The Volkswagen Golf->ke164 is an iconic shape from Germany that began with the original Rabbit. This vehicle started the hot hatch craze and provided the tuner car market with a boost. Just like its high performance cousin - distant cousin - the 911, the practical Volkswagen continues to become larger, heavier, and more sophisticated. The previous generation MkVI Golf arrived in the U.S. as a 2010 model, but the sleeker five door hatchback ended up being short lived.

The new Golf VII will be longer and wider than the previous model, while its exterior design will be more aggressive and sporty. It was set up to offer more interior room for passengers, new production techniques that make it 220 lbs lighter, and technology that makes it 23% more fuel efficient. The new Golf is also safer than ever thanks to its stronger body structure and impressive list of passive and active safety systems.

The new Golf is built on the MQB platform, or Modular Transverse Matrix, which makes it about 56 mm longer than its predecessor. At launch, the model will be offered with a choice of four engines: two petrol - a 85 HP 1.2-litre TSI and a 140 HP 1.4-litre TSI - and two diesel - a 105 HP 1.6-litre unit and a 150 HP 2.0-litre unit.

In Germany, the seventh generation Golf has been priced at 16,975 Euros (about $21,400 at the current exchange rates). It will be offered in Trendline, Comfortline and Highline trim levels, which can all be viewed and modified on the Volkswagen Golf’s online configurator. Golf lovers on our side of the pond will have to wait because, if the German automotive conglomerate continues to do business as usual, we won’t see the new Golf until the European market has had their fun. This means that the new Golf may not arrive in the U.S. until as late as 2014, giving the new 2010 Golf VI a few years to shine in the spotlight of Volkswagen of America’s sales sheets.

UPDATE 10/10/2012: The new generation Golf has already received a number of updates, but now Volkswagen has announced the addition of three new engines: a 1.2-liter TSI BlueMotion with 105 HP, 1.4-liter TSI BlueMotion with 120 HP, and a 1.4 liter TSi BlueMotion with 138 HP. The previous 1.6 liter and 2.0 liter TDI units can now be combined with the 4Motion all-wheel drive system. The last addition is a new Tech Pack that includes active cruise control, bi-xenon headlights, dynamic main beam control, traffic sign detection, and an anti-theft warning system.

Hit the jump to read more about the new generation Volkswagen Golf.

volkswagen-golf-mk-vii

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: volkswagen-golf-mk-vii
Pros
Cons

2013 Volkswagen Golf Mk VII

Specifications
  • Horsepower: 140
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior and Interior

The new generation Golf measures 4,255 mm long, while the wheelbase comes in at 2,637 mm, 56 mm and 59 mm longer than its predecessor, respectively. The Golf is also 13 mm wider, at 1,799 mm, and 28 mm lower, at 1,452 mm. The front wheels are 43 mm further forward, helping to generate more interior space. Despite these increased dimensions, the car's overall design has remained unchanged and has been described as a normal evolution of the company's design DNA.

The interior has also expanded a bit with rear passengers now enjoying 15 mm more in leg room and a larger (by about 30 liters) boot.

The center console is now angled more towards the driver, giving them easier, more ergonomic, and direct access to auxiliary controls, including the new generation of touchscreen infotainment systems that is available on the Golf. Customers will enjoy a 5.8-inch color display system, as well as the range-topping satellite navigation system with eight-inch color display.

Safety systems:

-Multi-collision brake system

-PreCrash system

-Adaptive Cruise Control

-Front Assist

-City Emergency Braking

-Driver Alert System

-Lane Assist system

-Dynamic Light Assist system

Engine

At launch, the new Golf will be offered with a choice of four engines: a 85 HP 1.2-liter TSI, a 140 HP 1.4-liter TSI, a 105 HP 1.6-liter diesel unit, and a 150 HP 2.0-liter diesel unit. The 1.4 Liter TSI engine is offered with Active Cylinder Technology, which can deactivate two of the cylinders and gets the fuel economy up to 58.9 mpg.

These engines are then combined with a DSG gearbox that now offers five driving modes: Eco, Sport, Normal, Individual, the new Comfort mode.

Prices

The new generation Golf will go on sale in October. Prices will be announced at a later date.

Competition

Compact hatchbacks are a dime a dozen, so the list of competitors for the new Volkswagen Golf is long. We're choosing to focus only on the models that are relevant in the US market. On this side of the world, customers will be able to compare the Golf to the Subaru Impreza and the Dodge Caliber. The Impreza is offered with a 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed four-cylinder producing 148 HP and 146 lb-ft of torque. The Caliber is powered by a choice of two engines, a 158 HP 2.0-liter engine or a 172 HP 2.4 liter DOHC I-4 World Gas Engine.