2016 Volkswagen Golf SEL: Test Drive 

Simply superior to everything in its class. I test drove pretty much every compact on the market, and the competitors just feel cheap.

I bought a 2016 golf R with navi , DCC DSG transmission and 19 inch wheel, best car i ever owned

this is the best review of the golf I've seen. answered all my questions

Thank you for taking time to make a great video😀

Thanks for this review, this car is greatly underated and overlooked.

Great review, so thorough and laid back ☺️

The best review on the VW Golf period. I just purchased a new 2017 VW Gold Wolfsburg edition in Torando Red w/ M/T. Got $14,500 for my 2009 TDI (scandal) God...I LOVED that car! The beauty of the WB edition is the price! I paid a little over $21,000 for it. It's loaded for the money paid. Yes....It's boring looking, yet once you're inside this car rocks! Great fuel economy 25/36 & it's true. Uses regular gasoline as well. Love the fact it has Android auto! I've been a loyal buyer of VW (5 new Jetta's in a row) I wanted a hatchback this time around. When you buy this car it not about exterior people, it's about practicality. That it does.

Very nice review. Greetings from Sonora!

You are awesome at what you do!

German feel of solid. I love that. The Asian and American market cannot match it. I like the Golf, and always have. I ended up going with a WRX instead a few years back. The GTi is really amazing, and the Golf R even more so. I think because of how great they are, this one is even better for just getting in for around $20,000.00 or so. I enjoyed your review. Very nice.

Great Review!

Solid review. Thanks.

You have great reviews. I'm your exact demographic as I have been looking for a replacement for my 2011 Audi A3 TDI and curious how the latest Golf TSI stacks up. I agree with your assessments in the video. It has a very similar feel to my TDI - a little less torque but a little less diesel lagging and lurching too. It will be sad to go from 500 mile fill ups to 400 or less, but what's done is done. Buying one tomorrow!

Sam, great video as always and going forward would you please review the HVAC in your tests? I am eager to know how the AC and heat work and hold up. Thank you!

I've been pleasantly surprised with the smooth ride my Golf has over rough Los Angeles county roads and freeways. ApplePlay on the 2016 works well with my iPhone, eliminated my need for navigation, I just use Apple Maps. Also has Android Auto. I find it very peppy, and you can use the paddle shifters even when not in Sport mode to blip down a gear for acceleration. 2016 Golf TSI S 4 door, Automatic with sunroof.

Like you presentation style & subscribed

"It's a Volkswagen! It just might!" LMAO!!!!

As an owner, this is a very good review.

The 5 speeds manual of the base golf is fun to drive. Long gears for ECO mode, but you can still spin the front tires to get that acceleration boost if you dump the clutch just right. Reminds me of my 93 EG DX civic.

"Well, it's a Volkswagen..." LOL

Good points of view! 👍

Any thoughts on the 5-speed manual versus the the 6-speed in the GTI? Good shifting experience? Having a hard time not thinking of the 5-speed as outdated, but maybe it suits the engine well enough. [Considering looking for '17 WB or '18 SE with manual, though I have researched importing a fully loaded manual Golf from Canada (really would like that adaptive cruise in my next car).] Thanks for the detailed reviews, Sam!

Very nice. ...I would like to own the R.

I have to agree with you , it is the only car that is better than my beloved 2014 Mazda 3s . It is miles ahead off Civics and Borollas of this world. Great job VW .

Just replaced my 2013 Jetta TDI with a 2017 Golf Wolfsburg and I am extremely happy. It has all the quality and zippy fun I could hope for. So the diesel buy back just made me a bigger VW fan.

I really do like the look of the car Sam although I will have to respectfully disagree with you on the TDI..I like you have had numerous VW's including a MKIV TDI...not a bad car but not the most engaging either..granted it was for commuting and always used to provide MPG's in the 40's (5 speed with 90 hp)...the fun to drive factor was meh..kept it for a couple of years and traded it in for a 2003 GTI 5 speed which WAS fun...the looks of this current Golf do remind me of that generation of VW's including those nice looking rims...for 30K though I would take the GTI...curious as to how this VW compares to the Jetta's of this same era and price...I had one for a rental car and was not too pleased with the quality although it had that same motor and got me over 35mpg for my trip..great review as always and keep up the great work.

drove my 2017 jetta on a 250 mile trip and and something in the back passenger door was rattling the entire way. wish I would've gotten a golf, I've heard it's 10x better than the jetta. might eventually trade in my jetta for a 2016/17 golf sel.

Did you think the 18" tires made the car a little harsh, compared to a. 16" tire?

