Driving Down the Road with Carey Russ: 1996 Volkswagen Golf GL
05/20/96
SYNDICATED AUTOMOTIVE NEWS SERVICES
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS
WEEK 20 (c) 1996
1996 Volkswagen Golf GL
Volkswagen was one of the first foreign car manufacturers to
establish a presence in this country in the 1950s. And what a presence
it was. VW's first import was a uniquely-shaped little sedan with an
air-cooled engine behind the rear axle. Because of its shape, it was
nicknamed "the Beetle". To put it mildly, it became a major success
story, even a cultural phenomenon. There are plenty of "Beetle"
aficionados even today, over twenty years after the last one was
imported. It was a tough act to follow, but the Beetle could not go on
forever.
When it became obvious that the Beetle couldn't meet
increasingly stringent air pollution standards in the early 1970s, a
replacement was developed. In marked contrast to the Beetle, it was
a boxy front-engined, front-wheel drive, liquid-cooled sedan with a
design that was very much in the mainstream of automotive thinking.
Available in two- and four-door hatchback body styles, this car
pointed to the future for Volkswagen. It was called "Golf"
everywhere except in the North American market, where it was
known as the Rabbit until the introduction of the second generation
in the late 1980s.
The third-generation Golf was introduced a couple of years
ago. The basic model sold in this country is the GL, a four-door
hatchback with a 115-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. It
differentiates itself well in the fiercely competitive subcompact
market. A week spent behind the wheel showed the 1996 Volkswagen
Golf GL to provide a unique combination of accessible space, an
enjoyable driving experience, and European-style comfort.
APPEARANCE: It can be difficult to make a two-box hatchback
look unique, but Volkswagen's stylists have succeeded. The newest
VW Golf combines hatchback functionality with unique style. It
strikes a balance between the functional, sharp-edged character of
the original Rabbit and the contemporary round, "aero" style. The
edges are gently rounded, and the windshield is steeply raked. The
rear hatch is moderately slanted, and has a small aerodynamic lip at
the top. The VW logo is prominently displayed in the center of the
grille. Bumpers and a side rub strip are body-colored, and window
gaskets are anti-glare black.
COMFORT: A four-door hatchback design like the Golf GL offers
great interior accessibility and cargo-carrying flexibility. Rear seat
passengers have easy access, and the rear seat can be folded down
when extra cargo needs to be carried. Cargo access is easy through
the hatch, and the luggage area has a removable cover. The remote
hatch release is securely hidden in the console storage compartment.
Continuing a tradition dating back to the Beetle, headroom in
the Golf is very good. The seats are firm and comfortable, with cloth
upholstery. Both front seats recline, and the driver's is adjustable for
height. Instrumentation is complete and legible. There are useful
storage spaces in the doors and central console. Optional equipment
on my test car included a tilt-and-slide sunroof, a good air
conditioner, and a premium 8-speaker AM/FM/cassette stereo
system.
SAFETY: The VW Golf GL has safety cage construction with
crumple zones, dual front air bags, side-impact protection, adjustable-
height front seat belts, and daytime running lights as standard
equipment. Antilock brakes are available.
ROADABILITY: On the road, the Golf GL is a very pleasant small
car. Its German heritage is quite apparent. It can cruise comfortably
and economically at American highway speeds or higher. Since
Volkswagen sells the car throughout the world, the soft, long-travel
suspension is designed to give good ride and handling qualities on
poorly-surfaced roads as well as on superhighways. The ride is closer
to that of a luxury car than that of an economy car. There is plenty
of body roll during hard cornering, but the car sticks and is well-
behaved. It is relatively quiet inside.
PERFORMANCE: The Volkswagen Golf GL is powered by a 2.0-
liter, 115-horsepower overhead cam 4-cylinder engine. Like many
sporting European powerplants, it likes to run at high engine speeds.
It gives good performance around town and on the highway, and
shines when the road starts to twist and turn. The standard 5-speed
manual gearbox has smooth shift action and helps make the Golf GL
an enjoyable small sedan.
CONCLUSIONS: The Volkswagen Golf GL is well-appointed, roomy
small car with a surprising amount of comfort.
SPECIFICATIONS
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Base Price $ 13,150
Price As Tested $ 16,435
Engine Type SOHC 8-valve inline 4-cylinder
Engine Size 2 liters / 121 cu. in.
Horsepower 115 @ 5400
Torque (lb-ft) 122 @ 3200
Transmission 5-speed manual
Wheelbase / Length 97.4 in. / 160.4 in.
Curb Weight 2529 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 22
Fuel Capacity 14.5 gal.
Fuel Requirement unleaded regular
Tires 185/60R14
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / drum
Suspension, front/rear Independent MacPherson strut /
torsion beam with coil springs
Drivetrain front engine / front-wheel drive
PERFORMANCE
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EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 23/30/26
0 to 60 mph 9.8 sec
1/4 mile (E.T.) 16.7 sec
Coefficient of Drag (cd) 0.32
Carey Russ -- The Auto Channel