Used 2020 Volkswagen Golf SE for sale 

The 2020 Volkswagen Golf has been mildly refreshed with the addition of new technology and the next generation of in-car telematics system. The S and SE trims that were previously available have been scrapped for a single “Value Edition” Trim for 2020.

Which trim to go for?

Volkswagen has scraped off the two trims available for the Golf. It has been replaced by a well equipped “Value Edition”, which forms the base of the whole Golf line-up. All the highlighting features of the outgoing variants have made its way into the new singular one. As it is equipped with all the latest gizmos, there are no complaints whatsoever.

The Golf is powered by a 1.4L turbocharged engine that produces a decent amount of power. The power is transferred to the front wheels via a 6-speed transmission which distributes the power evenly across the rev-band.

Talking of specs, the 1.4L engine produces 147 horses and 184-pound feet of torque. This power will be transferred to the front wheels via a standard 6-speed manual or an optional 8-speed Automatic Transmission. The automatic transmission is an $1100 option which incorporates paddle shifters for seamless crisp transition through gears.

*2019 figures used for reference purpose

With 147 horses and 184 lb-ft of torque, the Golf is not the fastest of the lot. But with the smallest engine of 1.4L, the difference in weight helps it get an edge over its competition. The 2020 Honda Civic is the most powerful of the lot with 174hp and 162 lb-ft of torque.

How fast is it off the line?

The 2020 Volkswagen Golf propels from standstill to 60 in 7.6 seconds and crosses the quarter-mile mark in 15.9 seconds. For a car with less weight for performance, these figures are impressive. Out on the road, there is enough grunt at all instances for performing that odd overtake in the city or on the highway.

The Golf is the quickest of the lot thanks to its least curb weight and clever structural engineering. None of its competition cross the 8-second mark as well which makes the Volkswagen a pretty quick car.

How well does the Golf Handle?

The Volkswagen Golf has always been a swift handler. Its quick and nimble character is its triumph card. The small footprint with precise steering and a suspension setup towards the stiffer side, makes the Golf feel like a Go-Kart. The redesigned MQB Architecture improves the structural rigidity thus providing a much-planted ride. Body roll is very well contained and stability on the road is impressive for a vehicle of this kind.

The ride may feel stiff overall but when doing city speeds, the Golf surprises with its ride. It's not harsh or overly stiff and the bumps or undulations on the road are very well absorbed by the Golf's suspension.

How well does it stop?

The Golf is equipped with disc brakes on all four wheels. The rotors at the front and the rear are of above-average dimensions which should help in providing optimum stopping force. While the numbers may suggest otherwise, the braking performance of the Golf, won't disappoint you out on the open road. Nosedive is well contained and the pedals feel sure-footed at all times.

The Volkswagen Golf has the least powerful brakes of the lot as it takes the longest to come to a halt. The Honda has the most powerful brakes with a 60-0 stopping distance of 115 feet. In spite of weighing the least, the Volkswagen Golf doesn't have an advantage over the others.

With a combined MPG of 34, The Golf provides a pretty good fuel economy. Volkswagen had earlier degraded from the thirsty 1.8L power plant with the sole purpose of increasing fuel economy. It gives an MPG of 29 in cities and a generous 37 on the highway.

The Golf has finally caught up with the Honda Civic which provides the best MPG of the lot. With a combined MPG of 34, the Volkswagen Golf and Honda Civic go neck in neck as the class leaders. But given the fact that the civic weighs more and even produces more power, it clearly has the class-leading fuel economy.

The interior of the Golf is pretty much the same with the exact same dimensions and seating from the 2019 model. It actually is a small car from the outside at 167.6 inches in length. But clever space management provides a spacious interior. According to Volkswagen, the biggest update is on the inside as they have opted for a digital evolution. They quote that the only analog part on the inside is the steering wheel!

The Golf provides a well-built interior that has good bits and the materials used make it feel premium. The addition of leather seats, heated front seats, and an updated 6.5-inch infotainment system makes the interior a comfortable place to be in.

Comparing it to its rivals, you will be happy to see that the Golf, can now stand head-to-head with all the other popular cars in the segment. The Golf manages to especially shine on the rear passenger front as it is bundled with plenty of room there. Overall though, it's still the Honda Civic that beats all others in this segment, owing to Honda's "Man Maximum Machine Minimum" design philosophy.

How well-laden is the infotainment?

