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AUTO REVIEW
pin everything from the small and not sold tions that we used to not have and now can’t MANUAL GEARBOX
here VW Polo to the Audi Q3 CUV, the new live without, like automatic climate control, For 2015, the only other (non-GTI/R/hy-
Golf looks a lot like the old one. Yes, the satellite radio, Bluetooth audio, navigation,
2015 Golf has more modern head- and tail- and smartphone connectivity. brid) engine option for the Golf is the 1.8-
light assemblies that are very well done and liter turbo four-cylinder gas-powered TSI.
almost Audi-esque, and the familiar shape in- With each new Golf, the car gets a little The vast majority of buyers will select the six-
cludes more angles and creases than before, bit bigger, which is good for interior space speed automatic transmission, but Volkswa-
but I’d be surprised if any casual observer and crash worthiness, but not good for gen thankfully hasn’t killed the manual
could confidently tell the sixth and seventh weight, so VW engineers are to be com- gearbox yet. Get it while you can.
generation Golfs apart. mended for keeping the Golf down to
around 3,000 pounds. Credit the increased As a car designed to appeal to a wide array
Inside, on the other hand, the new Golf is utilization of lightweight materials such as of income levels, the Golf has an almost in-
significantly more up to date. The Golf has aluminum and titanium. finite number of options and packages.
always had a nice interior, but the new one BCMS Auto Program director Phil Horn-
has even better materials and a state-of-the- While the media and your usual assort- beak will happily help you decide how to
art user interface for all of the various func- ment of experts have been focusing on hy- equip your Golf to make it best fit your own
brid technology and electric cars, automotive personal reality.
engineers have been busy making the inter-
nal combustion engine better with ever-im- The seventh generation Golf is the best
proving fuel efficiency and emissions. The one yet and is worthy of all the accolades it
latest TDI engine — TDI stands for turbo has received. It won’t get you noticed by
direct injection, by the way — like the one valets or even your neighbors, but the Golf
in my test car is a revelation. Quiet with very is a pleasure to experience. Its essential good-
little diesel rattle, fuel efficient like a hybrid, ness plus the increased variations now com-
surprisingly quick thanks to all that diesel ing to the United States will certainly
torque, and very green, the Golf TDI is a increase its popularity here. How much is yet
treat to drive in all situations. It’s most com- to be seen, but I’d like to see more out there,
fortable cruising on the interstate (using low especially TDIs.
revs and very little fuel), but the Golf TDI
does fine running errands in town or zipping Steve Schutz, MD, is a
around your favorite back roads. board-certified gastroenterol-
ogist who lived in San Anto-
For the record, the TDI engine is 2.0 liters nio in the 1990s when he was
in size and uses twin turbochargers to pro- stationed here in the U.S. Air
duce 150 HP and 236 lb-ft of torque. The Force. He has been writing auto reviews for San
Golf TDI is rated at 31 mpg city and 43 Antonio Medicine since 1995.
highway. As always, while hybrids generally
get worse fuel economy than the EPA cycle For more information on the BCMS
would have you believe, diesels usually beat Auto Program, call Phil Hornbeak at 301-
their EPA numbers. 4367 or visit www.bcms.org.
visit us at www.bcms.org 45
