While SA Car Fan is attending the South African launch of the new Volkswagen Golf VII, it has been announced internationally that the Golf VII will also receive a 4Motion all-wheel drive model in selected markets.
Just in time for a cold, snowy, record-setting Northern hemisphere winter, the latest Golf 4Motion will employ permanent four-wheel drive courtesy of a latest-generation Haldex coupling system. The new all-wheel drive system is said to be faster reacting than the previous version Volkswagen and around 2 kg lighter too.
The Golf VII 4Motion will come standard with either a 1.6-litre 77 kW or a 2.0-litre 110 kW TDI turbodiesel engine and Volkswagen say the more powerful version is 15 % more efficient than the outgoing all-weather hatchback. Despite the extra driven wheels, the smaller 1.6-litre TDI manages 4.6 L/100 km, while the 2.0-litre TDI sips just 4.7 L/100 km. The 2.0 TDI can still accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in just 8.6 seconds before topping out a speed of 211 km/h.
To help boost traction performance even further, the Golf VII 4Motion variant is equipped with four-wheel EDS (electronic differential locks on both axles), as well as a XDS front and rear axle transverse lock combined with the very safe electronic stabilisation programme. There is also air-conditioning, electric windows, daytime running lights and seven airbags included in the package. The TDIs are also fitted with an engine stop/start system and battery regeneration.
The Golf VII 4Motion will not be coming to balmy South Africa of course, nor will it make an appearance for those residing in the snowier regions of the United Kingdom or United States. Somewhat strangely, Volkswagen has only announced plans, thus far, to sell the Golf 4Motion in mainland Europe, where buyers will have the full choice of Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline trim levels.
The Golf 4Motion will only be available as a five-door and carries a €1 800 premium (around R22 000) over the front-wheel drive model.
Should Volkswagen sell a spacious, practical, 4Motion Golf VII in South Africa, despite us not needing to deal with occasionally snowy weather? It might not be a wholehearted alternative for a compact SUV or CUV, but we think there’s room for the 4Motion Golf, if only as a more affordable alternative to its Quattro stablemate, the Audi A3.