Still going strong after 41 years

When it debuted 41 years ago, the Volkswagen Golf helped set the template for the modern compact car. Today, the 2017 Volkswagen Golf continues to set the standard for small car refinement, design, and utility. There’s a reason why this car is the manufacturer's best-selling model worldwide.

For the 2017 model year, Volkswagen has added a new performance- and premium-focused Wolfsburg Edition trim level to the lineup.

Performance

Volkswagen prides itself on German engineering. It’s the only non-luxury German car brand in the U.S., and the attention to detail apparent on the Golf gives the Volkswagen model a more premium feel than other vehicles in its segment. Refinement and a satisfying driving experience set the 2017 Golf apart.

The Golf uses a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends 170 horsepower to the front wheels. Torque peaks at 199 lb-ft with the six-speed automatic transmission and 184 lb-ft with the available five-speed manual transmission. Unlike turbocharged engines of the past, the Golf engine delivers its power in a linear fashion, with little discernible turbo lag.

A small engine makes the Golf frugal as well as fun. The 2017 model gets an EPA-rated 29 mpg combined (25 mpg city, 36 mpg highway)* with the five-speed manual transmission and sacrifices just 1 mpg in the highway category with the automatic. In exchange, automatic buyers get the convenience of shifting without a clutch, but still having the option of manual shifting with the automaker's Tiptronic® feature.

The current-generation Golf was the first Volkswagen Group model to use the highly flexible MQB platform. It’s designed to underpin a variety of VW Group models, including some from the Audi luxury brand. The MQB platform is a solid foundation, imparting impressive structural rigidity and making the Golf feel more substantial than the stereotypical economy car.

Features

The 2017 Volkswagen Golf is a five-door, five-seat compact hatchback. VW keeps things simple, offering just two trim levels priced starting from $19,895.**

Standard equipment on the base Golf S includes heated, power-adjustable side mirrors; leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel (with paddle shifters on automatic models); power windows; cooled glove box; eight-speaker audio system; Bluetooth®; 6.5-inch touchscreen; USB connectivity; SiriusXM® satellite radio; and VW Car-Net® app suite and telematics services.

The new-for-2017 Wolfsburg Edition incorporates all of the applicable standard equipment from the S and adds a power sunroof, heated front washer nozzles, keyless access with pushbutton start, leatherette seating surfaces, heated front seats, and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Design

Just like its road manners, the design of the 2017 Volkswagen Golf is more refined than the average small car. It’s not the most extravagant design, but it is handsome and will probably look just as good in a few years as it does now.

Every line on the current-generation Golf is sharply creased, from the headlights to the angles of the well-defined C-pillars, which also help tie the current Golf to previous-generation models. In seven generations, the Golf has gotten significantly sleeker than the boxy original. The current version has an impressive drag coefficient of 0.29, compared to 0.32 for the previous model.

The 2017 Golf is a design that was introduced for the 2015 model year. The redesign not only brought a move to the stiffer MQB platform, but also increases in every dimension except height. Overall length increased by 2.1 inches, width increased by 0.5 inches, and overall height actually decreased by 1.1 inches. Volkswagen designers also moved the front wheels further forward, giving the car a long-hood, cab-rearward profile that’s more pleasing to the eye.

The Golf interior is cleanly designed with easy-to-read gauges, a multifunction steering wheel, and a standard 6.5-inch central touchscreen display. In addition to looking good and functioning well, the interior offers a generous 93.5 cubic feet of total volume, and 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up. With the 60/40-split folding rear bench down, cargo space expands to 52.7 cubic feet.

Safety

Standard safety equipment on the 2017 Volkswagen Golf includes anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, a rearview camera, Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, Intelligent Crash Response System, dual front and front side airbags, and rear curtain airbags. Optional features include forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking and blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert.

Verdict

The 2017 Volkswagen Golf hits all of the important small-car points, but also gives buyers something extra.

Be sure to contact us online or visit 3Birds Template at 505 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC 27516 to schedule a test drive.

*Where stated, fuel economy values (mpg) are EPA estimates.  See www.fueleconomy.gov for details. Actual mileage will vary and depends on several factors including driving habits and vehicle condition.

**All prices listed are the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price and exclude transportation, taxes, title, options, and dealer charges.

Image: Volkswagen