2019 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Review

Overall Driving Performance comment: Despite the SportWagen name, this VW is not a very sporty car. The 1.4-liter engine does its best work around town but feels taxed at anything over moderate speeds. A firm, confident brake pedal is reassuring, but smooth stops proved nearly impossible. The braking distance from 60 mph of 140 feet is nearly 20 feet longer than the class average.

The steering isn't particularly sporty either, and it lacks the all-important feel that we've come to expect from sport-tuned Volkswagens. But the lackluster tires are perhaps the biggest letdown in the SportWagen's driving dynamics — they affect everything from emergency braking to handling performance.

Overall Comfort on the Road comment: The SportWagen has sacrificed a bit of comfort in pursuit of a sporty ride, which means a bumpy and sometimes busy ride over broken surfaces. But the car is buttoned-down at higher speeds. The firm and well-bolstered front seats feel good initially but proved to be relatively uncomfortable on a long journey.

No matter which trim level you choose, there's no option for an automatic climate control system. Road and wind noise levels are commendably low, but the climate control needs to work hard to cool the cabin and subsequently makes for a noisy drive on warm days. Those in colder climates will appreciate the fast-acting heated seats, which are standard across all SportWagens.

Overall Interior Ergonomics comment: Typical for Volkswagen, the SportWagen's interior uses a simple and attractive layout. The infotainment screen has two chunky dials and is flanked by easy-to-push buttons. A benefit of the long, straight roofline means passengers won't have to watch their heads when getting in or out. The tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel has excellent range, and drivers of most sizes should be able to find a comfortable driving position. 

With lots of windows, slim window pillars and large mirrors, blind spots are minimal. Rear-seat legroom isn't as spacious as in other wagons or some hatchbacks, but four adults of average height can fit comfortably in the SportWagen.

Overall Cargo and Utility comment: The SportWagen's layout (it is a station wagon after all) lends itself to easily handle large items, especially with the rear seats folded down. In the trunk, you get 30.4 cubic feet of cargo storage. And if you fold the rear seats, you get 66.5 cubic feet — enough space to compete with some of the best compact SUVs.

Small-item storage isn't as impressive. There is a cubby in front of the shift lever. However, it's not large enough to hold some of the larger phones on the market, so one or both of the cupholders will have to be sacrificed for more sizable personal items. The door pockets are average, but their hard plastic makes for noisy storage of small items. Larger child seats might be a bit of a squeeze in the back seat.

Overall  Infotainment and Automation comment: The SportWagen checks most of the important boxes when it comes to infotainment features. Our tester was equipped with forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control, and all worked well during our test. Far less effective was the voice control system, which we found too time-intensive and required very specific language to execute simple commands.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but connection issues plagued our test. And since there's no option for native navigation in the SportWagen, you'll be relying on your smartphone for directions. The six-speaker stereo is adequate, but a lack of output means you won't be rocking out to your favorite tunes.