For 13th Time, VW Golf Family Wins Car And Driver ‘10Best’ Award

For the 13th straight year, Volkswagen's Golf Family of vehicles -- e-Golf, Golf, GTI, AllTrack, SportWagen, and Golf R -- has been chosen as one of the 10Best car lines. The line will appear in the January edition of Car and Driver where the editors of the magazine lay out their case for the award.

For the 13th straight time, Volkswagen’s Golf Family of vehicles the e-Golf electric, Golf, Golf Alltrack, GTI, SportWagen, and Golf, has been named to Car and Driver magazine’s “10Best” list.

“We love all Golfs, and how could we not when the basic package is this good?” The editors of the publication ask in the article announcing the winners. “The lineup’s broadening range brings the basic car’s inherent goodness into clear relief. Without its brilliant packaging, chassis integrity, and clarity of purpose none of the variants could do what they do so well.”

VW Is ‘Honored’ By Inclusion In The List

Scott Keogh, president and CEO of the VW Group of America, said that the automaker is “honored that Car and Driver has named the VW Golf models to its 2019 “10Best” list. Earning this award for the 13th consecutive ear validates the consistency of the Golf Family in delivering unmatched quality and performance at a competitive price point.”

Begun in 1978, Car and Driver’s 10Best lists have for more than 40 years honored the publication’s most favored new vehicles. Cars are judged on:

• Value
• Performance
• The ability to satisfy the comprehensive driving needs of the consumer

Nominees for the 10Best list must fall into one of the following categories:

• Must be all-new cars
• 2018 10Best winners
• Cars that were not available for the 2019 competition
• Those models with significant updates

All cars must fall under the base-price cap of $90,000 and be on sale in January 2019.

Available in two trims, SE and SEL Premium, the 2019 e-Golf offers standard DC fast charging on the SE model. This feature enables the battery to be charged to about 80 percent within an hour at a DC fast charging station. The SE trim also offers a Driver Assistance Package that includes Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring (Front Assist), Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert, and Adaptive Cruise Control. The SEL Premium trim now offers a suite of driver-assistance features, including those listed above, plus Lane Keeping System (Lane Assist), Parking Steering Assistance (Park Assist), and High-Beam Control (Light Assist).

The standard Golf is available in two trims, S and SE. For 2019, the major news is that the turbocharged 1.8 liter four has been replaced by the 1.4-liter turbocharged four that puts out 147-horsepower. The 1.4-liter engine uses the same direct-injection system found on all Golfs. The engine, also used on the 2019 Jetta, is paired with either a six-speed manual of an eight-speed automatic transmission for both trim levels. The S trim adds standard Front Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Traffic Alert for model year 2019. SE models offer an available Driver-Assistance package, which includes ACC, Lane Assist, Light Assist, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.

Here’s a look at the rest of the lineup for 2019:

• The 2019 Golf Alltrack – Available in three trims, S, SE, and SEL. S trim adds Front Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert; SE models offer available Driver-Assistance and Appearance packages. The SE trim packages include Lane Assist, Park Assist, Light Assist, LED headlights with the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), auto-dimming rearview mirror, and 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The top-of-line 2019 Golf Alltrack SEL gains a six-speed manual transmission.

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• The 2019 Golf GTI -- Available in the usual three trims, S, SE, and Autobahn, plus a special, limited-edition the Golf GTI Rabbit Edition that pays homage to the GTI heritage (Rabbit was the predecessor to the Golf). The Rabbit Edition slots between the S and SE trims. All models are equipped with standard 228-horsepower engines (premium fuel required). The bigger engine is matched Golf R brakes and the VAQ mechanical differential. S models equipped with the optional Driver Assistance Package featuring Front Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Traffic Alert. It is standard on the rest of the lineup. SE models get new standard equipment including leather seat upholstery, plus a new Experience Package, which offers Fender®, Premium Audi and DCC® chassis control. The Rabbit Edition is new for 2019. It will have a limited production run and features 18-inch gloss black aluminum-alloy wheels, a black rear spoiler, LED headlights with AFS, black mirror caps, Rabbit-badged seat tags, red-stitched floor mats, KESSY® keyless access with pushbutton start, Front Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Traffic Alert.

• The 2019 Golf R -- The 2019 Golf R is available in one trim Golf R with DCC and Navigation. A new special color program is available for model year 2019, offering an array of 40 special custom order-only colors -- many of which are heritage colors from Volkswagen enthusiast models (the existing five colors remain available for series production). In addition, a Black Wheel package is now available, featuring 19-inch gloss-black aluminum-alloy wheels.
• The 2019 Golf SportWagen -- Available in three trims, S, S 4Motion, and SE, the 1.4 turbocharged engine replaces the 1.8 four. The 147-horsepower powertrain is used across most of the Golf lineup. The exception is the S 4Motion which keeps the 1.8 turbocharged 1.4-liter powerplant. The engine is paired with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. The 1.8T mates to one of two six-speed transmissions, a manual, and a six-speed DSG® automatic. The 2019 S and S 4Motion models offer an available Driver-Assistance including Front Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Traffic Alert. SE models add 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, LED headlights with AFS, fog lights, auto-dimming rearview mirror, ACC, Lane Assist, and Light Assist.

The 10Best list for 2019 will appear in January editions of the publication.

Source: Volkswagen