2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI: M-Q-B Spells Success For New Hatch

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI has enjoyed an unusual number of accolades over the past several months, with publications as diverse as the buff books and green-focused websites proclaiming it one of, if not the best car of the year.  Fully redesigned for 2015, the Volkswagen Golf hasn't strayed dramatically from the compact hatchback template that has long made it a favourite amongst entry-level Canadian car shoppers.  What VW has done, however, is refine the Golf to a degree that addresses many of the complaints even loyal fans had about the previous generation.

Has this iterative approach lead to automotive perfection as so many would claim?  Not quite - but the 2015 Golf is still a strong, and practical, contender in the daily driver sweepstakes.

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M-Q-B

Those three letters are going to figure heavily in Volkswagen's future, as they represent the name of the automaker's do-everything small vehicle platform that will eventually sit underneath as many as 40 models built by both VW and Audi.  What does the introduction of the MQB platform mean for the 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI?  For starters, there's 53 mm of extra wheelbase compared to the outgoing hatchback, and the car is almost 13 mm wider.  Not only does this improve the stability of the hatchback in daily driving, but it also informs the interior: shoulder and elbow room have grown at all four seating positions inside the car, and total cargo space checks in at 1,492 litres with the rear row folded (a 15 percent increase compared to 2014)

Lighter On Its Feet

Despite its larger size, the 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI receives the gift of lightness from its MQB underpinnings, with VW claiming that on average, a given Golf trim level is 55 kilos more svelte than it was the year before.  This reduced mass is paired with the second major improvement made to the entry-level Golf TSI: a brand-new turbocharged four-cylinder engine to replace the unpleasantly noisy five-cylinder that was previously standard with the hatchback.

The 1.8-litre unit now offered free of charge with every Golf TSI is a revelation.  While it matches the 170 horsepower output of the deep-sixed five-cylinder, it boosts torque from a measly 177 lb-ft to a well-rounded 200 lb-ft, numbers that are accessible as early as 1,600 rpm in the rev range.  This creates a driving experience that is a marked departure from what one had come to expect from the buzzy, slow-to-excite five-banger, with acceleration now relatively lively even when the vehicle is equipped with its optional six-speed automatic transmission.  Fuel efficiency is also better for 2015 with the introduction of the more robust turbo engine.

A couple of disappointments lurk amongst the good news surrounding the fresh 1.8-litre four-cylinder motor.  The first is the lack of a six-speed manual transmission, as the Golf TSI is limited to an outdated five-speed box as standard equipment.  The second is the drivetrain's roughness when paired with the automatic tranny.  I experienced frequent shaking through the shifter and the gas/brake pedals when the Golf TSI was idling, something that was also true of an earlier build edition of the car I drove this past spring.  It's a characteristic that is out of sync with the rest of the Volkswagen's smooth and comfortable chassis tuning and handling.

A Little Bit Sweeter Inside

Volkswagen has built up somewhat of a mythology surrounding the quality of its small car cabins, and the 2015 VW Golf TSI aims to extend the legend as far as it can on its budget-friendly window sticker.  The top-tier Highline edition of the Golf TSI that I drove came with heated leatherette seats, nicely-appointed trim throughout the interior, and a mix of plastics that kept harder-touch materials away from my hands as much as possible.

The centre stack sees a much-improved navigation and touchscreen audio interface that is far quicker to respond to inputs than the units installed in older Golf models, and in general, the car felt a little more high end than rivals like the Mazda Mazda3 or the Chevrolet Sonic.  I could do without the Fender-branded audio system, however - save your money, as you won't notice much of an aural improvement with this more costly deck installed.

I know I mentioned the improved cargo capacity earlier, but it's worth underscoring again just how practical a car like the Golf TSI really is.  Regardless of whether it's ordered in two-door or four-door form, the ability to take advantage of all of that interior volume sets the hatchback apart from sedans like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.

Premium Pricing

Although there are a few rough edges to deal with in the transmission department, there's no doubt in my mind that the 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI is a worthwhile improvement over the 2014 edition of the car.  You'll have to decide for yourself whether it's worth paying a premium for the Golf TSI as compared to its Japanese and Korean alternatives, however.

With a starting MSRP of $19,995 for the four-door model (two-doors are $1k cheaper) and a whopping $28,495 to get behind the wheel of the Golf TSI Highline, at the low end you're going to be shelling out more than you would for a Mazda Mazda3 or Hyundai Elantra GT, and you'll be roughly on par with a similarly equipped Kia Forte5.  It's not an open-and-shut case, so make sure you include at least one or two of these usual suspects on your test drive list before making your final compact hatchback decision.