2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI Second-take Waterville ME

December 18, 2009   By Brian Alexander, Road Test Editor

2010 Volkswagen Golf


2010 Volkswagen Golf
I feel like it would be a lot easier to sum up the all-new Volkswagen Golf TDI had I spent the last six months on some sort of self-imposed media blackout, not reading foreign road tests, not listening to industry chatter and certainly not paying attention to the various awards that have been doled out to VW’s perennial hatch since its launch earlier this year.




2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI




2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI




2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI

However, due to what can only be called ‘unavoidable career obligations’, such a hiatus was never a realistic possibility. And much to my misfortune, the household time machine is broken, so I cannot un-consume what I have already heard about the new Golf; mainly, that it was crowned 2009 World Car of the Year. Expectations, to say the least, currently reside somewhere in the Thermosphere. I mean, World Car of the Year? The thing already sounds like some kind of brazen superhero.

First off, whether you were even aware of it or not, for the last few years the Golf had been sold in North America under the Rabbit moniker. This seemingly senseless throwback to the 80s must have been deemed just that, because it’s now known as the Golf again on these fair shores. So, on to business…

Now in its sixth generation, the new Golf is very similar in size and shape to its predecessor. Penned by Volkswagen design chief Walter de’Silva – who, amongst other famous products, was responsible for Audi’s stunningly 21st century R8 – the car now has more horizontal emphasis to it, creating a car that’s looks wider and more surefooted, even though the actual dimensions tell a different story.  It’s also more aerodynamic.

Inside, a lot of work has gone into addressing issues consumers had with the Golf V’s perceived interior quality. The result is a premium feeling cabin that comes across as more Audi than Volkswagen, which is another way of saying that it’s quite modern in its design. Attractive gauges flank a multi-function display and the center stack is dominated by a touchscreen audio system that sports satellite radio compatibility as well as a USB interface for the ubiquitous iPod demanded by the modern day commuter. The touchscreen comes standard, though keep in mind adding navigation will cost you some extra coin.

Under the hood lies Volkswagen’s panacea to ever-stricter fuel economy and emissions regulations, the clean diesel TDI (Turbocharged Direct Injection) engine. Thanks in part to the availability of Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel fuel (ULSD), modern diesel engines burn up to 25 percent cleaner than their gasoline counterparts, not to mention up to 30 percent more efficient. In short, they’re a far cry from their cloud churning, sounds-like-a-s...

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