2010 Volkswagen Golf First Impressions

Driving the all-new Volkswagen Golf is like welcoming back an old friend. There’s a mix of familiar and unfamiliar, sweet and sour that captures the imagination and turns a trivial meeting into a memorable discovery. Journalists got a taste of the car during a media launch held by Volkswagen Canada in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec.

While the 2010 VW Golf boasts fresh new lines, it retains the core values and attributes that have made it so popular thus far.

This famous compact hatchback (whether bearing the name Golf or Rabbit) has been part of our automotive landscape for nearly 35 years. Much like the original Beetle or Toyota’s Corolla, it’s now a benchmark in personal transportation for many drivers around the world. In fact, over 26 million units have found takers since the model’s inception.

While the 2010 VW Golf boasts fresh new lines, it retains the core values and attributes that have made it so popular thus far, namely a versatile, ergonomic interior and pleasant driving dynamics.

The next-generation Golf also offers two options that you won’t find in such rivals as the Mazda3 Sport, Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback, Toyota Matrix and Dodge Caliber: a genuine wagon variant and a diesel engine.

Interesting tweaks and twists
The new face of the Golf sports redesigned headlight clusters as well as subtle chrome accents on some models. The body sides are now marked by a strong character line that stretches from the front fenders all the way to the taillights.

The car also features "inverted" door handles like the ones found on the Passat CC. Plus, according to my colleague Mathieu St-Pierre, the wider taillights make this Golf look like a baby Touareg from the back!

Despite the new attire, little has changed from the Golf V (a.k.a. Rabbit in North America) in terms of architecture. The wheelbase is identical and most other dimensions are only marginally larger. That’s great news because the previous generation excelled on the road thanks to a taut, solid chassis.

Five different models make up the portfolio, including the 3-door Golf Trendline and Sportline and the 5-door Golf Trendline, Comfortline and Highline.

The new face of the Golf sports redesigned headlight clusters as well as subtle chrome accents on some models.

2010 Volkswagen Golf

Over the last few years I have had the opportunity to experience things which many can only dream of doing. Though the path has been filled with many risks, trials and a lot of hard work, it’s moments like these when I realize how incredibly fortunate I am.

Over the last 2 years I have been driving race cars for Volkswagen in the Jetta TDI Cup. I was fortunate enough to earn a spot as a driver in the series and then was even more fortunate to be able to win the coveted Public Relations Contest in both years as well.

Last season the prize for winning was an all expense paid trip to race at the world-famous Hockenheimring for the Volkswagen Polo Cup event in Germany. This season, the prize was an all expense paid trip to Volkswagen headquarters in Wolfsburg to attend the North American media launch of the 2010 Golf and Golf TDI together with dozens of this continents most influential automotive and lifestyle journalists.

Sitting in Executive Class on my return trip, I have had a short chance to reflect on the whirlwind events of the last few days. I was given a very unique opportunity to experience the life of an automotive journalist and also take a glimpse behind the scenes at what makes Volkswagen so special.

Allow me to give you a taste of what I’ve been privileged to experience over the last few days. The first thing that struck me was how much more pleasant it is to travel in Executive Class. It’s nothing overly luxurious but all of your needs are met every minute of the trip and you never go hungry. I met up with Jim Kenzie (arguably one of Canada’s most prominent automotive journalists) while connecting through Toronto on our way to Frankfurt and then Hannover, Germany.

2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI Rated at 42 MPG Highway

After much anticipation Volkswagen has finally released the fuel-economy numbers for the 2010 Golf TDI, with the DSG equipped model achieving a rating of 31/42 mg (city/highway). Manual transmission TDI models are rated at 30/41 mpg. As for the standard gasoline-powered Golf with the 2.5-liter engine, it is rated at 22/30 mpg.

The Golf starts at $17,490, while the TDI is priced from $21,990. The price increase for the TDI is based on VW’s decision to take it slightly more up-market, by equipping it with standard features like a stiffer and lower suspension and a touch screen audio system DSG models will get steering wheel mounted paddle shifters and expect to pay an $1,100 premium for VW’s advances DSG automatic transmission.