Golf Variant/Jetta SportWagon: First Test, 60 MPG, Under $20K

[YSSMAN]

I'll make this note first: I'm calling it a Jetta Wagon, not the Golf Wagon. Simply put, they won't sell it as a Rabbit Wagon in America, thats what the Rabbit 5-door is for. Jetta Wagon it is then!

Spy photographers have spotted the new Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit wagon in testing. It's not known if or when this wagon version of the Rabbit will reach the States, but Europeans are already excited about what they call the Golf Estate – also referred to as the Golf Variant.

Volkswagen was attempting to get away from the “conventional” station wagon styling by hinting about a Golf Plus — sort of a small European MPV, but consumers were demanding a "real" station wagon — and now we have proof that it’s much more than just wishful thinking.

We'll officially see this Golf (Rabbit) wagon when it makes its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year. Although powerplants won’t be of any surprise, the interior is said to offer greater flexibility than ever before with a foldable/removable rear bench seat, many small-item compartments and even tie-down points – typical features in much larger station wagons.

...Yeah, go Jetta wagon! I'd love to go out and buy an MKIV Jetta GLS 1.8T Wagon today, but money is an issue...

Anyway, if they could sell the car in America for $23-25K, equip it with the new 2.0L TDI and a 6-speed manual, I'd be sold right there. Only options worth getting are heated seats, ESP, and all the airbag options. Nice job Vee-Dub!

 

[Poverty]

It looks more like a fox wagon. Odd seeing as VAG want a new golf out in 2008

 

[YSSMAN]

...That is indeed why I figured it was the Jetta Wagon, not the Golf/Rabbit version. I always found it odd that you guys sold the Jetta Wagon as the Golf Estate in Europe with the MKIV model, so I'd assume the same in this situation as well. Amazingly even in somewhat anti-wagon America, the Jetta Wagon has been a strong seller for some time now. As noted, I've always liked the MKIV Jetta Wagon GLS 1.8T, however they can be tricky to find sometimes, particularly with a manual transmission...

 

[1X83Z]

It's a Jetta - to my knowledge there was no Golf Verso, nor has there ever been, particularly in this capacity. Looks like it shares some body panels with the Jetta, too.

 

[harrytuttle]

At first glance, I thought this was about the ~2005 Jetta Wagon, and that it should be in the carspotting thread.

I suppose it's a cool idea, especially in the US where we don't have a great selection of small wagons (estates). I thought that it's best competition would be the Passat wagon, but that's the A4's job. Any word on a A3 version, or is the body being shared with Seat & Skoda (which wouldn't be coming to the US)?

One question: is that mini-WRC lightpod an option?

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

Heated seats reduce fertility/ sperm production! EEEEVIL! Saabs are the worst for it apparently. Meh, if it can outperform all the other 4WD wagons, then maybe.

 

[YSSMAN]

UPDATED:

Volkswagen has unveiled the 2008 Golf Variant — a wagon version of its popular Golf hatchback. Expected to be sold in America as the next Jetta Wagon, the new estate will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Over a foot longer than the Golf/Rabbit hatch, the wagon will offer 690 liters (24 cubic feet) of storage with five passengers. Initially, it will be offered with a 1.4-liter 140 horsepower TFSI engine, or a 105 or 140 horsepower diesel powerplant.

Specific details about the U.S. version are expected closer to its launch at the New York Auto show in April.

...Yep, still one of my favorite VW models in the last generation, and certainly will be in the next. I'm eager to hear what kind of price increase will be involved, and whether or not there will be a Haldex AWD version made available in North America. I'll probably take mine in dark blue with the tan leather interior, the 2.0L 140 BHP diesel, and a six-speed DSG please...

 

[Philly]

I'm going to say that the Golf was not designed to be a wagon. It just doesn't seem quite right to me. It might look alright in actual skin; cars tend to do that.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm going to say that the Golf was not designed to be a wagon. It just doesn't seem quite right to me. It might look alright in actual skin; cars tend to do that.

...I'm still not sure why they call it a "Golf" when it is so clearly a Jetta to begin with. I assume the problem is that they have never consistently referred to the Jetta as the Jetta in Europe, as previous names have included Bora and Vento in the lineup.

The tail-lights are a bit wonky, I'll give you that, but overall I think it looks pretty nice...

I've still got MKIV Jetta Wagon lust, particularly the GLS 1.8T models, and I hope the MKV model lives up to my expectations...

 

[Philly]

That Jetta wagon is a great looking car. A guess my trouble is that the car seems a bit big for the front end. It could be that I'm not used to it or that the front was designed for a short car and this pushes it a bit.

