Review: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon (2017-20)

Overview

The Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon was released in Australia in July 2017. Manufactured in Mosel, Germany, the front-wheel drive Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon was available with 1.4-litre turbo petrol (‘110TSI’) and 2.0-litre turbo diesel (‘110TDI’) engines. To reduce fuel consumption, both engines had Stop/Start systems which enabled them to shut down when the vehicle was stationary in traffic. Furthermore, the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon was available in Trendline, Comfortline and Highline editions (see table below).

In October 2018, the Mk7.5 Golf Wagon range was revised as the 110TDI variants were withdrawn from the Australian market due to production constraints.

Comparison with Mk.7 Golf Wagon

Compared to the Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf Wagon , the Mk7.5 Golf Wagon could be identified by its re-profiled bumpers, LED running lights, full LED tail-lights and alloy wheels designs. Whereas standard models were fitted with new halogen headlights, models previously fitted with xenon headlights upgraded to LED headlights. Inside, the Mk7.5 Golf Wagon featured larger infotainment screens; the standard ‘Composition’ media system had an eight-inch display.

Body and dimensions

Like the Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf Wagon , the Mk7.5 Golf Wagon was underpinned by Volkswagen’s MQB (Modularer Querbaukasten) platform. As such, the Mk7.5 Golf Wagon was 4567 mm long, 1799 mm wide, 1461 mm tall and had a 2635 mm long wheelbase. Luggage capacity was 605 litres with the rear seats in position, though this increased to 1620 litres when the rear seats were folded down and luggage was filled to the roofline.

Suspension and steering

The Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon had MacPherson strut front suspension with lower A-arms and independent, four-link rear suspension; both the front and rear suspension had coil springs and an anti-roll bar.

The Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon had rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assistance; its turning circle was 10.9 metres.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon included dual front airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

As standard, the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon is fitted with the following active safety technologies –

• Front Assist with Pedestrian Monitoring: used a radar sensor located behind the VW badge in the radiator grille to detect if the Golf was closing too quickly on the vehicle ahead. If this occurred, Front Assist 1) provided audible and visual warnings to the driver; 2) brought the brake pads into contact with the brake discs and increased braking assistance to prepare for an emergency stop; and, 3) briefly applied the brakes (a ‘jolt’) to alert the driver. If the driver failed to respond, Front Assist would apply the brakes automatically to avoid or reduce the severity a collision;
• City Emergency Brake: an extension of Front Assist, City Emergency Braking operated at speeds up to 30 km/h and used a radar sensor and front camera to monitor the area ahead for vehicles and pedestrians. If a collision was anticipated, City Emergency Braking pre-charged the braking system, increase braking assistance and alert the driver via visual and audible warnings. If the driver failed to respond, the system would initiated autonomous emergency braking (AEB);
• Fatigue Detection: monitored driver behavior at speeds in excess of 65 km/h for signs of fatigue. If the driver exhibited signs of fatigue, a tone would sound and a warning would appear in the multi-function display; and,
• Multi-collision brake: after a collision, multi-collision brake would automatically apply the brakes for controlled deceleration to vehicle speed and the likelihood of a second collision.

Driver Assistance Package

As a $1500 option, the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon Trendline, Comfortline and Highline could be specified with a Driver Assistance Package which included the following technologies –

