2019 Volkswagen Golf
The 2019 VW Golf may look unassuming, with its jellybean body and small stature, but it's one of our very favorite cars to drive. A frequent recipient of our 10Best Cars award, it expertly blends practicality, affordability, and real driving chops for a delightful package that demands almost no compromises from its owner. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine provides just the right amount of motivation for this little hatch. What's New for 2019? Last year's 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is discontinued for 2019 and in its place is a 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder that makes 147 horsepower. A six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic are the two transmission choices. A host of driver-assistance features are now standard on the Golf, including automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlamps are optional on the top-spec SE model. For buyers who are looking to keep the negative impact on their bank account minimal, the base 2019 Golf S is a sufficient package. Likes: Reasonably quick, well-calibrated transmissions, confident in corners.
Dislikes: Lacks passing power. The Golf's turbocharged inline-four engine provides the right amount of power to adequately propel this small hatch and it's refined and reliable. Around town, the Golf never wants for power and in our acceleration testing, it reached 60 mph in 7.6 seconds. Only when attempting high-speed passing maneuvers on the highway does the driver notice the engine runs out of breath. Unlike its sportier fraternal twins, the zippy GTI and the burlier Golf R, the Golf boasts a compliant ride that won't grow tiresome during long drives or on rough pavement. This doesn't mean that it's a slouch around corners. It hugs the road tightly and imparts an athletic feel to the driver that encourages back-road antics. The Golf's steering is unerring and uncharacteristically quick for this class. The fleet helm is one of the features that makes this affordable, utilitarian car so enjoyable to drive.
The Golf is efficient, carrying EPA ratings of 29 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway when equipped with either transmission. The Golf we tested outperformed expectations in its real-world fuel-economy test, achieving 43 mpg. The Golf doesn't set the standard in this class: the Honda Civic hatchback delivered an identical result. Likes: Useful cubby storage, comfortable front seats, sleek and intuitive infotainment system. Dislikes: Small center console, full-power seats are not available. Plain but comfortable and functional, the Golf's interior perfectly embodies Volkswagen's design ethos. You'll never feel pampered, but you won't be subjected to any ill-conceived design themes, either. The Golf's interior employs clean, straight lines; a sedate color palate; and an emphasis on openness. Despite the airy atmosphere, some competitors tested here have slightly more space than the Golf. We found the Golf's rear seat to be relatively comfortable, and it's suitable for adults even on longer drives.
The comfortable back seat is attributable to the height of the bottom cushion, which prevents the knees-in-the-nose problem that plagues many small cars. The Golf's infotainment system delivers lazy response times to your inputs, but standard features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB connectivity are strong counterpoints to that shortcoming. Base S models have a 6.5-inch display and SE models now have an 8.0-inch screen with touchscreen menu buttons running along the edges of the display. The Golf holds the same number of carry-on bags behind its back seat as many of its rivals. But unlike sedan competitors, the Golf's cargo area can accommodate taller items with ease. We squeezed 15 carry-on suitcases inside with the rear seat folded. The Golf received great crash-test ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, although it missed out on the latter agency's Top Safety Pick honors. Driver-assistance equipment are either standard or optional on the Golf. The Golf's warranty is impressive in this class, matching or besting its competitors in most categories. Hyundai's 10-year powertrain warranty is still unbeaten for its length, but VW's is transferable to a subsequent owner and Hyundai's is not.
Large numbers of buyers are always impressed with its peppy performance, solid Germanic feel, and tasteful styling. It grew too expensive and heavy to have widespread appeal. Its beneficial chassis enhancements and updated powertrains are some of the highlights of this model. The name is clearly showing sophistication supremacy which has been created with additional care to offer a stunning appearance which will enchant the buyers at first impression. The new generation of Passat is incorporated with fuel-saving amenities such as idle decreased engine speed, regenerative braking, longer gear ratios, and start/stop technology. This range of Passat has been redefined with classy interiors and exteriors to offer a royal touch to the model. The exterior portion of this model looks elegant and dynamic that gives a unique appeal along with a radiator chrome finished grille. Due to its prefixed logo of VW, it provides the message of faith and trust.
