2010 Volkswagen Golf Las Vegas NV

October 19, 2009   By Jon Alain Guzik, Editor-in-Chief

2010 Volkswagen Golf

2010 Volkswagen Golf
DriverSide Overview
The Volkswagen Golf has been a worldwide automotive staple for decades and certainly Volkswagen’s bread and butter for equally as long. But the little hatchback that could (badged as a Rabbit here for the last few years) hasn’t felt the same sort of love from the U.S. However, the sixth-generation Golf builds on the first-rate design and excellent drive quality from before and takes a better step forward, ensuring a healthy amount of newly interested parties. With a subtle exterior redesign, the newest Golf continues to be one of the most stylish and practical small cars on the market. Taking queues from the European-only Scirocco, the rounded-off headlights, grille and overall softer appearance are replaced with a more angular front-end that makes for a more aggressive stance. Slight noticeable improvements add to an already high cabin quality. In either three- or five-door guise, the hatchback provides versatility and style, but the most significant addition for 2010 comes under the hood with a thrifty 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. If the success of the Jetta TDI is any indication, this new Golf is poised to outshine its predecessors.








What's to Like
The addition of a TDI to the lineup is reason enough to buy the new Golf, combine that with the option of mating the TDI to either a six-speed or DSG and you have gold. We like the build quality and the utilitarian, yet stylish interior.

What's Not to Like
The close to $1,100 dollar price difference between the manual and DSG is somewhat steep, as is the $1,750 navigation system. The five-cylinder isn’t overly peppy, and performance pales in comparison to the more robust diesel.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
The 2010 Golf, while not a sports car by any means – we’ll save that for the GTI – is a well-built and solid addition to the small car world. At highway speeds, there is little to no wind noise and the Golf feels planted, even at Autobahn speeds. We like the power and torque from the TDI – and the good gas mileage too. Both the three-door and five-door models handle and drive better than they need to for this market. VW overshooting their audience is your gain.

Engine and Drivetrain
The biggest changes for 2010 are in the engine and drivetrain options. With the addition of a previously European-only 2.0L TDI (found currently in the Jetta), VW’s ultra efficient diesel engine makes its debut with either a six-speed manual or VW’s clever DSG gearbox, another first for U.S.-bound Golfs. The 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine is a holdover from the previous MKV and puts out 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Power is delivered through the front wheels via either an automatic or five-speed manual.

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