2008 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon
VW’s GTI and its budget-minded stall mate, the Rabbit (sold as the Golf in Europe), have been on a tear lately on Car and Driver’s pages, snatching up comparo crowns like Homer Simpson at a candy convention and plopping down in one of our 10Best spots at that shebang’s 2007 go-round.
We like the great combination of hatchback practicality and responsible small-displacement fuel economy, plus the fun-centric driving experience that the Rabbit and GTI offer. Although the five-door version of both cars debuted just last year, there are always those who want more. For people with bigger dogs, bigger kids, and pricier trips to the grocery store than the five-doors can handle, VW’s only offerings have been the Passat wagon or the Touareg, both significant steps up in size and price.
In Geneva, VW is introducing the Golf Variant. Although more accepting of the vehicles, Europeans appear to be as afraid of the “station wagon” moniker as Americans are. But that’s what this is, and it’s not all bad. Stretched 14 inches beyond the five-door Golf, the Variant adds nine more cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat for a total of 24. Fold the rear seats, and there’s a full 54 cubic feet of nothing but air just waiting to be stuffed with dorm-room debris, Home Depot scores, and slobbering Mastiffs.
The Golf Variant will go on sale in Europe this summer with a choice of gas or diesel four-cylinders between 100 and 138 horsepower (they don’t get the Mexican-built 150-hp, 2.5-liter inline-five that’s standard in our Rabbits and Jettas). This is one of the few Geneva production debuts with a chance of migrating to the U.S. We expect this car to be introduced as the next Jetta wagon at the New York auto show in April.
Audi R8
