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The iconic VW Golf is renewed with the seventh generation car coming to the USA beginning in June, 2014.  Having been launched in Europe in 2013, the American market has had to wait a year before getting hands on this newest generation of the car.  The Golf is very evolutionary in styling both interior and exterior.  At-a-glance, it is clearly a Golf but with a bit more attitude.  Its 5-door hatchback bodystyle has basically the same proportions as before.  Clean styling with Germanic conservatism.  The interior of the car is very straightforward with good ergonomics.  Visibility is excellent.

Hatchback Hampers Golf Potential  The Golf hatchback is positioned higher than the 4-door sedan Jetta that is the best seller in the USA.  Americans remain pre-disposed to sedan bodystyles over 5-door hatchbacks.  Why?  Most American families are managing “fleets” of cars where each vehicle may have a specific purpose and/or a specific driver.  A hatchback is a very useful bodystyle and can serve many functions within the family fleet.  It is almost a micro-SUV.  There are also perceptions at work here.  Americans have historically perceived the hatchback bodystyle to be less safe than a sedan because there is no trunk to absorb an impact in a crash.  They perceive hatchbacks to be less secure because items in the rear area may be exposed and if a person gets into the car they have easy access to the load area.  The hatchback has historically been the lowest priced car in a brand’s line-up.  Of course, when you mention these characteristics are the same as in an SUV, the perceptions are totally different.

Golf Launches Over a Year  The wide Golf line-up is launching in this sequence:  June 2014 – Golf GTI, August 2014 – Golf and Golf TDI, November 2014 – e-Golf (EV), first quarter 2015 – Golf R and Sportwagen.  The missing model in the first year’s lineup is the GTD – the high performance diesel version (180HP/280 lb-ft torque) of the GTI.  Volkswagen of America had hoped to get the GTD early, but because of product changes required to sell it in the USA its launch will be in 2017.

Driving the Golf  The lead car for the seventh generation Golf is the enthusiast-targeted GTI.  Powered by a 210HP 2.0L DOHC turbocharged 4-cylinder, the GTI provides spirited performance with either its 6-speed manual transmission or the 6-speed DSG automatic.  Where the GTI fails, however, is on rough roads where its suspension set-up really beats you up.  A Performance Package for the GTI gives the engine 10 more horsepower but the torque remains at 258 lb-ft.   The high volume Golf is the TSI that comes with a 1.8L DOHC turbo 4-cylinder with 170HP and 200 lb-ft of torque.  The TSI is a pleasant car to drive and its milder suspension tuning makes the TSI more forgiving over rough roads than the sportier GTI. The TSI comes with a 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission rather than the sport-oriented DSG available in the GTI and the TDI models. Over a day of driving the members of the Golf lineup, the Golf TDI SEL with the DSG automatic transmission was the most satisfying.  The diesel (2.0L 4-cylinder turbo diesel with 150HP and 236 lb-ft of torque) has plenty of torque for any driving situation we were in.  The engine is quiet inside the vehicle and the transmission shifts smoothly.  The chassis set-up is just right even though the TDI does not have an independent rear suspension.

Competitive Fuel Economy  The fuel economy for the base TSI is 24mpg City/37mpg Highway/30mpg combined.  That level of efficiency is competitive but not best in class by any means.  The GTI gets 24/34/27.  The fuel economy champ, as expected, is the TDI with 31/42/35.

Prices Range from High Teens to Over $30K  The lowest price Golf will come from a limited edition “Launch Model” in August priced at $17,995 for the 3-door hatchback with 6-speed manual transmission.  It comes pretty well equipped with the 1.8L turbo 4-cylinder, air conditioning, front and rear disc brakes, rear window washer/wiper, power mirrors, tilt/telescoping steering column, power windows, Bluetooth and a standard 5.8″ screen with radio/CD/SiriusXM.  This model has 15-inch steel wheels.  For another $1,000 you get the S model with leather wrapped multi-function steering wheel, alloy wheels, leather-ette upholstery, cruise control and Volkswagen connected services.  $1,100 more gets you an automatic transmission and another $600 gets the 5-door hatchback.  So, the lowest priced 5-door is $20,695.  If you are partial to the diesel TDI and want to check all the boxes the SEL version is $29,095.  There is a lighting package complete with HID headlamps and LED daytime running lights for $995 and a $695 Driver Assistance Package that includes front and rear park distance control and a forward collision warning system.

What Were They Thinking – 5.8″ Screen  The auto industry is in the midst of center stack screen wars.  Volkswagen chose to lose this one.  While the car has a 5.8″ screen as standard with the radio and Bluetooth, etc., it does not get a bigger screen when a navigation system is installed.  It has the same 5.8″ screen.  This is especially strange because VW’s Euro-spec Golf has an 8-inch navigation screen.  Weird. 

e-Golf Coming   An electric version of the Golf – the e-Golf – will be launched in November.  The first fully-electric Volkswagen, the e-Golf is powered by a 115HP electric motor and has a range between 70 and 90 miles depending on conditions.  The e-Golf will be covered in another VehicleVoice post later.