2010 Volkswagen Golf First Impressions
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2010 Volkswagen Golf First Impressions by Luc Gagné / Auto123.com |
Mont-Tremblant, Quebec — Driving the all-new Volkswagen Golf is like welcoming back an old friend. There’s a mix of familiar and unfamiliar, sweet and sour that captures the imagination and turns a trivial meeting into a memorable discovery. Journalists got a taste of the car during a media launch held by Volkswagen Canada in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec.
This famous compact hatchback (whether bearing the name Golf or Rabbit) has been part of our automotive landscape for nearly 35 years. Much like the original Beetle or Toyota’s Corolla, it’s now a benchmark in personal transportation for many drivers around the world. In fact, over 26 million units have found takers since the model’s inception. While the 2010 VW Golf boasts fresh new lines, it retains the core values and attributes that have made it so popular thus far, namely a versatile, ergonomic interior and pleasant driving dynamics. The next-generation Golf also offers two options that you won’t find in such rivals as the Mazda3 Sport, Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback, Toyota Matrix and Dodge Caliber: a genuine wagon variant and a diesel engine. Interesting tweaks and twists The new face of the Golf sports redesigned headlight clusters as well as subtle chrome accents on some models. The body sides are now marked by a strong character line that stretches from the front fenders all the way to the taillights. The car also features "inverted" door handles like the ones found on the Passat CC. Plus, according to my colleague Mathieu St-Pierre, the wider taillights make this Golf look like a baby Touareg from the back! Despite the new attire, little has changed from the Golf V (a.k.a. Rabbit in North America) in terms of architecture. The wheelbase is identical and most other dimensions are only marginally larger. That’s great news because the previous generation excelled on the road thanks to a taut, solid chassis. Five different models make up the portfolio, including the 3-door Golf Trendline and Sportline and the 5-door Golf Trendline, Comfortline and Highline.
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