We're already in love with the Volkswagen Golf -- it's our top-rated small car. But does adding extra cargo space and a diesel engine make a good thing better?
VW is the only remaining mass-market European car company here and the SportWagen is one of the very few affordable station wagons that hasn't been converted into an ersatz SUV. Add in the optional diesel engine (available with a manual transmission!) and this Golf checks all of the boxes for Niche Car Bingo.
Unfortunately, the DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission (which is what we tested) doesn't play well with the 2.0-liter, 150-hp turbodiesel. It feels gutless and lazy, like it's in the wrong gear when you want a power surge . You really need to floor the gas pedal to get a downshift. And the VW diesel's clatter is rather old-school compared to more refined offerings from other automakers.
Fuel economy is almost hybrid-esque with the diesel. We recorded a most-impressive 37 mpg overall and 51 mpg on the highway, translating into over 600 miles of bladder-busting highway range. That clearly trumps the 28 mpg we measured from the TSI gasoline engine in a Golf hatchback. But laggardly performance had us wondering if the diesel's price premium is worth it.
Driving dynamics give up little from its hatchback progenitor. This wagon is fun to hustle through the corners, even more so than the most agile small SUVs. Also like the normal Golf, the SportWagen feels solid and refined, with a composed ride and relatively hushed cabin noise.
The Golf wagon maintains the line's well-appointed and fairly roomy interior. The controls are straightforward and the sunroof is enormous. There's plenty of cargo space and a comfortable rear seat for two adults.