WASHINGTON — To say Volkswagen isn’t having a great year would probably be an understatement, but there is a bright spot or two in the VW lineup and the Golf TSI is one of them.
The five-door compact is a popular model and sales are brisk, even with the loss of the diesel model. But after a week with the mid-level SE trim, does this small hatchback live up to the Golf name?
The Golf TSI comes with a 1.8L turbo charged four-cylinder engine and it seems a bit peppier than the 170hp it has under the hood. I never had problems keeping up with the flow of traffic and for a compact, it’s pretty quiet on most road surfaces.
On lower trim levels you can choose a manual transmission, but the SE trim level is an automatic. It does an OK job of keeping the Golf in the power when needed but it’s not always as smooth when starting from a stop. It offers quick shifts when needed and is pretty good when up to speed.
The Golf is known as a fun-to-drive small car and this 2016 model is no different. While it’s larger than the car of years past, it’s still a smaller compact that works well on tight city streets and the interstate.
The Golf has a good view with a lot of glass making it easy to see what’s in front and all around you. Fuel economy was good but I never managed the 29 mpg of mixed driving between city and highway. I could only get 27.8 mpg in 165 miles on regular fuel.
What’s really changed is the addition of some tech and safety options which brings the VW Golf in line with the competition. A worthy addition to the $25,225 base VW Golf SE is the $1,495 driver assistance package that adds some cool items.
Adaptive Cruise Control takes care of speed and distance when used and does a nice job without being jerky. There is also Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert and it will practically park itself with park assist. Finally, no more VW-only cord to connect your device; regular USB ports are now standard. A rear view camera is also standard and the camera pops out of VW badge so it’s always clean when needed.
This may not be the most stylish five-door hatch but it does have a more upscale look than before. The exterior has more curves and still looks like a Volkswagen Golf. The interior has good space for a small car. The only nitpick is that the rear seat leg room is not enough for passengers with longer legs.
The materials seem to be a step up with softer touch plastics. They look higher quality, too. It doesn’t scream “Look at me flashy!” inside. It’s a more reserved European look and feel.
The 2016 Golf is a bright spot for a troubled Volkswagen of late, with no diesel option while an emissions fix is found.
One thing the Golf does offer is a discount on a popular compact hatch that’s been updated and upgraded to be more competitive than ever before and it still drives like the Golf should.
