2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI

The Volkswagen Golf has developed a loyal following by being a small car that thinks big. First introduced during the 1970s oil crisis as the VW Rabbit, the compact hatchback was such a hit that Volkswagen became the first foreign manufacturer to open an assembly plant in the United States.
 
The seventh-generation model that rolled out in August adds more interior space, performance options, and a clean diesel variant called the Golf TDI. It is the only turbo-diesel in a segment that also includes the Ford Focus, Kia Forte, Hyundai Elantra, and Dodge Dart. In that sense, it has no direct competitors.
 
Although Volkswagen’s gasoline-powered Golf starts at $17,995, pricing for the turbo-diesel is significantly higher, starting at $21,995 with a manual transmission. This, plus the premium for diesel fuel, means that buyers will not enjoy cost-benefit despite 20 to 30 percent better fuel economy.
 
But the Golf TDI excels in other ways that should put the hatchback on the short list for buyers in its segment, such as a driving range of 450 miles.
 
New and Improved
Those who remember the dirty, sluggish diesel cars of the 1980s need to put those memories aside when considering the Golf TDI, which has a smaller carbon footprint than its gasoline-powered sibling. The turbocharger develops 236 foot-pounds of peak torque, with as low as 1750 rpm for exceptional acceleration off the line.
 
Although the 2015 model has a longer wheelbase than the outgoing car, it remains an ideal choice for urbanites who, on a regular basis, commute through dense traffic and contend with limited on-street parking situations.
 
During a test drive in San Francisco at the height of morning rush hour, the Golf demonstrated excellent maneuverability, acceleration, and braking. Visibility in a city known for blind corners, cable cars, and cyclists that share the roads with cars was not an issue.
 
Despite its small footprint, the Golf’s interior is spacious enough to stash a bicycle in back with the second-row seats folded flat. And active buyers will appreciate the automaker’s focus on standard safety features, including four-wheel disc brakes with antilock braking, stability control, and a new post-collision braking feature that minimizes damage in a serious crash by applying the brakes a second time after the collision. Once the car has stopped, the vehicle automatically shuts off fuel, unlocks the doors, and turns on the hazard lights.

 

While there are not yet any safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the four-door Golf has been named a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). IIHS did not specify the diesel model in this rating.
 
Although its technology and styling has evolved dramatically since the Golf made its debut here during the Carter Administration, the 2015 model stays true to its mission: A small car whose segment-leading fuel economy can (maybe) save the planet.