2013 Volkswagen Golf Variant Debuts In Geneva

Canadian drivers will soon be able to enjoy a fresh update on a popular family option from Volkswagen.  The Germany automaker has unveiled the next-generation edition of the Volkswagen Golf Variant, which when imported to Canada is redubbed the Golf Wagon (Jetta SportWagen in the United States).

The new Volkswagen Golf Variant is slated to go on sale in Europe a few months after its showing in Geneva, with initial deliveries to begin this summer.  The wagon is roughly 100 kg lighter than the model that precedes it, and in Euro-spec it features a choice between two turbocharged diesel engines.  The most powerful of the pair is rated at 150 horsepower.  An all-wheel drive version of the Golf Variant will also be available.

It seems likely that a new Golf Wagon will provide only a single diesel engine in Canadian trim, with a small, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder gas motor serving as its entry-level drivetrain.  All-wheel drive might be a harder sell for VW executives, although the harsh winter climate that influences the take rate of this particular feature could tip the scales in favor of the first all-wheel drive entry-level car from Volkswagen in decades.