If you love the idea of a smaller car with a big cargo area and a great reputation, the Volkswagen Golf may be the ideal vehicle for you. The Golf's upscale interior, ample safety features, fun-to-drive character, and fuel efficiency have earned it a popular reputation during its decades of service. For 2017, the Gulf sees a bit of a price drop due in large part to a consolidation of the lineup.
What's New for 2017
The big news for 2017 is the elimination of the two-door option and the consolidation of the lineup to just two choices, the base S trim and the more upscale Wolfsburg Edition. Gone are the SE, top of the line SEL, and Driver Assistance Packages.
The Golf comes standard with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 170 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, regardless of trim. VW paired the engine with a five-speed manual transmission as standard, but a six-speed automatic is available for an extra $1,100. The EPA ratings come in at 29 combined, which makes the Golf an economical choice.
Beyond basic safety features like antilock brakes, stability control, and traction control, Volkswagen added hill hold assist and a rearview camera as standard. The Wolfsburg Edition trim takes safety to the next level, adding forward collision mitigation with automatic braking, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, and cross-traffic alert.
The base Golf S starts at $19,895 and the Wolfsburg Edition bumps the starting price up to $21,595.
Choosing Your Volkswagen Golf
Choosing your Golf has never been easier since VW retired the two-door version and reduced the lineup to two trim levels for the remaining the four-door model. Your only decision this year is choosing between the base S and the Wolfsburg edition.
If you're looking for the cheapest Golf possible, the S will certainly fit the bill and offers some great features at a reasonable price. However, the Wolfsburg's upgraded interior and more advanced safety features are worth the $1,700 price premium.