The Best All-Rounder: 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen TDI

The Golf line from Volkswagen in undoubtedly one of the most flexible and extended in the auto industry, as the same model, in different body types and configurations, can cater to a person that is single, to a family or to an egocentric, track-crazed racer, regardless of gender. From a regular baby carrying machine to a hyper powerful, 292 baby carrying machine, the Golf does it all.

However, when it comes down to efficiency, interior space and value for money, the 2015 Golf Sportwagen TDI stands out as one of the best – if not the best – choice for an all-rounder.

From a design perspective, the Sportwagen is, as the name implies – a wagon, so a hauler by excellence. Most of the visual cues are shared by the res of the Golf family, such as the headlamps, the subtle front grille and the design of the bumpers, side skirts and wheels. Going past the half of the car, a typical wagon silhouette emerges, but one penned with finer lines than some of its rivals. The way the character lines flow towards the rear and the sloping angle of the roofline denote exceptional attention to detail: after all, this is no BoxWagen, it is a SportWagen, and that implicitly means sportiness.

Don’t mistake it to a race car, though: it is, after all, a family oriented vehicle. Sitting underneath the hood, a 2.0 litre, 150 horsepower turbocharged, four cylinder diesel engine powers it, promising 31 mpg in the city and 43 on the highway, with either a choice of a six speed manual or a six speed automatic DSG transmission (with Sport mode). Acceleration from 0 to 60 takes around eight seconds, while the peak torque is produced at 1.750 RPM. One of the most surprising things is that, if driven reasonably, the Sportwagen can actually better its official consumption figures, which is quite an achievement, as usually, there is the other way around.

In the interior, the Sportwagen promises to seat five adults in comfort. The passenger space is adequate, while the generous wheelbase permits ample leg room. Standard features include wear resistant cloth upholstery, a multifunction steering wheel, heated side mirrors, a rear view camera neatly hidden behind the rotating rear emblem and keyless access with push button start.

Higher trims, save for the base, receive dual zone climate control, LED interior lighting, an ample touch screen with the choice of Android Auto, Apple CarPlay or MirrorLink, alongside VW’s CarNet connected suite (a service that is capable of remotely unlocking the car’s doors or send an SOS message, in case of distress, among others).