The 2020 Volkswagen Golf is equipped with an updated 6.5-inch infotainment system that supports both Apple car play and Android Auto. The interface is slick to use for the most part and sunlight legibility is decent as well. The buttons fall into hands easily and have been well-positioned as well. Here is a list of the other features of the infotainment system

• AM/FM/HD Radio 
• 1 USB Type-C port
• 6 Speaker audio system with Bluetooth
• VW App-Connect and Car-Net
• Rearview Camera 
• In-Car WiFi

What features to expect on the inside?

VW had thoroughly updated the Golf for its latest avatar and courtesy of that, you have a lot of features on the inside, to add to your conveniences. Here is a list of few of the most notable features on the inside

• Push-button start with Keyless access
• Leatherette-wrapped, multi-function steering wheel
• Climate control
• One-touch up/down power windows
• Heated leatherette front seats
• Cruise control
• Steering mounted shift paddles

How much cargo can it take?

In spite of being handicapped in size, the Golf surprisingly provides 22.8 cubic feet of luggage space which isn’t bad at all. The split-folding rear seats, adds to the cargo area for when the need for carrying extra luggage arises.

The Honda Civic has the largest luggage space with 25.7 cubic feet followed closely by the Hyundai Elantra with 24.9. The Golf comes in third followed by the Toyota Corolla.

The 2020 Volkswagen Golf is pretty much the same with a few minor modifications. The basic two-box design connects it to its predecessors all the way to the Mk 1 which saved Volkswagen from bankruptcy. The car has become sharper with a new set of 16-inch wheels and a redesigned set of headlamps.

Do the dimensions of the Golf resemble its predecessors?

At 167.6 inches, the Golf is the shortest car off the lot. The design has mostly been carried forward from the last iteration with a few aesthetic updates. This means that the overall dimensions remain the same. It is a low slung car at 5.4 inches which helps in the driving dynamics. The overall construction of the car instills confidence to attack corners at more speeds. With a tweaked MQB platform, it has improved the overall rigidity of the vehicle.

On the weight front, the new Golf has shed a lot of weight off its back in this new generation. That helps its cause in the handling and the efficiency figures. The ground clearance is comparable as well to others and is bigger than some of the rivals.

What are the most attractive features?

There are plenty of features on offer in the new VW Golf that will keep the eys of onlookers, hooked on to the car. Here is a list of few of the most notable features

• Power tilt-and-slide sunroof
• 16" aluminum alloys
• Automatic LED Tailights and DRL's
• Heated, foldable, power-adjustable ORVMs
• Automatic windshield wipers
• heated front washer nozzles

Due to the rising concerns regarding the safety of car passengers. Volkswagen has made its intentions clear for improving the same and hence made some enhancements to the safety features on offer in the 2020 Golf. The 2020 Volkswagen Golf comes with all the life-saving gizmos. Volkswagen has now made all safety features standard which were earlier optional. IIHS and NHTSA are yet to rate the 2020 model and we will update this section, once we get a hold of the same.

Safety Features

• Dual front and front side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Automatic Post-Collision Braking System
• Intelligent Crash Response System
• Rear Traffic Alert
• Blind Spot Monitor
• Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring (Front Assist)

Volkswagen Golf vs. Honda Civic

The Honda Civic provides more cargo space and much more interior space for comfortable travel. But the Golf provides more performance and is the quicker of the two to 60mph. It even handles much better as compared to the Civic due to its rigid chassis and stiffer suspension. Considering the similar price range of the two, the Golf provides more bang for the buck value.

Volkswagen Golf vs. Hyundai Elantra

With a 2L engine, the Elantra sure provides much more power. But this comes in at a loss of handling and acceleration. Because of the added weight, the Elantra is actually the slowest of the lot and gives the poorest MPG. All of this along with a premium price tag does not make it a strong case against the well rounded Golf.
 

Volkswagen Golf vs. Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla has more power than the golf. But the extra power comes at the cost of a heavier ride which fiddles with the driving dynamics. This makes it a very poor handler when compared to the nimble Volkswagen Golf. It has the least luggage volume which takes practicality off of it. This along with being costlier than the Golf makes it the least preferable of the lot.

The Volkswagen Golf has had the perfect blend of power, handling, and comfort which has kept it afloat for over 45 years! Golf is fun to drive, practical and comfortable. It has a balanced power to comfort character which is hard to come by in any of its competitors thus giving it an edge. So the Volkswagen Golf is the one to go if you want the best of both worlds.