The excellent Golf has a responsive 170-hp, 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine that gets a mediocre 24 mpg overall. We got an impressive 38 mpg overall in the diesel with a manual transmission. It has responsive and quick steering and well-suppressed body lean, making the car feel agile and sporty in corners, like the GTI. The ride is supple and controlled. Interior quality is impressive and feels solid. The front seats are supportive, but the rear is cramped. Curtain air bags are standard. A high-performance, turbocharged AWD Golf R version is available. Reliability of the turbodiesel has been average, and the five-cylinder has been above average.
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