Volkswagen Golf Wagen

Just like the plain exteriors, that lacks the excitement, the interiors of the Golf SportWagen is also simple. However, the cabin looks appealing and is clad with high material quality, which further enriches the inner-experience of this Wagon. The interior space is well-composed in terms of ease of access. It has sufficient legroom and headroom for both front and second-row passengers. Plus, it gets a boot space of 860 liters and it extends further to 1,883 liters with second-row folded. Golf SportWagen is equipped with many standard features which include Bluetooth, 5.8-inch color touchscreen display, power windows, 6-way partial power-adjustable front seats with adjustable lumbar support, and a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel that lets you pick up a call, change the audio track and control the volume levels. But, the heated front seat function is not available in the base grade and comes with the mid and top grade of GoldSport. 

The long Golf SportWagen might look a little outdated but it’s still one of the American’s favorite Wagon. It’s an extended hatch version of Golf GTI, but it doesn’t look as impressive as GTI. However, with big size comes amazing advantages to its driving and ride quality. Overall, the Golf SportWagen is an average looking Wagon. Plus, as the base and mid variants miss a lot of exclusive exterior features, that eventually deflects the outer persona of this Wagon. Like, the LED headlights that come with Adaptive Front-lighting System are only available in the top grade. In addition, the same is the case with the Power tilting/sliding panoramic sunroof, and foglights that are enabled with the low-speed corner-illuminating feature are also missing from the base and mid-grade. However, the signature LED Daytime Running Lights and LED taillights are standard on every grade of the Golf SportWagen. 

The SportWagen delivers upfront ride quality that enriches the drive and makes it one of the most comfortable wagons in its class. Being 12.1 inches longer than the hatchback Golf GTI, this wagon balances the vehicle perfectly. It further gets better with the 4 Motion all-wheel-drive system that transmits the power to the rear wheels when needed. And, secures the motion of the vehicle even in rough road conditions. On the handling front, in a true sense, this wagon has a sports character. And, despite its big size, even while turning sharp turns, Golf SportWagen responses actively to the input and actively turns without losing the connection with the track. 

Golf SportWagen comes with two engine choices. The front-wheel-drive variants are powered by the 1.4L TSI in-line 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that can produce the maximum power of 147 hp, and torque of 184 lb-ft. The base grade is mated with a 6-speed manual transmission, but you can also select the optional 8-speed automatic transmission that comes with Tiptronic and Sport mode. Whereas the mid variant that offers four-wheel-drive architecture is powered by the 1.8L TSI in-line 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, it can produce the maximum power of 168 hp, and torque of 199 lb-ft. With this power and the four-wheel-drive SportWagen can sprint from0–60 mph in just 7 seconds. And, like the base grade S, it comes standard with the 6-speed manual transmission and can be equipped with optional 6-speed DSG automatic transmission that comes with Tiptronic and Sport mode.

Volkswagen Golf SportWagen doesn’t compromise on the safety front. Each grade comes with standard safety features that help keep the vehicle on the right course while also maintaining the safety of the passengers. In addition, the solid cage structure of this wagon is designed to bypass the impact of the front collision away from the cabin. This saves passengers from getting a direct hit of the collision force. Also, in case of a mishap, the Intelligent Crash Response System actively locks the fuel tank and stops the vehicle from moving or skidding further. Furthermore, in terms of active safety features, all the trims of the SportWagen come equipped with Anti-slip Regulation, Engine Brake Assist, Automatic door lock when the vehicle reaches a speed of 8 mph, Electronic Stability Program, Electronic Differential Lock. However, adaptive cruise control, high beam assist, and lane assist features can only be equipped with the top grade SE. 

On some front, the exterior appearances of Volkswagen Golf SportWagen might not excite you, but it offers practical size and handy interiors, and 12 square feet panoramic sunroof, all that comes within the affordable price range. This wagon also gives you the choice of an all-wheel drive with the 1.8L TSI engine, which makes it a perfect match for taking up adventures with ease and fun. However, on some front, Golf SportWagen is a little disappointing like, its braking capacity is not up to the bar of its rivals, also base and mid variants are not packed with many essential features.