2012 Volkswagen Golf Price, Review, Specs, what car reviews, Beyond adjustments to its trim and options structure, the 2012 Volkswagen Golf is unchanged. Notably, however, one of those adjustments is the deletion of optional rear side airbags.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2012 Volkswagen Golf is a five-passenger hatchback available in two- and four-door body styles. Each is broken into 2.5L and TDI trim levels, which correspond to engine choice. The high-performance GTI is discussed in a separate review.
Standard equipment on the base 2.5L Golf includes 15-inch steel wheels, foglights, full power accessories, keyless entry, heated mirrors, cruise control, air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, front seat adjustable lumbar, cloth upholstery, a compass, a trip computer and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack. The Convenience package adds heated front seats, a front center armrest and Bluetooth. The Convenience & Sunroof package adds those aforementioned items plus a sunroof, a six-CD changer, satellite radio, an iPod/USB audio interface and a touchscreen audio interface.
The Golf TDI includes all of the above equipment as standard, minus the sunroof. Also included are 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a lower ride height, heated windshield washer nozzles, floor mats and a multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Sunroof & Navigation package adds the sunroof and a navigation system, but subtracts the compass and auxiliary audio jack. The Tech package includes the Sunroof & Navigation items, plus bi-xenon headlights and a premium Dynaudio sound system.
Powertrains and Performance
The 2012 Volkswagen Golf 2.5L is powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder (hence the trim name) that produces 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. These Golf models are classified as partial-zero-emissions vehicles (PZEV) when sold in states with California emissions standards. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and a six-speed automatic is optional. With the automatic, the Golf 2.5L achieves an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined. Sticking with the manual improves that to 23/31/26. But either way, that’s worse fuel economy than the Golf’s primary (though admittedly less powerful) competitors.
To get similar to better fuel economy than those competitors, we recommend the Golf TDI. It has a 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder that puts out a modest 140 hp, but a robust 236 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual is standard and a six-speed automated manual (DSG) is optional
Safety
Every 2012 Volkswagen Golf comes standard with traction and stability control, antilock disc brakes, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, a Golf TDI came to a stop from 60 mph in 121 feet — a good distance for this segment.
In crash testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Golf received the highest score of “Good” in the frontal-offset, side and roof strength tests.
Interior Design and Special Features
Simply replacing the VW logo on the Golf’s steering wheel with four rings just might be enough to convince you that you’re in an Audi. That’s how nice the Golf’s interior is. Among other compact hatchbacks, the Volkswagen’s blend of top-shelf materials, refined design and quality workmanship place it above all others. The Golf’s cabin is actually much nicer than that of the recently redesigned VW Jetta sedan.
Whether you choose the two- or four-door, the Golf’s passenger space remains the same. For those who plan on shuttling multiple passengers, the four-door is the obvious choice, offering a surprisingly large backseat that’s notably more spacious than that of a Mazda 3. Access to the two-door Golf’s rear seats is made relatively painless thanks to front seats that slide easily out of the way. Behind the rear seats, the cargo area can hold up to 12.4 cubic feet of stuff — double the capacity of a Mini Cooper, but about average for other hatchbacks. Dropping the split-folding rear seats bumps that figure up to 46 cubes.
Driving Impressions
The 2012 Volkswagen Golf’s high level of interior refinement is echoed in its composed, solid feel on the road. At highway speeds, the Golf is significantly quieter than other hatchbacks. Alternately, you can take it out on a curvy road and the well-weighted steering will inspire confidence.
The Golf’s gasoline engine provides strong power throughout the rev range, but it sounds unrefined and we’re betting most buyers would sacrifice some of that muscle for better fuel economy. Opting for the turbodiesel will get you that higher fuel economy along with an abundance of low-end torque. The downsides are the extra noise and a higher price, but in general, the Golf TDI is the more appealing model.
2012 Volkswagen Golf Price :
MSRP range: $17,995 – $36,090
Invoice price range: $17,275 – $34,647
2012 Volkswagen Golf Specs :
Drivetrain : Front Wheel Drive
Curb Weight (lbs) : 2967
City (MPG) : 22
Hwy (MPG) : 33
Horsepower : 170@5700
Torque (lb-ft) : 177@4250
Wheelbase : 101.5
Length (in.) : 165.4
Width (in.) : 70.3
Height (in.) : 58.2