HD First Drive Review – 2015 VW Golf SportWagen TDI SE 6-Speed Manual



Listen to that TDI growl through the gears!

 

A first drive of VW’s new Golf Sportwagen TDI shows that this new vehicle brings all the Euro manners you could imagine — all at a great price.

What? About a Volkswagen!?

Yes, the VW Golf range is all pretty fantastic, but pricing can feel ambitious on the GTI and Golf R. At first sight, we worried the Golf Sportwagen would kill its appeal with a $38,000 price.

Nope. $28k base with $1000 lighting pack and $700 driver assist pack takes us to just $30,505.

True value-oriented pricing on the six-speed manualhas to be balanced over the incredible chassis and turbo-diesel powertrain. Almost a playful Euro-squirt of torque comes on smoothly but briefly, demanding eager rowing of the manual box — yet it comes away feeling special and playful up front. 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel in the Golf Sportwagen has EPA stats of 31-mpg city, 43-mpg highway with real-life cruising tallies in the high 50’s — as we confirm in the video here. (After some fumbling in menus during this one-take first drive.)

150-horsepower and 236-pound-feet of torque make this TDI more of an eco sell than for quickness, with the $1100 DSG automatic recommended for those living in cities. The stick is a joy, as mentioned, but needs attention to keep on boil.

The SE trim brings a big new touchscreen nav setup, huge moonroof and titan black leatherette seating. It sounds chinsy, feels good and techy and durable as a fabric. Seat adjustment and range in the driver’s seat of the Golf Sportwagen is a major change versus the previous Jetta estate — which sat all drivers up high and awkward.

A few exclamations of love and hate for VW in this video – which barely does this smooth and cool new Golf wagon justice. The only thing we’d add? Bigger wheels than the 17’s fitted to the SE trim level. 16-inchers come on the base S Sportwagen – so you have been warned!

This new wagon also opens a mouth-watering prospect: a Golf R Sportwagen. That would be a true fast wagon icon.

But even as it as with TSI or TDI engines, there is a new and welcome charm to this long-roof Golf.

Enjoy the 115 new photos of the car inside and out, plus the full USA trim and pricing list below.

CUSTOM RENDERING

With some tinted glass and big wheels… there is potential here. A new high-speed, high-style wagon is born…!?

 

Golf Sw

2015 VW Golf Sportwagen TDI SE 75 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen TDI SE 42

 

2015 VW Golf Sportwagen TDI

 

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2015 Golf SportWagen Pricing
Model
Price
Features
1.8T S (manual)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(automatic)
$21,395
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$22,495
1.8L, 170 hp / 199 lb-ft turbocharged TSI® engine; five- speed manual transmission, 15-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; XDS® Cross Differential system; front and rear disc brakes; hill-hold assist; rear window wiper and washer system; body color exterior mirror caps, moldings, door handles and bumpers; front center armrest; power adjustable and heatable exterior mirrors; front and rear carpeted floormats; dual exhaust tips; V-tex leatherette seating surfaces w/front manual lumbar support; tilt and telescope steering column; cruise control; leather- wrapped multifunction steering wheel, shifter knob, and hand brake lever; split folding rear seats with center armrest and pass-through; Climatic® manual A/C; power windows w/one-touch up/down on all windows; Bluetooth® technology; touchscreen radio w/CD and SD, Sirius XM® Satellite Radio, and Media Device Interface (MDI) with smartphone integration; VW Car-Net® connected services; dual front airbags, driver and front passenger, front side airbags, Side Curtain Protection® system for front passengers
+Six-speed automatic transmission
1.8T SE (automatic
$26,995
(Includes SportWagen S features)
+ 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; six-speed automatic transmission; chrome front lower grille; chrome window trim; 115V outlet; heated front washer nozzles; rain- sensing automatic windshield wipers; automatic
 
 
 
headlights; front foglights, power panoramic tilt and slide glass sunroof; LED interior reading lights; heatable front seats; KESSY keyless access with push-button start; rearview camera; and Fender® Premium Audio System
Lighting Package
$995
+ Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), and ambient interior lighting
Driver Assistance Package
$695
+ Front and rear Park Distance Control and Forward Collision Warning system
1.8T SEL (automatic)
$29,345
(Includes SportWagen SE features)
+ 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; silver roof rails; navigation system; Climatronic automatic climate control; sport comfort seats with a 12-way power driver’s seat;
and ambient lighting
TDI S (manual)
 
