it is handsomely equipped, though not cheap for a compact car at $33,785, plus a $1,395 Freight & PDI fee. Part of that price is the $890 Navigation package.
However, Golf Wagons start for as low as $22,975 (okay, even that’s not cheap for a compact) for a Trendline model with a 170-hp 2.5L inline-five cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission. The gasoline engines can be ordered with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode for $1,400. Some notable standard features include roof rails, power windows (one-touch up/down for all windows with pinch protection and remote opening/closing), power mirrors, keyless entry, 16-inch steel wheels, rear wiper, cruise control, good interior lighting (front, rear, and cargo), cargo cover, 60/40 split-folding rear seats with centre armrest that includes cupholders, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD stereo with eight speakers, eight-way manually adjustable front seats and steering wheel adjustable for height and reach.
It features a healthy list of safety features and structure, which earns it an IIHS Top Safety Pick (with Good ratings in all categories), though it is not yet rated by the NHTSA.
