New Car: 2011 Volkswagen CrossGolf

Like the Volkswagen CrossPolo also debuting at the Geneva auto show, the new Volkswagen CrossGolf is a rougher, tougher version of one of the brand’s traditional hatchbacks, which VW says blurs the line between a multipurpose vehicle and an SUV. Hitting European showrooms in April, the CrossGolf won’t make the voyage to the U.S. market largely because it would step too hard on the toes of the automaker’s actual small crossover, the Tiguan.

If you’re still interested despite the forbidden-fruit status, the details on the CrossGolf follow. Based on the five-door Golf but with a higher seating position and about an inch more ground clearance, the CrossGolf is the sixth variant of the new sixth-generation Golf (counting the Golf Plus, which is known as the Jetta SportWagen here). While the Cross version doesn’t feature all-wheel drive, it does sport a more rugged look courtesy of beefier wheel arches and gray plastic cladding on the lower elements of the body. Bright silver accents on the front and rear bumpers, roof rails, and door mirrors, as well as special 17-inch wheels shared with the CrossPolo, add some visual zest.

The CrossGolf also sports a tweaked interior, featuring two-tone front sport seats with light-gray inserts and black bolsters. Added brightwork around the air vents gives a stainless-steel look, while “CrossGolf” inserts sit in the door sills. The steering wheel and gearshift are wrapped in leather as standard and the pedals are capped in aluminum.

Other features include heated and powered door mirrors, LED taillights, and heat-insulated glass with a green tint. Major options include more interior leather, bi-xenon headlights with dynamic cornering lights, and a rearview camera. An intelligent park-assist system, similar to that found on several Ford and Lincoln vehicles in the U.S., also is available and employs sonar sensors and the electric-assist power steering to guide the CrossGolf into a parallel parking space. The driver only controls the speed.

Obviously geared for the European market, powertrain choices encompass a mix of gasoline and diesel engines. Turbocharged gasoline four-cylinders come in 105-hp and 122-hp flavors, with the coolest option being the turbo- and supercharged 1.4-liter “Twincharger” four. Rated at 160 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, it allows for a 129-mph top speed and 35 mpg in the combined European cycle. More efficient TDI turbo-diesels are available in 1.6-liter (105 hp) and 2.0-liter (140 hp) displacements, with the latter capable of a combined 44 mpg. Six-speed manual gearboxes are standard across the lineup, while seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automated manuals are optional on all gas engines and the 1.6-liter TDI. Automatic options for the 2.0-liter TDI are limited to a unique six-speed DSG unit designed to handle the engine’s 236 lb-ft of torque.

Thanks to: Car and Driver