 

[Freddie]

...I'm still not sure why they call it a "Golf" when it is so clearly a Jetta to begin with. I assume the problem is that they have never consistently referred to the Jetta as the Jetta in Europe, as previous names have included Bora and Vento in the lineup.

It's partly the name, but also partly that the station wagons featured the Golf fronts, rather than the Vento/Bora fronts.

Mainly it has to do with marketing. Just like Jeep, Golf is such a recognised name that it often is refered to as a type of cars (3/5-door hatchbacks) in Europe - Civic, Focus, Mazda3 are all in the "Golf"-class. Golf is also synonymous with quality, and I'm guessing it's the same with Jetta in USA, hence the reason it'll be called a Jetta, rather than Rabbit, over there.

VW is just avoiding the big blunder Ford did with the Taurus and the Five Hundred.

 

[Slicks]

I wonder if the testers get diciplined for being caught and photographed like this?

Anyway... I''m sure this will be a good seller, though I still like the previous generation more. These taillights on the new one (in the press release) don't quite suit the car.

 

[Bram Turismo]

It looks ugly to me, just like the previous generation Golf, these wagon models never really interested me. I would even take a Fabia wagon over this think, the taillights are definitly from a Jag, no doubt about that.

 

[TheCracker]

I don't know whether the Golf/Jetta Estate sells well in the rest of Europe or America but in Britain they are seldom seen - or maybe they're just so dull you never notice them.

 

[YSSMAN]

US-spec VW Jetta SportWagen Debuts​

The Jetta SportWagen, a sporty and dynamic wagon version of Volkswagen’s top-selling model, made its U.S. debut today at the New York Auto Show. It will be offered with three engine variations. It will launch with an upgraded 2.5-liter, five cylinder engine that now produces 170 horsepower. That model will be followed with the 2.0T, four cylinder engine that produces 200 hp. In early 2008 the Jetta SportWagen will be available with a 2.0L clean diesel engine.

It offers ample storage space — 32.8 cubic feet to be exact, or 66.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. For those whose require even more room, there is an optional fold-flat front passenger seat that provides additional cargo space. Fold-flat front passenger seat is available with "V-Tex" leatherette seating.

Some of the standard features include: air conditioning, anti-theft vehicle alarm, cruise control, CD player, traction control, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, eight-way adjustable front seats with height, angle and lumbar support adjustments, and a height-and-telescoping steering wheel. Available as an option on the Jetta SportWagen is a panoramic sunroof.

...I would post pics, but ImageShack isn't cooperating, so you'll have to look at the European-spec photos from above...

Either way, it sounds great. The extra power with the 2.5L I5 is indeed a needed addition to the model, and generally all of the VW lineup. With the 2.0L 140 BHP TDI model on the horizon, it was pretty obvious that VW didn't want the diesel stepping on the gasoline engine's toes. Still, the fact that I can buy one with the 2.0L TSI is rather nice, and I'm hoping that they'll offer a sporty suspension option, just to keep my quasi-GLI notions in-check.

Good job Vee-Dub. Now lets get serious on the pricing, and I may know someone who wants to buy one (Mom!)...

---

On a side note: Doesn't the Rabbit only seem that much sweeter with the presumed addition of the 170 BHP I5?

 

[land sea air]

a Rabbit with a 170 hp engine would feel more like a GTI than the GTI does, I do kinda miss the golf nameplate though.

 

[Joey D]

It's designed to move people, not emotions. It's boring, but it will be one of the better wagons sold in the states. I would like to see a 2.0T GLI version of this but I don't think it's going to happen.

 

[land sea air]

I too would like that, since they are already bringing the right engine over hopefully they will decide to make the other chages as well.

 

[YSSMAN]

It's designed to move people, not emotions. It's boring, but it will be one of the better wagons sold in the states. I would like to see a 2.0T GLI version of this but I don't think it's going to happen.

As I recall, the old GLS 1.8T models were fairly fun to drive, so a new version of the SportWagon that would presumably have a 'sport pack' option may be a fairly decent alternative to a 'GLI wagon.' I too doubt they would ever built a GLI wagon, but we are in a time where VW tends to listen to the consumer more than ever, so I'm sure that if we demanded it, it could happen...

...And even then, wouldn't the car, at least in theory, handle better? The weight would be more evenly distributed, so I guess it could help overall...

But it would probably steal sales from the GTI 5-door, but then again, its essentially the same car. At least we're getting the same engine with DSG as an option. Its a start...

