According to a report from Motor1, the next-gen base Golf hatchback won't be sold in the United States. The GTI and the Golf R will both live on in the U.S. Volkswagen says that other Golf models are "still under consideration" for the North American market, meaning that the base cars have a chance of being sold here after all. UPDATE 5/4/19: Volkswagen spokesperson Mark Gillies confirmed to C/D that the next-gen GTI and Golf R models will be sold in the U.S. This means that there's a chance that the base hatchback and SportWagen will make it to our shores when the eight-generation car arrives; Gillies also indicated that the U.S. Golf is a ways off and acknowledged reports of delays for the car's European launch, which will happen this fall. In October, Volkswagen will reveal the eighth generation of its Golf hatchback, pictured above in its near-production form.
But according to a new report from Motor1, it will be the first generation of the standard Golf hatch that will not be sold in the United States. This correlates with what we heard earlier this year from Volkswagen of America CEO Scott Keogh, who told C/D that the company was considering reducing the number of Golf variants it brings to the States. Hot-hatch fans need not worry, though, as the VW employee that broke the sad news to Motor1 also confirmed that the next-gen GTI and the Golf R will still be sold here. The source also said that the Golf SportWagen would be killed off, too, but doesn't say if the Alltrack variant will continue on. Our guess is that another Alltrack model is likely to come to the States. The e-Golf will not continue for this new generation at all, even for Europe, as its place in the VW lineup will be taken by the upcoming I.D.
While we lament the death of any good hatchback鈥攖here are so few of them available in the U.S. Golf lineup is a 10Best Cars award winner鈥攚e have to admit that we understand the business case. In 2018, VW sold 16,684 GTIs in the U.S. 6,642 Golf hatchbacks. Even the Golf R, which starts at almost twice the price of a base Golf, sold 3468 units. 14,123 Golf SportWagens were sold in 2018, but that figure includes sales of the Alltrack. In total, the GTI and Golf R make up almost half of total Golf sales. The Jetta compact sedan is surely a factor, too. Volkswagen sold more than 90,000 Jettas in the U.S. 2018, and the sedan is both larger and cheaper than the Golf hatch. We can see Volkswagen easily pushing any potential Golf hatchback buyers into either a Jetta or a GTI. And hey, maybe having the GTI as the entry into the U.S. Golf lineup will bring down its base price a little bit鈥攚e can dream, right?
All models come with a reversing camera, and the options list includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot warning system, and a rear cross-traffic alert system. These technologies can go a long way toward helping you avoid accidents when you鈥檙e on the road. A vehicle purchase can be a sizable investment. There are models that are much less costly than this average transaction price, and the 2019 Jetta is one of them. This makes the Jetta accessible to shoppers on strict budgets. And when you pair its low price with its generous range of standard features, it becomes clear the Jetta offers excellent value. You鈥檙e protected. The Jetta comes with excellent warranty coverage. Sometimes a new car doesn鈥檛 offer the dependability you expect. In cases such as this, it鈥檚 helpful to have the support of a good warranty. Warranty coverage helps make sure you don鈥檛 have to foot the bill if the life span of an expensive car part winds up being much shorter than you鈥檇 anticipated.
Volkswagen is known for its exceptional warranty coverage, and this protection backs the Jetta. This VW sedan comes with 6-year/72,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage. And if you choose to sell your Jetta while it鈥檚 still under warranty, the coverage transfers to the new owner at no extra cost. This is a great perk that can make your car more appealing on the used market. Many car buyers like having a few powerplant choices to consider, and automakers often cater to this preference. Take the Hyundai Elantra, one of the Jetta鈥檚 rivals. This compact car allows buyers to choose from three engines. In previous incarnations, the Jetta was available with gas-only, hybrid, and diesel powertrains. For the 2019 model year, the range of available engines has been whittled to one. All Jetta sedans come with a turbocharged, 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine good for 147 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. This engine does a respectable job of motivating the Jetta, but the slim powertrain lineup will be a disappointment for drivers who like to have a range of options. The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta delivers Germanic refinement at a very affordable price point. 20,000 base price aren鈥檛 natural bedfellows, but this unusual mix of qualities is part of the package with the 2019 Jetta. This Volkswagen sedan is easy-going and capable, offering an upscale cabin, smooth handling, and competitive fuel economy. The Jetta makes European quality accessible to the masses. If that piques your interest, you鈥檒l probably appreciate what this sedan has to offer. Did you find this article helpful? If so, please share it using the "Join the Conversation" buttons below, and thank you for visiting Daily News Autos.
