2011 Volkswagen Golf Reviews

The 2011 VW Golf has a powerful engines and a near-luxury cabin that reviewers say is worth the Golf’s high price. The 2011 Golf also has a diesel option that gets great fuel economy.



The Volkswagen Golf has cruised American streets since 1974. Along with the name change, VW gave the 2010 Golf a makeover. The Golf stands out within the class for its available diesel engine.



The Honda Fit will save you around $2,500 compared to the Volkswagen Golf, and averages 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, which beats the base Golf's fuel economy rating. In the name of going green, the Honda Civic Hybrid beats the Golf’s fuel economy, but matches its price. Details: 2011 Volkswagen Golf



The Golf is largely unchanged for 2011. Volkswagen hasn’t released the 2011 Golf’s pricing, but the 2010 Golf starts at $17,620 for the 2-door, 2.5-liter engine, and the four-door TDI starts at $22,959.



Outside of a few features being shuffled around, the Volkswagen Golf remains unchanged for 2011.



Compared to other vehicles in its class, the Volkswagen Golf feels positively upscale. With either trim level, four-door models gain power-reclining front seats.



The TDI models can be equipped with adaptive xenon headlights, a premium Dynaudio sound system, and a navigation system and (on four-door models) rear seat airbags.



The base 2011 Volkswagen Golf 2.5L is powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder that produces 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The EPA estimates fuel economy at 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined for the automatic and 22/30/25 mpg for the manual.



Safety

The 2011 VW Golf's standard safety features include antilock disc brakes, stability control, front-seat side airbags and full-length head curtain airbags. Rear-seat side airbags are unavailable on two-door models, but are optional on four-door models.



Interior Design and Special Features

The Golf is actually much nicer than the new 2011 VW Jetta sedan.

Whether you choose the two- or four-door route, the Golf's interior passenger space remains the same. Access to the two-door Golf's rear seats is made relatively painless thanks to front seats that slide easily out of the way. The split-folding rear seats bump that figure up to 46 cubes.



The 2011 Volkswagen Golf's high level of interior refinement is echoed in its composed, solid feel on the road. At highway speeds, the Volkswagen Golf is significantly quieter than other hatchbacks. The Golf's gasoline engine provides smooth power throughout the rev range.



The Volkswagen Golf can't really be called sexy, but there are some classy details baked into its three- and five-door bodies--particularly around the rear door cuts. Stacked up against the dashing new Elentra, the Volkswagen Golf doesn't necessarily look dated, just conservative. The interior's solidly designed and built, more so than VW's own Jetta sedan that shares the Golf's assembly line.



Front passenger space is ample, but the three-door's rear seats might seem a little cramped. The turbocharged Volkswagen GTI is reviewed separately.