2014 Volkswagen Golf Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The 2014 Volkswagen Golf offers one of the nicest cabins for its price. It has some great engine choices, and there are adequate tech choices available, although not as standards. Passengers should find the interior comfortable. The high quality materials should stand the test of time. The Golf Clean Diesel is perhaps the best deal since it offers more standards as well as its advanced engine and stellar highway fuel economy.

Reasons to Buy a 2014 Volkswagen Golf

1. Clean Diesel
The 2014 Volkswagen Golf TDI is a clean diesel that produces 93 percent fewer emissions than other diesels. It even gets 30 percent better fuel economy than its gas rivals. Diesel is still considered a hardier engine that may last much longer than its gas-powered counterparts.

2. Cabin Size
The 2014 Volkswagen Golf offers an adult-sized second row. In fact, consumers will find it is much bigger than the little hatchbacks that are commonly offered by other automakers. In many ways, the 2014 Volkswagen Golf feels like a sedan without looking like one.

3. Cargo Hold.
Believe it or not, there are giant SUVs with similar cargo space to the 2014 Volkswagen Golf. It offers 15.2 cubic feet, which is plenty for luggage. If you need more, the split rear seat can fold down, adding 25 more cubic feet. The tailgate lifts high, making it easier to load and unload.

4. Cabin Quality
The quality of its interior is much better than most rivals within its price range. The low-gloss, minimalist design lets the high quality materials do the talking. If you can afford the extra expense, leather seats will look right at home in this advanced design atmosphere.

5. Seats
We spend hours, sometimes entire days, in our cars. That’s why the Golf’s seats are such a positive. They support. They adjust. They offer comfort even on long rides. The GTI seats are even better. They fit snugly, offering support even when the GTI is driving full tilt. The steering wheel is both tilt and telescopic, letting the driver find a truly comfortable angle. The GTI steering wheel is ergonomically designed for a less stressful grip.

6. Automatic Transmission
Many hatchbacks come with a manual transmission, making you pay extra for an automatic. The 2014 Volkswagen Golf has done away with this practice, giving you an automatic transmission with manual-shift capabilities. So you still get the fun of a manual while enjoying the practical, fuel-saving nature of the automatic. The Diesel does offer an optional manual transmission for those who crave that kind of control. The car’s direct steering offers a firm feel that helps drivers remain in control at different speeds even when turning or taking a curve.

7. Highway Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is 33 mpg/highway in the regular gas model and an amazing 42 mpg/highway in the diesel model. Even the 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTI gets 31 mpg/highway.

8. Intelligent Crash Response
The 2014 Volkswagen Golf will turn on the lights, roll down the windows and flash the hazards if there is an accident. That’s a great safety feature not found on many other cars. The Golf earned good crash survival ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The exterior has design elements that are optimized to handle crash impact, keeping violent force out of the cabin.

9. Stereo
While you won’t get everything you want (see Top Things Not To Like), you will get one of the best basic stereos found in a car at this price. It’s an excellent 8-speaker CD sound system that gives you an auxiliary jack for your music player.

10. Handling
The 170-horsepower base engine accelerates well and handles even better. On the highway, it sprints with relative ease, ensuring that you will feel competitive in busy traffic. The GTI is the real performer with its special suspension and 200-horsepower engine. The TDI diesel uses its excessive torque wisely, even delivering it at low speeds to permit quicker pull-aways and faster 0-60 sprints.

Items You May Not To Like

1. City Fuel Economy
While the highway fuel economy is outstanding, the city fuel economy is no better than any other car. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Golf’s 23 mpg/city is the norm for most cars. There are many choices, even bigger ones, that are managing better city gas mileage.

2. Base Tech
For the price, many consumers will hope to get Bluetooth and a dashscreen. You’ll have to spring for a higher trim level to get that. The Convenience and Sunroof package adds a Premium touchscreen. This also adds an MIDI complete with iPod cable.

3. Lag Time
Driving the Golf may take a few weeks of practice. The brakes don’t always inspire confidence because they feel quite different than most other cars. Then there’s the DSG automatic transmission. There’s a lag there, too, between pressing the gas pedal and getting the expected response.

If you are looking for a good car, the 2014 Volkswagen Golf is definitely high on the list. You may be tempted to spring for the diesel to get more standards, or you may want to plan on paying more for options on the base model. For those who love to drive, the real choice is the high-performance GTI model. Unfortunately, the GTI is not budget-priced like the base edition.