We recently reported that, shockingly, Volkswagen will discontinue not just the Golf, but also the Sportwagen and AllTrack variants in the US and Canada (both the GTI and R32 will continue.) With the company focusing more on crossovers and SUVs, there didn’t seem to be much need for the humble Golf and it’s long-roofed siblings.
That’s a damn shame. Both the Sportwagen and Alltrack offered something that few other manufacturers do. Having the extra space of a crossover with the lower ride-height of a car is a must-have for those who prefer cars but still need more cargo space than a typical trunk offers. That both could be had with a manual gearbox makes that loss even greater.
Now, to rub salt in those wounds, VW has released images of the next-gen wagons. Though not drastically different than the MkVIIs, the new models would look great on North American roads. The biggest change occurs up front, with the Golf MkVIII’s unibrow LED light and beehive foglights on, presumably, the top end models.
The SportWagen and AllTrack Have Been Dropped
to Make Room for Another Crossover
Otherwise, it’s just a further refinement of the previous (and still attractive) design. The lines are maybe a little sharper, the D-pillers a little more angular, but otherwise familiar. The inside raises the screen and simplifies the dash, looking typically VW, both clean and clutter-free.
The Golf comes with eight optional powertrains, five of which are hybrids. There’s no word yet on which of those will find themselves powering the Sportwagen and AllTrack, though it’s safe to assume that 4Motion all-wheel-drive will be standard in the AllTrack. Hopefully a six-speed stick will be available for both models, too.
To fill this void in their portfolio, Volkswagen will introduce a new compact crossover (cause NA doesn’t have enough options there) and the all-electric ID4. But, with Europe getting an ID3 hatchback and the Areton wagon, that doesn’t seem like a fair trade, now, does it?
It doesn’t.