Subcompact Culture - The small car blog: Golf

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Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Review: 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen TDI SE

By Mercedes Lilienthal

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for VWs. Maybe it was because my parents decided to move to another country for job opportunity and arrived off the boat (well, plane) in the 1960s from Germany to start a new life in the USA. Maybe it was because my Papa always loved VWs, and when they moved to the US and settled in Chicago, he got a job at a VW shop that was owned by another German. Well, quite possibly it may have been because I learned to drive in one: a manual 1979 VW Rabbit diesel my father completely restored from ground up. It smelled like McDonald’s french fries when you took off because he retrofitted it to run on a combo of diesel and veggie oil to get better MPG. It was regularly getting in the 60s for MPG, not too shabby, eh—specially for the 1980s. He was ahead of his time, and our family’s love for VWs runs deep.

Needless to say, when we were offered the 2015 Golf SportWagen TDI SE for review, I got excited. And when I found out it was one with a manual transmission, I said, “Yes please!” A rare bird indeed: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo-charged diesel with a six-speed that had many bells and whistles on it. One “bell” which is a must for me: a power sun-roof. This has a BIG, expansive panoramic power sun-roof. OK, gimme the keys and let’s try this formerly-named Jetta wagon out! (Remember, this is now the Golf SportWagen!)

Review: 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI S

By Andy Lilienthal

The Golf GTI has always been synonymous with great driving dynamics, a reasonably low cost of entry, and loads of fun. Volkswagen Golfs with those three letters have always been rewarding to drive; it's been a winning formula for VW since 1976. It's also not a formula that gets messed with much. And frankly, VW knows how to execute the FWD performance hatchback.

Review: 2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI

Every time I drive a VW Beetle, Jetta, or in this case, Golf with the company’s turbocharged-direct-injected TDI diesel engine I’m impressed. It’s a smooth, strong, quiet powerplant that’s got gobs and gobs or torque, lots of refinement, and is rewarding to drive. Needless to say, I was looking forward to spending a week with Volkswagen’s newest oil burner, the 2015 Golf TDI.

The new-for-2015 seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf features everything you would’ve liked in the previous MKVI golf, but with more refinement, more power, more room, less weight, and slightly edgier looks.

Small Car Highlights From the 2014 Portland International Auto Show

2015 BMW i3

The 2014 Portland International Auto Show will be held February 6–10 at the Oregon Convention Center. Subcompact Culture attended the press day on February 5 to get a preview of some of the latest rides. And while there were exotics, sports cars, SUVs, pickups, and just about everything else there, we attended for the small cars ... of course.

2015 BMW i3

One of the most notable and exciting small cars at the show is the 2015 BMW i3, which is an EV with an optional inline two-cylinder 650cc range-extending gas engine. The vehicle makes 170 hp and 184 lbs./ft. of torque and will weigh in at about 2,700 lbs. It's estimated the small front-drive BMW (a first for the brand) will get 125 eMPG. By the way, yes, it's got 20" wheels wearing 165/65/20 tires. That's a new one. The interior is simply stunning, to be frank. There's futuristic yet simple design throughout, including a gorgeous wood dash area in front of the passenger, and suicide doors. Made with scads of carbon fiber, the i3 will start out at $42,275.

2015 Subaru WRX STI

Another highly anticipated vehicle at the Auto Show is the 2015 Subaru WRX STI. The standard '15 WRX isn't slated to go on sale until April, but Oregon is Subaru country, and Subaru was able to bring the hot- rodded WRX STI, which won't go on sale until June, to the Portland show for all to see. Making 305 horsepower out of its 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder mill and delivering power too all four wheels, the new STI will likely be a beast despite the somewhat toned-down sheet metal. However, the big wing and gold wheels are back, and are likely to appeal to the rally car crowd. Can't wait to drive this one.

2015 Volkswagen Golf

Another popular car here in the Pacific Northwest is the Volkswagen Golf, and this is the new MkVII model. Complete with revised sheet metal, the new Golf also gets a new 1.8-liter turbocharged engine standard (vs. the past 2.5-liter five cylinder), as well as a revised TDI turbochraged diesel. The gas engine will make 170 hp and 184 lbs./ft. of torque. The new TDI makes 150 hp and a whopping 236 lbs./ft. of torque. Expect TDI mileage to be in the low 40s when it's released. By the way, 52% of all VWs sold in Portland, OR are TDIs—far more than any other market in the U.S.

2015 Ford Fiesta ST

Molten Orange 2014 Ford Focus ST front shot

Ford's sporty Fiesta ST has been out a few months now, but this was the first I'd seen one in the flesh. wearing stunning Molten Orange Metallic paint, the ST is truly a hot hatch. A turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine making 197 hp and 202 lbs./ft. of torque, a six-speed manual gearbox, unique alloy wheels, and different front and rear fascias make this the Fiesta to get if you're looking for a pocket rocket. This one had the optional and awesome Recaro seats, too. Love this thing, and can't wait to drive one.