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): using a radar sensor, ACC could apply the vehicle’s brakes to reduce vehicle speed and maintain a pre-set distance to vehicle ahead. ACC could also cause the vehicle to accelerate back to its cruising speed when the road ahead cleared;
• Lane Assist (lane departure warning): using a camera to recognise lane markings, Lane Assist could detect unintentional lane drifting or changing and provide corrective steering actions for up to eight seconds. If the corrective steering actions were insufficient, the driver would be alerted via steering wheel vibrations;
• A Blind Spot Monitor: active at speeds above 15 km/h, the Blind Spot Monitor used rear radar sensors to detect other vehicles up to 20 metres behind the Golf. If detected, an LED indicator in the door mirror would illuminate to alert the driver to their presence. If the driver indicated that they were intending to change lanes, the indicator would flash more brightly as a warning signal;
• Rear Traffic Alert: when the driver was reversing from a parking space, Rear Traffic Alert system used radar sensors in the rear bumper to detect traffic up to 50 metres away that may cross the vehicle’s intended path. If approaching traffic was detected, the driver received visual and audible warnings. If the driver did not respond to the warnings and there was an immediate collision risk, the brakes would be applied automatically;
• Park Assist 3.0: could detect parallel and right angle parking spaces and provide automated steering for 1) parking manoeuvres while the driver controlled vehicle speed, and 2) when exiting a parallel parking space. In contrast to its predecessors, Park Assist 3.0 could provide automated steering for forward parking manoeuvres; and,
• Proactive occupant protection system: in a potential accident situation, the seatbelts would be tensioned and windows closed.

The Driver Assistance Package also included a ‘Driving Profile Selection’ function that enabled the driver to choose from five drive modes – Eco, Sport, Normal, Comfort and Individual – which adjusted steering assistance, throttle response and transmission programming.

Euro NCAP testing

In Euro NCAP testing , the related Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf hatch received a five star safety rating which included a 94 per cent adult occupant protection rating and an 89 per cent child occupant protection rating. In the frontal offset crash test, occupant protection was generally assessed as good, though protection for the driver’s lower leg was rated as adequate. Maximum points were awarded in the side impact test though, in the more severe pole test, chest protection was rated as marginal and abdominal protection as adequate.

Features: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon Trendline

Standard features for the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon Trendline included 6.5J x 16-inch ‘Toronto’ alloy wheels with 205/55 R16 tyres, Volkswagen’s ‘Composition’ media system with an eight-inch display, an eight speaker sound system, MP3/WMA/ACC-compatibility, 3.5 mm auxiliary and SD card inputs, Volkswagen’s ‘App-Connect’ USB input for smartphone integration (including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink), Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming, front seat lumbar adjustment, air conditioning, cruise control with a programmable speed limiter, LED daytime running lights, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, a rear view camera, steering wheel audio controls, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, 40/60 split and folding rear seats, a load-through centre rear armrest with cupholders, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, electromechanical parking brake, tyre pressure monitoring, a 12 volt power outlet in the centre console, a trip computer and an immobiliser. As standard, the Golf Wagon was fitted with black roof rails and a luggage partition net.

Features: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon Comfortline

Relative to the Golf Wagon Trendline, the Golf Wagon Comfortline added 7.0J x 17-inch ‘Dijon’ alloy wheels with 225/45 R17 tyres, Volkswagen’s ‘Discover’ media system with navigation, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, ‘Comfort’ front seats, a storage drawer under the front passenger seat, a 12 volt power outlet in the luggage compartment, chrome roof rails and additional chrome highlights (interior and exterior). The Golf Comfortline is also equipped with Volkswagen’s ‘Media Control’ app which enables a tablet or smartphone to be used as a remote control for the vehicle’s infotainment system.

Features: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon Highline

The range-topping Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Wagon Highline was distinguished by its 7.0J x 17-inch ‘Karlskoga’ alloy wheels with 225/45 R17 tyres, ‘Comfort’ front sport seats, ‘Vienna’ leather-appointed upholstery, power adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, heated front seats, LED headlights, front fog lights, proximity key (i.e. keyless entry), power folding door mirrors with memory function, push-button start, interior ambient lighting, LED reading lights, floor mats, panoramic glass sunroof and colour multi-function display.

The Golf Wagon Highline could also be specified with an R-Line Package for $2500 which includes 7.5J x 18-inch ‘Sebring’ alloy wheels with 225/40 R18 tyres, sports suspension, progressive steering, rear privacy glass and R-Line styling. The R-Line Package, however, omitted front fog lights.

Specifications

• Specifications: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf and Golf Wagon (July 2017)
• Specifications: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Hatch and Wagon (September 2018, MY19)