Her + His Car Reviews
2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI SEL
There are always two sides to everything, right? Well, the truth is there are many more than that!
To keep our car reviews innovative and well-rounded, we are providing you with not just one, but two points of view on the same exact vehicle –
Her and His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate, women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| $31,605 | $31,605 plus seems a pretty steep price for a compact. But we still think it is so chock full of goodness and loads of equipment at the price, it's worth every penny - and then some. |
| Performance | |
| The iconic Golf remains in a class of it's own. A Volkswagen favorite to drive, and the 2015 is no exception; we simply love to drive this vehicle. With its diesel 2.0 litre 4 cylinder engine, the Golf sports up hills and straightaways like a zip. Love the engaging six speed automatic transmission; front wheel drive. Effortless and easy is how it handles assisted by the electro-mechanical power steering. All beefed up by the 18" alloy wheels and all season tires. | Cool as the Golf looks, however, styling isn't the reason most people buy the Golf. They buy it because it's one helluva lot of fun to drive and it handles better than some pretty expensive sports cars do. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| This is where this car truly excels. Not a hybrid, but sure is a class competitor at 43 highway and 36 city. Bravo! | Gas mileage is another strong point. TDI of course, refers to a 2.0 liter, 140 horsepower, clean diesel four cylinder engine with a common rail direct injection system. Overall mileage was 36 mpg, with a 31 rating in the city and 43 on the highway. The car used 2.8 gallons of gasoline for every 100 miles driven. By purchasing this diesel powered Golf, you can save an estimated $3,250 in fuel costs over five years, compared to the average new vehicle, depending upon the price of fuel. |
| The Car | |
| Ranked #2 by US News and World Report, this vehicle offers a tremendous value, although it is a higher opening price point. Geared more for those who appreciate a performance slanted-vehicle, it meets and exceeds expectations. For women, couples or smaller families who are outward bound, there is plenty of torque, so it's a very good choice for the long haul. | If you haven't heard by now, the 2015 Volkswagen Golf lineup has been selected as the 2015 Car of the Year by the widely respected Motor Trend Magazine. Of course, when anything or anyone is ranked at the top, detractors and competitors love to seize the chance to knock the winner off the pedestal. Well, if Volkswagen Golf's competitors wish to mount an assault, they'd better prepare for a big fight. This newest Golf generation beats its competitors in just about every way imaginable. The Golf is such a superior product that it is hard to find anything at all to complaint about. |
| Safety | |
| Driver and front passenger front and side airbag supplemental restraint systems. Side curtain protection head impact airbags, front and rear. Side impact protection door beams. Intelligent Crash Response System for extra protection in the event of an accident, Tire Pressure Monitoring, LATCH, ABS. The Driver Assistance package with Park Distance Control and Forward Collision Warning System. | The Golf came to us ready for safety battle on urban streets. Every single safety feature you could ever want is standard equipment on this car. It also includes VW's Intelligent Crash Response System. |
| Technology | |
| Technology galore in the SEL model with a 5.8" touchscreen navigation system. Panoramic - hey now - sunroof! The Fender Premium Audio System with 8 speakers and subwoofer kicks it with any and all of the Sirius stations to your hearts content. Rearview camera. Dual Zone climate control for personalization. Adjustable seating and steering wheel titling. Heated seats. Lumbar support; nice. 60/40 split folding rear seats. Daytime Running Lights. Keyless access and push-button start. | Our test Golf TDI SEL diesel-powered car had a base price of $29,095. Standard equipment included electro-mechanical steering, electronic stability control, 18" alloys, power tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof, and XDS Cross Differential system. Other items that were standard equipment included an almost 6 inch touchscreen navigation system, and AM/FM/CD player with MP3 playback; Fender premium audio system with eight speakers and subwoofer, media device interface, fog lights, cruise control, ambient interior lighting with footwells and major all power accessories like brakes, windows, rear view camera, automatic climate control, automatic rain sensing windshield wipers, power mirrors, front fog light and other items. A driver's assistance package with park distance control and forward collision warning system, along with a lighting package an a few other items, brought the final price to $31,605. Safety equipment, included side curtain protection, Intelligent Crash Response System, anti lock brakes, and other important features. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| Well laid out and true to its roots. Handsome and not altogether outstanding on the outside, we would love to see the Golf get a few more muscles. The interior is a gem. Looking like a mini-me luxury vehicle in several ways. From the materials used, to the dash and the excellent way everything is laid out. Clean, crisp and upscale. Cockpit is smart and intuitive. Excellent use of complimentary colors... both for day and night use. Spacious too, for an extra child. Or person who needs additional leg room. | First, the VW crew well managed the envious task of keeping the classic Golf look, and yet modernized dramatically at the same time. Updated taillights and rear fascia, highly complementary new character lines that add a bit of chiseled look to the side appearance, classy new wheels and a number of other improvements add sporty elegance to a car that already looked pretty classy in our book. Everything goes together quite well, to the point that we don't think you will get this generation confused with previous ones. Then there's the interior. Oh, the interior! Think two or three price classes higher than the compact car segment and you will have a pretty good idea what we are talking about. Fit and finish were peerless in the compact car class for the Golf we tested. Piano black was used along with brushed metal to pretty good effect, and we loved the sporty steering wheel with the flat rim at the bottom-it too with details like piano black chrome touches. There was adequate leg and headroom, and the design and layout of the dashboard prompts thoughts of Audi, Volkswagen's luxury division. |
| Warranty | |
| 3 year or 36,000 New Vehicle Warranty /5 year or 60,000 Powertrain/ 12 year on Corrosion/ 24 hour Roadside Assistance for 3 years or 36,000 miles. | Three years/36,000 miles on the entire car, five years/50,000 miles on the powertrain. |
