10 Reasons Why the Volkswagen Golf is the 2015 Autobytel Car of the Year

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf took the automotive world by storm this past year, and it's easy to see why: it has everything it takes to be Autobytel's Car of the Year for 2015.  The Volkswagen Golf is fun to drive (GTI), eco-friendly (e-Golf), and practical (all of the above, and the base TSI model, too), which makes it a versatile threat in the compact hatchback segment.  It's also stylish and affordable, which means it should have no trouble continuing its streak as Volkswagen's most popular North American offering.

Let's take a look at 10 reasons the 2015 Volkswagen Golf is Autobytel's Car of the Year for 2015.

01. The 2015 Volkswagen Golf Sits On A New Platform

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf big secret is that its complete redesign includes an all-new platform hidden away underneath its sheet metal.  Dubbed the 'MQB' platform, the shared effort between Volkswagen and its captive luxury arm, Audi, will eventually find its way into dozens of vehicles ranging from small hatchbacks like the Golf all the way up to larger crossovers.  The main benefit of the new chassis is a more controlled and comfortable ride, a longer wheelbase compared to the year before, and a lighter curb weight in base form - all of which add up to a big plus for the 2015 Golf.

02. The 2015 Volkswagen Golf Is Compact, Yet Still Practical

Although the 2015 Volkswagen Golf's wheelbase might be 2.3 inches longer than it was in 2014 (pushing the car's total length 2.2 inches past last year's model), it's still very much a compact hatchback.  This means that you won't have any trouble motoring the Golf through dense urban traffic, or finding a parking spot.  Just because it's small on the outside doesn’t mean that the Golf is tight on the inside, however, as total cargo room is up almost ten percent for 2015 with 52.7 cubic feet of storage space available with the rear seats folded forward.  This is true regardless of whether you order the Volkswagen in a two-door or four-door edition, and there's even 16.5 cubic feet of 'trunk' space offered by the car when you've got a full load of passengers along for the ride.

03. The 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI Now Features A Powerful Turbocharged Base Motor

One of our favorite improvements to the base 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI is the decision that was made to jettison last year's five-cylinder base engine in favor of a new 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit.  Unlike the rough, and unexciting five-banger, this new turbo four offers smooth performance and considerably more torque: 200 lb-ft, which is a 23 lb-ft improvement.  Horsepower remains the same at 170 ponies, but fuel mileage is better all around with the 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI's 25-mpg city and 36-mpg highway rating making it the most efficient entry-level Golf ever.  Transmission choices for the turbocharged 1.8-liter motor include a six-speed automatic or a five-speed manual.

05. The 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Wins The Hearts Of Enthusiasts

More interested in getting your adrenaline fix than hypermiling?  In that case, we recommend the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI, the most athletic member of the Golf family and one of the most popular hot hatches money can buy.  Outfitted with a spunky 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's good for 210 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, the 2015 GTI is the most robust version of the car to reach American shores.  In addition to its muscular output the Golf GTI also gains a stiffer suspension system, unique styling inside and out, and access to the Performance package, which installed a limited-slip front differential, bigger brakes, and offers 10 additional horses under the hood (thanks to a re-tuning of the engine's ECU). 

06. The 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Goes Electric For The First Time

In case you haven't noticed, versatility is a catchword for the 2015 Volkswagen Golf, as evidenced by the fact that it offers a gasoline, turbodiesel, high performance, and now for the very first time, an electric drivetrain for buyers to choose from.  The Volkswagen e-Golf delivers 115 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque from an electric motor fed by a lithium-ion battery, and it's possible to squeeze nearly 90 miles of range out of a single charge before it's time to plug the hatchback into a wall.  The EPA has rated the Volkswagen e-Golf 116 MPGe, which makes it competitive with other, similarly-sized electric vehicles like the Nissan LEAF and the BMW i3.

07. The 2015 Volkswagen Golf R Is Right Around The Corner

There's one more version of the 2015 Volkswagen Golf lurking in the shadows: the Golf R.  What makes the Volkswagen Golf R so special?  Find us another hatchback with standard all-wheel drive, a 292 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a choice between six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions.  The Volkswagen Golf R sits lower than the GTI, features quad exhaust tips and an aggressive aero kit, as well as an adaptive suspension system, and it can hit 60-mph from a standing start in just 4.7 seconds.  What's not to like?

08. The 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI SEL Loads Up On Luxury

The days when compact cars were aimed exclusively at bargain hunters are long since over, a point that's well proven by the availability of the 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI SEL.  The Golf TSI SEL represents the hatchback's top trim level, and it includes niceties such as keyless entry and ignition, leatherette upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, Bluetooth connectivity, a navigation system, dual automatic climate control, power accessories, rain-sensitive wipers, a panoramic sunroof, and a Fender-branded audio system right out of the box.  Considering you can also add HID and LED lighting to the car as options, along with a forward collision warning system and parking assistance, the Golf TSI SEL presents near-luxury accommodations in a practical package.

09. The 2015 Volkswagen Golf Is Stylish Across The Board

We almost forgot to mention that the 2015 Volkswagen Golf has embraced style even more so than in past models.  With simple interior design that relies on quality materials and well-distributed controls and displays that are a cut above many of its contemporaries, the Volkswagen Golf offers a pleasant cabin to spend some time in.  From the outside it's equally endearing, featuring smoother, more adult lines than ever before.  This is true even on the GTI and the Golf R, where boy racer flourishes are kept to a minimum in favor of letting the car's 18 and 19-inch rims and subtle aerodynamic enhancements speak for themselves.

10. The 2015 Volkswagen Golf Starts At An Affordable MSRP

Getting behind the wheel of a base 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI is a very reasonable proposition: the MSRP of the entry-level two-door hatchback sits at $17,995.  Moving up to a four-door model will cost you $20,695. If you feel that performance is worth paying for, then you can drive home in the Volkswagen Golf GTI for only $24,995, which is still a reasonable sum considering its power and handling capabilities.  In fact, the only version of the Golf that would have us thinking twice is the Golf R, which bears a starting price of $37,415.