I had a very brief drive in this car yesterday.
Initial impressions:
• It’s different to drive than my Golf (pictured behind it in this photo), even though it’s only a few inches longer. I’m not yet sure what chassis is being used. I presume it’s the same Golf Mk6 chassis and the difference in handling is mostly due to the softer suspension setup.
• The interior feels more dated than the TSI/GTI/R. Most notably, the nicely sloped door handles with integrated window controls are gone. Instead, VW have chosen flat armrests that look like they came from a previous generation.
• I love what they’ve done with the sunroof. It covers most of the roof (stretching from the front all the way to just behind the rear passenger seat) and is also very wide, giving you a targa-top feel. You can also open the glass top and leave the fabric sun shield above you, giving a nice breezy feel without the sun beating down on you. I’m a big fan.
• I am still not a fan of the DSG. I find it far more difficult to modulate the throttle when the car keeps choosing a gear for me, and the Golf Wagon doesn’t have flappy paddles, so I can’t easily switch it into manual mode and force it to hold the gear of my choice. Also, the manual up/down positions on the gear lever are backwards (like a Porsche). You push forwards to go up a gear, which is wrong, dammit. It is easier to pull BACKWARDS when you are accelerating hard, because that’s the same direction the g-forces are pulling your arm anyway. I don’t understand why manufacturers can’t see this.
If I get more time in the car, I’ll update this post.
