Design Volkswagen Golf Variant 2014

Design Volkswagen Golf Variant 2014

Indeed, the current Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, which is closely related to the outgoing sixth-gen Golf, is available with a diesel and a stick.

Even though it will continue to be sold here for another year or so, the next-generation model is already being launched in Europe, where we recently drove it.

Overseas, the car is known as the Golf Variant or Golf Estate; we expect it to drop the Jetta name and simply be called the SportWagen when it arrives here for the 2015 model year. The name change will be executed for the sake of accuracy, as the next SportWagen is derived directly from the MQB-based 2015 Golf, whereas the Jetta soldiers on with the older PQ35 platform.

We spent a day with several Euro-spec variations of the SportWagen, and our favorite by a considerable margin was equipped with you guessed it a six-speed manual transmission and the wonderful 150-hp, 2.0-liter TDI.

Cruising in light traffic on the autobahn, we could imagine mileage cresting 50 mpg pretty easily, and the diesel emits little more than a reassuring purr. It also delivers when asked to charge forward. VW’s claimed 0-to-60 figure is unimpressive at nearly nine seconds we predict our testers will be able to hit 60 in about eight—but the gobs of low-end grunt make it feel quick, especially off the line. All 236 lb-ft of torque are served up from 1750 to 3000 rpm.

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door wagon

ENGINES: turbocharged and intercooled 16-valve 1.8-liter inline-4, 170 hp, 184 lb-ft; turbocharged and intercooled 16-valve 2.0-liter diesel inline-4, 150 hp, 236 lb-ft

TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed manual, 6-speed dual-clutch automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:

Wheelbase: 103.7 in

Length: 179.6 in

Width: 70.8 in Height: 58.3 in

Curb weight (C/D est): 3000–3200 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):

Zero to 60 mph: 7.8–8.1 sec

Standing ¼-mile: 15.9–16.2 sec

Top speed: 125 mph