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The new platform boosts overall length by 2.1 inches and width by 0.5 inches. Overall height is down by just over an inch. Interior room grows, with rear-seat passengers emerging as the big winners. The cargo area is easier to load — and more spacious — than the trunks of most midsize sedans.
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In even its base form (from $21,195, including destination), the Golf is spry and responsive. Steering is light and lively, if somewhat numb, and brake feel is linear and strong. At highway speeds, the little hatch feels stable and planted, with that firm-yet-compliant ride-quality that seems bred into German machines.
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During hard cornering, VW’s XDS Cross Differential System reads data from wheel sensors, and automatically applies braking to the inside front wheel to maintain stability. Shod with conventional all-season tires, my tester kept a tenacious grip on the road, with little or no understeer.
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The cabin remains understated and relatively austere. Materials quality moves a bit upscale, the infotainment interface improves and a new 5.8-inch touchscreen is standard. The instrument panel now cants toward the driver for easier access and the switchgear operates with precision, heft and refinement.
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Despite some nice touches, (VW’s navigation system was among the first to display the current speed limit), the system trails the class leaders. Smartphone integration, especially, is lacking.
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On the safety front, VW equips the Golf with its post-collision automatic braking system. If the car is in an accident, the brakes go on automatically, preventing the Golf from rolling freely.
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The new platform boosts overall length by 2.1 inches and width by 0.5 inches. Overall height is down by just over an inch. Interior room grows, with rear-seat passengers emerging as the big winners. The cargo area is easier to load — and more spacious — than the trunks of most midsize sedans.
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