Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
What makes the Golf the... 'gold standard' ?
The new MQB chassis is really good. The base model has a leather steering wheel, back up camera, car play, decent audio quality. The wagon's cargo space is on par with a lot of crossover SUVs. Its just nuts to go down the highway at 40 mpg with a full pallet of goods in the back. Perfectly flat loading area in the back, no trunk drop down nonsense. I did have to buy out of state to get a stick shift base model wagon. It doesn't cost much more $$$ or weight to select the wagon over the normal 4 door golf.
It's the base model of the Golf R, a rocket hatch. You can put the Golf R turbo on it and tune it to the mid 300hp range. Its THE platform for the enthusiast who wants a mature styled vehicle. I got pulled over once for +12 over the limit and got a warning. I would expect a citation in a Civic hatch or a Focus RS.
With the Golf S, Golf GTI, Golf Sportwagen, Sportwagen All Track, Golf R, there is one for everybody. Nobody else has a transferable 6 year 72k mile bumper to bumper warranty(2018 MY).
I'm not die hard VW fan but nobody else offers a cheap stick shift turbo wagon. I'm addicted to driving a small wagon. Once you experience the mpg, capability, and the handling (i added larger summer wheels) you realize you get everything in one inexpensive vehicle.
I should get a job at VW selling these things.