The new Volkswagen Golf Variant can now be had with the brand’s all-wheel-drive 4Motion system in Europe, available for the most powerful versions of the 1.6- and 2.0-liter diesel engines.
The Golf Variant 1.6 TDI 4Motion comes with 105 PS (104 hp) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of peak torque available from 1,500 to 2,750 rpm. With this engine and the 4Motion system, the Golf Variant averages 4.5 liters/100 km (52.2 US mpg), thus being 18 percent more fuel efficient than its predecessor.
VW also offers the 4Motion system for the more powerful 2.0-liter TDI engine that develops 150 PS (148 hp) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque, constantly available between 1,750 and 3,000 rpm. The Golf Variant 2.0 TDI 4Motion averages 4.8 liters/100 km (49 US mpg). Both versions are fitted with a standard six-speed manual transmission.
When equipped with the trailer hitch, the Golf Variant 2.0 TDI 4Motion has a towing capacity of up to 2,000 kg (4,409 lbs) at an 8 and 12 percent slope. The smaller engine version can pull up to 1,900 kg (4,189 lbs) at an 8 percent slope and 1,700 kg (3,748 lbs) at a 12 percent slope.
The permanent all-wheel drive system is the latest 4Motion version with an advanced fifth-generation Haldex clutch. The system works without an accumulator and VW says it reacts “extremely quickly to all kinds of driving conditions.”
The Golf Variant 1.6 TDI 4Motion starts from €24,400 ($32,360) in Germany for the Trendline trim level, while the 2.0 TDI 4Motion Comfortline is priced from €29,075 ($38,560).
By Dan Mihalascu
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