 
 
 
(automatic)
$24,595
 
 
 
 
$25,695
(Includes SportWagen S features)
+2.0L, 150 hp / 236 lb-ft TDI® Clean Diesel engine;   six- speed manual transmission; 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; chrome window trim; 115V outlet; KESSY keyless entry with push-button start; rearview camera;
+ Six-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission
TDI SE (manual)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(automatic)
$27,995
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$29,095
(Includes SportWagen TDI S features)
+ 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; chrome front lower grille; power panoramic tilt and slide glass sunroof; heated front washer nozzles; heatable front seats; rain- sensing automatic windshield wipers; automatic headlights; LED interior reading lights; front foglights; and Fender Premium Audio System
+ Six-speed DSG automatic transmission
Lighting Package
$995
+ Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, Adaptive Front-lighting System, and ambient interior lighting
Driver Assistance Package
$695
+ Front and rear Park Distance Control and Forward Collision Warning
TDI SEL (manual)
 
 
 
 
(automatic)
$30,345
 
 
 
 
$31,445
(Includes SportWagen TDI SE features)
+ 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; silver roof rails; navigation system; Climatronic automatic climate control; sport comfort seats with a 12-way power driver’s seat;
and ambient lighting
+ Six-speed DSG automatic transmission
Destination
$        820
All prices exclude destination

 

 

 

MODEL LINE-UP
Golf SportWagen TSI S
The SportWagen TSI S starts at $21,395 and features a standard turbocharged and direct-injection1.8-liter engine; 15-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; Bluetooth® connectivity; a touchscreen radio; Sirius XM® Satellite Radio; a Media Device Interface (MDI) with iPod® integration; leatherette seating surfaces with manual lumbar adjustment; power windows; power door locks; and air conditioning. An automatic transmission is available as an $1,100 option.
Golf SportWagen TSI SE
Available only with the six-speed automatic transmission, the SE starts at $26,995 and adds the following features over the S: 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; front foglights; a panoramic sunroof; KESSY® Keyless access with push-button start; a rearview camera, and the Fender® Premium Audio System. An optional Lighting package is available for $995 and includes Bi-Xenon headlights with the Adaptive Front-lighting System, LED DRLs, and ambient interior lighting with LED interior reading lights. The $695 Driver Assistance package includes the Forward Collision Warning System and front and rear Park Distance Control.
Golf SportWagen TSI SEL
Building on the specifications and layout of the TSI SE, the top gasoline-powered SportWagen trim starts at $29,345 and adds: 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; chrome roof rails; a navigation system; Climatronic® automatic air conditioning; sport comfort seats with a 12-way power driver’s seat; and ambient lighting with LED interior reading lights. The Lighting and Driver Assistance packages are available on the SEL as well.
Golf SportWagen TDI S
The line-up of Clean Diesel Golf SportWagen models largely mirrors its gasoline siblings in terms of features and packages. The base TDI S starts at $24,595 and offers a six-speed manual gearbox and 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels as standard, with a dual-clutch DSG automatic available for an extra $1,100. KESSY Keyless access with push-button start and a rearview camera are among the standard features.
Golf SportWagen TDI SE
Starting at $27,995, the TDI SE has the same list of equipment and optional packages as its gasoline-powered counterpart, the TSI SE, including the Fender Premium Audio System, automatic headlamps and a panoramic sunroof. The Lighting and Driver Assistance package are available. The DSG transmission is an $1,100 option.
Golf SportWagen TDI SEL
Starting at $30,345, the TDI SEL’s standard equipment mirrors the TSI SEL, adding features such as a navigation system, Climatronic automatic air conditioning, and sport seats with 12-way power adjustment for the driver. Both Lighting and Driver Assistance options packages are available on this trim. The six-speed manual transmission is standard, with the option of the DSG automatic ($1,100 extra).2015-VW-Golf-Sportwagen-TDI-SE-25