 

[TopHat]

So, the 2.5 would start in the high 19s for the wagon w/tiptronic?

 

[YSSMAN]

If we were to apply the same 8% price difference between the Passat sedan and wagon to the Jetta, we'd come up with something in the neighborhood of $17K or so with a Jetta SportWagon with the 2.5 and a stick. So your estimate for the additional automatic doesn't seem like a long-shot, but might be a bit high.

Even then, $20K still is a pretty decent deal in the segment, as the only vehicles that are going to carry more are probably going to cost $3-5K more, and generally speaking, your only major options are going to be the aforementioned Passat Wagon and the Mazda6 Wagon.

 

[YSSMAN]

Crap!

Are you impatiently waiting to check out VW's new Jetta Sportwagen? Looks like you'll be waiting a bit longer. Autoblog has confirmed a rumor on the VW Vortex forums that the August launch of VW's new Jetta wagon has been delayed. The posting on the forums said an engine plant fire was to blame, but that remains unconfirmed.

Keith Price, VW's public relations manager, tells Autoblog that the company, "Lost some production" and will roll out the 2.0FSI Turbo models with the official launch of the Clean Diesel wagons in early 2008. Price said to look for a "tiny trickle of 2.0FSI Turbo cars at intro, and an even split of 2.5L and Clean Diesel in dealers to follow" in March.

With a dearth of inexpensive, but spacious wagons on the market, this is indeed disappointing news for those hoping to snag one of these budget five-doors this year. But if it's the diesel model for which you pine, Price said those are on schedule for March, and that, "Clean Diesel Sportwagens will be hot."

We take that to mean, "Get in line."

Thanks for the tip, Scott!

UPDATE: Keith Price wrote us back to confirm a plant fire that destroyed between 12,000 and 15,000 cylinder heads is to blame for this delay. He also says pricing for gasoline and diesel models has still not been finalized.

I was really excited to see these models on the road, so this really sucks.

 

[YSSMAN]

​

As station wagon lovers ourselves, we were just as disappointed as many of you were when we heard the news that the new Jetta Sportwagen had been delayed due to a plant fire which destroyed 12,000 - 15,000 cylinder heads. After all, with nearly as much space as the average SUV or minivan but with much better fuel mileage and more sport to go with it, what's not to like? And those are just the practical considerations. What about how the car drives? That's an excellent question, so, when we got a chance to get some seat time in an '08 Jetta Sportwagen at the 2007 American Station Wagon Owners Association Convention, we jumped on it.

Here are a few quick details to keep you interested enough to keep reading after the break, which is where you'll find our driving impressions. The wagon (or... wagen) version of the Jetta has 32 cubic feet of cargo space with the back seat in place, and more than double that with the seat folded down at 66.9 cubic feet. Engine choices start with the 2.5 liter inline 5 cylinder with the 2.0T engine as an upgrade. If you're into saving gas with an oil-burner, the 2.0 TDI will be available too. That engine will give up to 60 miles per gallon on the highway...

Full Test Here

It clearly may be the best vehicle VW has in its North American lineup. Packing extra punch with the 2.5L I5 (going from 150 to 170), and keeping prices well below $20K is a rather good deal, and making a few changes with the engine and transmission, you could find yourself with an extremely economical wagon, or a surprisingly sporty model once the GLI model is officially confirmed.

I like it. But then again, I've always liked VW wagons...

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> Hmm, looks very promising! As a wagon fan, maybe this will be my top pick, but I have to test drive it first to see my final judgment for this vehicle. I really do hope that VW could come up with a 4Motion TDI, now thats a perfect candidate for my wagon replacement. (:

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm almost certain that there will be a 4MOTION TDI over in Europe, as we Americans normally get the short end of the stick when it comes to the Haldex-equipped models, but I'm assuming they're doing it for good reason. The Tiguan, which is based on the Golf/Jetta will offer diesel and petrol models with 4MOTION standard I believe, so I would assume that VW is keeping it off the SportWagen so it doesn't eat sales on the Tiguan.

I'm looking forward to the GLI model the most, sport tuned suspension, 18" summer wheels/tires, 6-speed DSG, 200 BHP turbocharged I4.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> Meh, the Tiguan looks like a bloated Golf/Rabbit or a shrink-wrapped Touareg. I don't like SUVs until I NEED one, I need a fuel-sipping alternative to my wagon and that Jettawagen barely hits the mark. Or if they cant deliver the TDI 4motion Jettawagen, why not either a GLI or better yet an R32.