Her + His Car Reviews
2017 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen TSI S with 4Motion
There are two sides to everything, right? To keep our car reviews innovative and interesting, we provide an animated, insightful, and detailed POV's on the same car from - Her + His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate, women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| $25,750 | $25,750 |
| Performance | |
| Volkswagen delivers with the Golf SportsWagen TSI S which combines the handling and responsiveness of the Golf along with the roominess of a wagon, with a lovely interior. With a 1.8-liter Turbo 4-cylinder direct engine, and 170 horsepower, this mixed vehicle is a force to be reckoned with, especially at such a strong entry price and All Wheel Drive. VW is knocking on doors with this one! We love it. | Power comes from a 1.8 liter DOHC Turbo 4 cylinder with direct injection, and it really moves. Since the SportWagen cones with one of the most responsive, precise and smooth steering system on the compact car market, you really get to have big time fun going around corners, hitting the highway and just tootling around town. That, in fact, is the SportWagen's ace in the hole over the Alltrack, which feels more sluggish--though still fun on the road--to drive. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| Fuel economy as tested is 25 combined, 22 city and 30 highway. | Rated at 25 overall, and 22 city and 30 highway. The annual fuel costs are $1,450 based on 15,000 miles of driving and gasoline priced at $2.45 a gallon. |
| The Car | |
| Look, we know that wagon lovers don't have too many options out there. Rest assure, the 2017 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen TSI S with 4Motion is one that you want to test drive at once. With an attractive exterior and use of upscale materials inside, the vehicle is a winner. The top three attributes are the value, the roominess and the level or standard and optional features - all for under $26K? A rare find. This Golf SportWagen has 66.5 cubic feet of cargo space. And space in the front and back seats are welcoming to all-size drivers. Plus, there are no blind spots in this vehicle... good visibility from all angles. |
Seems like everybody wants these little crossovers. You know---the ones in which your kids have to be shoehorned into the backseat as they scream, protest, and basically beat the living daylights out of each other because they are right on top of one another? Relief is on the way. For about the same money---even less--you can buy the far roomier, way more fun 2017 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen TSI S with 4Motion. That's right--a roomier station wagon with all wheel drive. The all wheel drive is optional, BUT you can only order it on the vase model S. You heard me. in what must be the strangest twist of equipment configurations I've ever seen, the base model which costs $25,750 really well equipped--is the only SportWagen on which you can order all wheel drive. Go figure! |
| Safety | |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Lower Anchor and Tethering for Children, Intelligent Crash Response System, Electronic Stability Control, Anti-Lock Braking System, 3 -Point Safety Belts, Front and Side Airbags, etc. Power Door Lock with Remote, All Wheel Drive. Add in the 24-hour Roadside Assistance Warranty package which includes towing, jump starts, tire changes, out of fuel, and lock outs. |
Safety features include front and side airbag supplemental restraint systems for driver and passenger; side curtain protection head impact airbags; anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, lower anchors and tethers for kids; tire pressure monitoring system, and intelligent crash response system. Electronic Stability Control, Anti-Lock Braking System, 3-Point Safety Belts, Front and Side Airbags, etc. Power Door Lock with Remote. |
| Technology | |
| We think this is quite Golf TSI S with 4 Motion is quite the bargain of the year. Scores of technological advances are included in this model. Included is an 8 speaker sound system for attuned listening. Composition media, 6.5" Touchscreen Infotainment display with AM/FM/HD Radio and CS Player with USB and Aux-In. Add in Sirius XM Satellite Radio, Multi Function Display with Trip Odometer, Power Door Locks and Rearview Camera. 16" Alloy Wheels with all season Tires hug the road, Heated, Foldable power adjustable side mirrors. Car-Net® Equipped Is a Smartphone App that provides interface, security and service for emergency assistance and remote access. |
Our test drive car, the S model, starts with a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine (170 horsepower, 199 pound-feet of torque) paired with either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission (184 lb-ft of torque with the manual). Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel-drive (called 4Motion) is optional. All-wheel-drive models are available only with a different automatic transmission, a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox called DSG in Volkswagen-speak. Standard feature highlights include 15-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable and heated side mirrors, roof rails, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, front seats with manual adjustment and power recline, 60/40-split folding rear seats with a center pass-through and a 115-volt outlet in the cargo area. Also standard are a rearview camera, a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display, Bluetooth, VW's Car-Net App-Connect smartphone integration and Car-Net Security & Service telematics, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base audio system includes eight speakers, a CD player, satellite and HD radio, and auxiliary audio, USB and SD card inputs. The AWD S trim is the same but has 16-inch wheels and heated front seats. Moving up to the SE gets you automatic headlights, foglights, automatic wipers, heated windshield washer nozzles, a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, imitation-leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats and a Fender Premium audio system (adds a subwoofer and upgraded sound). The SE offers an optional Driver Assistance package, which is a good idea to get if safety is a priority. It bundles adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The top-level SEL builds on SE features with 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic dual-zone climate control, a navigation system and the features from the SE's Driver Assistance package. The SEL's optional Driver Assistance and Lighting package adds adaptive xenon headlights that swivel in the direction of the car's turn, automatic high beams, lane departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, and an automated parking system (parallel and perpendicular parking assist). |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| The S is a universally appealing wagon with elementary lines mirroring the Golf sedan only in an elongated version, and more spacious. Inside, VW design team has done a first-class use of materials and layout, dashboard and cabin. The leather-trimmed steering wheel, brake lever and shift knob, heated, manual front seats with power recline, glove compartment with adjustable cooling, Black roof rails. | Attractive and contemporary outside, though a bit plain, and a very luxe, comfortable interior. Get different wheels though--the standard ones do nothing for the car. |
| Warranty | |
| 3 Year/36,000 New Vehicle Limited Warranty. 5 Year/60,000 Powertrain Warranty. 12 Year/120,000 Corrosion Warranty. 3 Year/36,000 Roadside Assistance. | Typical 3 years/36,000 miles limited overall coverage, 5 years/60,000 miles limited powertrain warranty. |
