The 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen gives buyers considerably more space
than the Golf hatchback.
At 4,338 mm long, the new SV is 134 mm longer than the Golf Plus that it replaces, 83 mm longer
than the Golf hatchback, and 224 mm shorter than the Golf Estate.
The SportWagen and Alltrack are around a foot longer overall
than the Golf hatchback; this translates to significantly improved cargo capacity (30.4 cubic feet vs. 22.8 with all seats in place), and rear - seat headroom is improved as well.
Not exact matches
At just shy of 39 grand, the
Golf R Cabriolet is around # 7000 more
than the
Golf R
hatchback, which now that mk7
Golf production is at full strength, is no longer sold.
The
Golf R offers more backseat space
than the other two, but the edge in cargo goes to the STI's
hatchback version, at 19 cubic feet, versus the
Golf R, at 14.8 cubic feet for the four - door hatch.
The new six - door model is longer and wider
than any other Mini ever made, including the Mini Countryman SUV, and moves into a completely new size class to compete with mainstream
hatchbacks like the Volkswagen
Golf.
CHICAGO — It was more
than two years ago that Volkswagen AG unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show the fifth - generation
Golf hatchback, which went on sale in Europe a month later, in October 2003.
The vRS is less agile hot
hatchback than the
Golf GTI and Leon Cupra, cars with which the Octavia vRS shares so much.
It has more visual appeal
than the rather plain Volkswagen
Golf, and short of maybe the Mazda3, it's the best - looking
hatchback in the segment.
The boot is a bit smaller
than the
Golf's (364 - vs. 380 litres) in the conventional Mazda3
hatchback, but the «Fastback» model - effectively a stylish take on the four - door saloon genre - swallows a considerable 419 litres of luggage.
The ride is firm, but no more so
than any other hot
hatchback, and fuel economy of 41.5 mpg is an exact match for the Ford Focus ST.. It also handily undercuts the Volkswagen
Golf R on price, despite nearly equalling its performance.
It also wears the GTI badge more convincingly
than any VW
hatchback since the Mk2
Golf.
But this time, VW sent me a regular
Golf TSI SEL, a luxurious
hatchback without all the high - performance hype — and it's 25 % cheaper
than the
Golf R, even though it's loaded with options.
Instead, Volkswagen brags that it has sold more
than 32 million
Golfs between the nameplate's introduction in 1974 and the end of 2015, whle also listing other records the
hatchback has broken so far.
While never feeling cramped as such, there isn't as much rear knee room or foot room in the focus as you'd like — certainly less
than you'd find in the
Golf, Leon or Octavia — most other family
hatchbacks, in fact.
While there are more
than a few high - end hot
hatchbacks out there these days (Ford Focus RS, Honda Civic Type R, and Volkswagen
Golf R, to name a few) not all enthusiasts can justify the 40 - grand entry fee.
The car is 4330 mm long; this makes it 83 mm longer
than a regular
hatchback, 48 mm longer in the wheelbase but 224 mm shorter that
Golf wagon.
This is undoubtedly the best GTI - badged driver's car yet to delivered by Volkswagen outside of the
Golf range: a hot
hatchback with more credibility
than any Polo before it, and a proper GTI — with all that implies in 2018.
Based on the
Golf hatchback, which saw a major update last year, the new
Golf SportWagen stretches more
than 12 inches longer
than its
hatchback originator, while its roof rises over an inch higher.
Rather
than reinvent the
hatchback, Volkswagen has sought to evolve the
Golf, which rides on a platform shared with the upscale Audi A3.
The Clubman is around # 4,000 more expensive
than the five - door MINI
hatchback but it's worth remembering the Clubman is now a rival for the VW
Golf so its priced to compete with the larger German
hatchback.
It's also more
than the Honda Civic
Hatchback (46 cubic feet) and VW
Golf (53 cubic feet).
The 170 - horsepower
Golf S and SE
hatchbacks are peppy and handle better
than most compacts.
Like the new
Golf hatchback, the Variant is significantly lighter
than its predecessor by 232 pounds.
Vastly more exclusive, generally faster and more exciting, and way more of an event
than any road - legal production
hatchback, buying this instead of a
Golf is the sort of mad and wonderful decision you'd always be glad you made.
The Skoda Octavia is a family
hatchback that uses the same basic platform as the Volkswagen
Golf and SEAT Leon, but a longer body and clever packaging mean it offers more boot space
than both, as well as a hugely practical interior and enough room for five.
The Toledo's roomy dimensions mean that it offers a pretty substantial 550 litres of boot space, which is bigger
than you'll find in a Peugeot 508 SW estate and a full 170 litres more
than in the standard
hatchback Volkswagen
Golf.
Two - door cars aren't the most sensible vehicles, and Volkswagen does offer a four - door
Golf variant, but this
Golf I tested made up for its lack of doors with a rear
hatchback, providing more
than enough space for both cargo and rear passengers.
The SEAT Leon Cupra is one of our favourite high - performance hot
hatchbacks, offering more power
than the Volkswagen
Golf GTI for a similar price.
A
hatchback offers more versatility than a conventional sedan, and the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback and the 2017 Volkswagen Golf are both leading competitors in that
hatchback offers more versatility
than a conventional sedan, and the 2017 Honda Civic
Hatchback and the 2017 Volkswagen Golf are both leading competitors in that
Hatchback and the 2017 Volkswagen
Golf are both leading competitors in that segment.
Overall, we'd class the Leon as belonging in the chasing pack of family
hatchbacks amid the likes of the Hyundai i30, Honda Civic and Kia Cee'd rather
than as a challenger to the Volkswagen
Golf and Ford Focus at the head of the field.
Priced at almost exactly # 1000 more, model for model,
than the five - door Leon
Hatchback, the ST commands a bigger premium
than the VW
Golf Estate, but starts at a lower price.
The Jetta is a bit bigger
than the
Golf, which means more rear - seat room for growing families, and it also offers an additional base engine you can't get with the
hatchback (a 115 horsepower, 2.0 - liter four - cylinder that comes yoked with a five - speed manual or a six - speed automatic).
Nevertheless, Fiat will stand a better chance with a revised, more modern
hatchback against the likes of the Nissan Pulsar and Volkswagen
Golf than it did with the Bravo.