Why is the Volkswagen Golf so Popular?
The Volkswagen Golf is one incredibly popular compact car with great ratings and great reviews. So, were here on the case to discover what’s exactly so great about the 2020 VW Golf? Buckle up to check out this wild ride.
Is the Volkswagen Golf a Good Car?
You can get started in the Volkswagen Golf for about $23k. This price is fair. It’s a little steep for younger adults but reasonable for families. The Toyota RAV4, which is more of a family-oriented SUV, starts around $25k.
The VW Golf also has a pretty fair fuel economy. It gets up to 29 mpg in the city and up to 35 mpg on the highway. Rivals such as the Honda Fit can achieve up to 33 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.
VW Golf Performance
The 2020 Volkswagen Golf hatchback comes with a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that provides 147 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, which is pretty good. It should offer a sporty ride around town but may lack the necessary power to pass people on the highway.
All-wheel drive isn’t available on the Volkswagen Golf. For all-wheel-drive, you’ll have to upgrade to the Volkswagen Golf R or Golf GTI. The Volkswagen Golf GTI starts around $28k, and the Volkswagen Golf R or the performance Golf starts around $40k. Most cars allow you to add an all-wheel-drive for about $1,400.
RELATED READ: You Need the Nissan Rogue Instead of the Hyundai Tucson
The VW Golf is designed to provide a fun drive, and the 8-speed automatic transmission offers smooth gear changes. The Triptonic driving mode will give you more control, but the sport mode enhances the fun. Drivers love the responsive steering and the way the VW Golf corners on it’s 16” wheels for an enjoyable drive.
Volkswagen Golf Features
The Volkswagen Golf has more of a driver-focused interior for a racing feel. However, it seems a little basic with the use of cheap plastic materials. To our surprise, the VW Golf is more significant than expected, with up to 52.7 cubic feet of available cargo room.
With this base model, you do get a few convenience features such as heated, faux-leather seats and heated washer nozzles to get rid of ice. The back seats can also fold down flat to make organizing cargo easier. The push start button, sunroof, and passive entry are excellent features too. The backseat is spacious enough to fit adults. The seats sit pretty low, allowing taller adults to ride comfortably without hitting their knees on the front seats.
In terms of tech, the 6.5” infotainment center is fine. It can connect to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it is noted for being a little laggy with a slow response time. But the VW Golf can connect to your smartphone and allows you to set up guardian alerts in case someone drives too fast or past curfew.
Plus, the 2020 Volkswagen Golf is incredibly safe. It’s an IIHS top safety pick, but it fails to include standard safety features like lane-keeping assistance, forward collision prevention, blind-spot warnings, and more. The Volkswagen Golf feels like an overpriced version of the GTI that’s been heavily watered down.
