► The Golf hatchback’s practical sibling
► 611-litre boot plus extra rear legroom
► Alltrack model adds four-wheel drive
The new Golf Estate is unlikely to inspire the flames of desire within many, but it’s set to be the most pragmatic option within the Golf range – offering the same high-tech dash and solid driving experience as its hatchback sibling, but with a vast and practical load area.
The Golf Estate will be available with the same engines and tech as the hatchback, and there’s also an Alltrack – a jacked-up model with some extra plastic cladding and 4Motion four-wheel drive.
VW Golf Hatch review
Looks a lot like a Golf…
The front half of the estate is, as you might expect, nearly identical to the Golf hatchback. From the B-pillars back, though, there’s a higher roofline that slopes down to a less steeply-raked rear window than its rather boxy predecessor (Volkswagen calls it ‘coupe-like’).
A pronounced shoulder line runs right the way back to the tailgate, with the rear being fairly similar to the hatch – though the number plate has moved up to the tailgate rather than the rear bumper.
The Estate is longer than the Golf Hatch, with a longer wheelbase, but height and width are identical. It measures 4,633mm long with a 2,686mm wheelbase – 349mm and 67mm longer than the hatchback.
Should be more room inside, right?
Absolutely – the new Golf claims 611 litres of boot space with all five seats in place, which is more than the 575 litres a Ford Focus Estate can offer, though it’s still not quite up to the Skoda Octavia’s cavernous 640-litre space.
Fold the rear seats and there’s a maximum 1,642 litres on offer, with plenty of lighting, bag hooks and tie-down rings to keep loads well secured. The boot can also be specified with a 12V socket or even a three-pin 230V socket for keeping a cool box or other appliance going while you drive.
Rear passengers benefit, too – the longer wheelbase means an additional 38mm of rear legroom.
Does it have the same engines and tech as the hatch?
It does – so there’s a range of petrol engines with mild-hybrid 48V tech to save fuel, a range of diesels with two stages of exhaust-reducing AdBlue injections, with the option of six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG ‘boxes.
Trim levels will run Life, Style, R-Line and Alltrack, with all models including a digital dashboard, 8.25-inch infotainment display, climate control, keyless start, LED lights all round and a variety of safety kit.
What does the Alltrack come with?
Alltrack models gain 4Motion all-wheel drive, increased ground clearance and a specific off-road look. There’s the typical black plastic cladding along the bottom of the car and around the wheelarches, plus a chrome bar in the front bumper surrounding the chequered-flag daytime running lights.
VW claims it’s the perfect towing vehicle with a limit of 2,000kg on an up to 12 per cent gradient. Expect a modicum of off-road ability to add to the rest of the Golf’s skills.
Pricing
VW has revealed pricing details of the new Golf Estate. The range will start £24,575 for the entry-level 1.0-lture TSI six-speed manual but as you’d expect, that price increases with more technology and power.
The entry-level Life spec begins with LED headlamps, 16-inch alloys, a 10.25-inch TFT dash and a 10-inch touch screen among other bits – but the Style trim (which kicks off at £26,765) adds even more. 17-inch Belmont wheels, LED Plus headlights and front sport seats are just a few of the features included.
Finally, the top spec R-Line estate features all the above along with 17-inch alloys, a heated steering wheel, progressive steering and more. The R-Line kicks off at £31,135.
A range of engines will be offered, with the Life spec getting three petrol engines (1.0 and two 1.5-litre) mated to a six-speed manual or seven-speed auto – as well as a 2.0-litre diesel with a six-speed box.
The Style trim loses the 1.0-litre engines but gains a 2.0-litre diesel with option of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed auto. Finally, the R-line sticks with a the highest powered, 2.0-litre petrol and diesel units.
The more robust Alltrack sits at the very top of the range. Prices for the more off-road focused Golf start at £35,560. For the extra cash, Alltrack buyers get 4Motion all-wheel drive, honeycomb fog – lights- like the GT models – and extra tech such as Travel Assist, Emergency Assist, Side Assist and Lange Changing assistance.