New for 2015

The Volkswagen Golf is redesigned inside and out for 2015, with virtually nothing left untouched.

Grounded by Greatness

For the 2015 model year, the Volkswagen Golf is new inside and out. It rides on a new VW Group platform, is powered by new engines, and features plenty of new technology. Yet all of this newness is grounded in the same qualities that made the previous six generations of Golf hits with both the automotive press and buyers.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf is available with a wide array of powertrains, all of which offer an impressive balance of fuel efficiency and performance.

Starting with the base models, the 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder TSI is one of several engines from Volkswagen’s new EA888 family, which features numerous efficiency-related improvements over comparable 2014-model engines.

The 1.8-liter engine produces 170 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. It drives the front wheels through either a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic.

With the manual, a Golf will achieve EPA-rated fuel economy of 30 mpg combined (25 mpg city, 37 mpg highway),* or 29 mpg combined (25 mpg city, 36 mpg highway) with the automatic.*

However, buyers looking for ultimate fuel economy will probably be more interested in the 2015 Golf TDI. Volkswagen continues to be one of the few purveyors of diesel cars in the U.S., and this is one of its best efforts yet.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is also part of the new EA888 family. It produces 150 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, and is available with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Going without spark plugs yields fuel economy of 36 mpg combined (30 mpg city, 45 mpg highway) with the manual;* the automatic gains 1 mpg in the city category, but loses 2 mpg in the highway category.

Features and Trims

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf is available in more trim levels than ever before, making it easier to build a car to fit your budget and preferences. Available as either a two-door or four-door hatchback, it starts at $17,995.**

Since the 2015 model year is the first for this seventh-generation Golf, Volkswagen is kicking things off with a Launch Edition model. Available only as a two-door with the five-speed manual transmission, it will only be offered in limited numbers… so get one while you can!

Next up is the Golf S, which adds 15-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces, and VW’s Car-Net connectivity service. It’s also available in both the two-door and four-door body styles, with both engines.

Superseding the Golf S is the SE, which includes all of the applicable features from the Launch Edition and S, as well as rain-sensing automatic wipers, fog lights, a rearview camera, and a Fender Premium Audio System, among other items.

The top Golf model is the SEL, which builds on the preceding models with navigation, automatic climate control, keyless entry with pushbutton start, ambient lighting, and sport seats with 12-way power adjustment for the driver.

Exterior/Interior

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf features styling that’s an evolution of the already-handsome sixth-generation model. It still features the Golf-signature kinked C-pillar and hatchback shape, but with crisper lines and sharper headlights and taillight clusters.

On the inside, the Golf is clean and functional. The interior is laid out logically, and is made from materials of a much higher quality than what you’d typically expect to find in an economy car. The Golf has also grown “in all dimensions but up,” according to Volkswagen, yielding more interior space. There is now 93.5 cubic feet of interior space, up from 92.9 in the previous Golf.

On the tech front, all Golf models also come standard with a 5.8-inch center-stack screen, which includes gesture-control functionality for tablet-like pinching and zooming.

Safety

To keep occupants safe, the 2015 Volkswagen Golf comes standard with an array of safety equipment, as well as several available driver-assistance systems.

Standard equipment includes anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, and six airbags, as well as Volkswagen’s Automatic Post-Collision braking, which applies the brakes when a crash is detected to prevent secondary collisions.

In addition, the SE and SEL models can be equipped with the Driver Assistance package, which includes Forward Collision Warning and Park Distance Control features.

Bottom Line

The Volkswagen Golf has been a staple of the compact hatchback segment for decades, and the redesigned 2015 model looks set to continue that trend. With improved efficiency, safety, and technology, it’s got virtually everything you could ask for and more.

Contact or visit us at 3Birds Template today to schedule a test drive.

*EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary and depends on several factors, including your driving habits and vehicle condition.

**Starting MSRP. Prices exclude transportation, taxes, title, other options, and charges.

Image: Volkswagen