I really don't see the big deal about the TDI scandal. don't remember it causing death of any body via failed ignition, sticking throttle or spontaneously combustion. as for VW reliability, maybe I got lucky with the ones I owned. only issue is the cost of maintenance, if you can't turn a wrench.

I was a Honda fanboy (Before the paint of my midnight black 2008 SI Sedan decided to go away on it's own). Then, I got mature enough to try and buy this car. Best decision ever.

As a 2010 JSW TDI owner, I completely agree with your comments on the VW TDI cheating. I love my car, but am extremely disappointed with VW. I'm interested in replacing it with a Mk7 TSI Sportwagen or Alltrack, but also don't want to reward VW for their bad behavior. Excellent review Sam!

The only problem i have with the golfs is u cant use the touch screen well while you are moving, the buttons are too small and your finger drifts on most road surfaces

I’m currently getting 43 mpg on the highway around town it is around 34. If I baby it I’ve broken 50! And this is tsi s wagen.

Great review! Is your testing done near Phoenix or Tucson? BTW, I owned a TDI, two of them in fact, and as a result of the diesel scandal, we sold both back to VW. My wife got a Tiguan S for $23K and I got myself a basic Golf S manual in platinum gray for just a little under $18K. Both of us are ecstatic over our new cars. I test drove a GTI S, liked it, but actually preferred the manner in which the Golf S felt over imperfect roadways, and I have to say, even though the GTI S has 210 horsepower, the Golf S feels nearly as quick. Also noteworthy, even though the Golf S has just a five-speed manual and the GTI has a six-speed manual, top gear in both registered the same RPM's at highway speeds. So here's my take, for $5K (or more) less, I got the perfect Golf for me, nearly identical acceleration performance, and better fuel mileage than a GTI. I do wish you had been able to include a test for highway mpg's -- I've not been able yet to take my car on a road trip -- but another You Tube video on here with a Golf Sportwagen S shows the owner achieving nearly 45 mpg on a trip between Austin and San Antonio -- and supposedly not hypermiling. Now that's getting close to TDI mpg's. So I look forward to taking my first road trip to see what it will do. Also, I like that the infotainment system gives you the chance to grade your driving from an economical point of view -- going "blue" they call it -- and using that it scores you on your driving habits -- drive economically and you get a high score, drive like most people do and get a much lower score. I try each time to get around a 90. I cannot imagine what one would have to do to achieve 100%! Anyway, great review and I thank you so much!

Oh..verygood

"Will it break someday? Well... it's a Volkswagen... it just might" Bahahahaha!

Will they not have a new TDI for the market soon? ...so many waiting for it I'm sure.

I have owned several VW vehicles in the past, GTI and Sciroccos. With the exception of one model version, the vehicles were made in Germany. The one model that was made (or maybe assemble do) in Mexico turned out to be the worst vehicle; unreliable poor build quality and more squeaks and rattles than a nursery. Fortunately VW has stepped up their game with better quality control. I agree with the tdi, that was a great idea and a great motor. Some of the VW models have a slight Audi quality feel at a fraction of an Audi price.Great review Sam I think I would buy it as well.

I'd definitely think about the Golf to replace my 2012 Focus, which was my worst purchasing decision ever.

Nice review, thanks. ?: Are the new Golfs for the North American market being assembled in Mexico?

*5-speed manual. 6-speed is for the GTI / R only

With the lane assist and adaptive cruise control on. Can it keep the vehicle in the middle of the lane, basically drive it self on the freeway without human interaction?

And I still say VW makes the best automobile diesel engines.

Considering getting this car as I need a car that is solid to ride for work. Probably going to put a lot of miles on it. Can I expect to get over 100,000 on it without issues? My 08 Versa has over 100k and had no issues...

I know what you mean. I own the TDI, but I'm gonna upgrade to the SEL., Probably. I think they're handling it nicely. The SEL has 4 way lumbar support, like the A4. I think I'm in. I test drove the Japanese cars. I.Just.Can't. Go. Back.

How are the Golf and Jetta related? Or is it that the Jetta is really related to the previous version of the Golf? How do they compare in terms of driving dynamics and quality?

Gofl = best hatchback on the market, hence entire class is called Golf class. A benchmark vehicle

So, I have a 2015 Golf TDI, purchased 1 month prior to dieselgate. Should I take the buy back and get a TSI. Consumer Reports gives the 2015 Golf TSI a poor reliability rating.

Why in mexico is 1.4 T

But what about reliability? Even Sam the VW fanboy laughs about the likelihood of rear latch/backup camera mechanism breaking. It's not very reassuring for someone contemplating a purchase of one. But no one can argue with how fun they are to drive.

I wish you could get the 4-door Golf with a stick-shift.

I'm actually surprised it only gets combined 29 miles per gallon I have a Mustang GT it's getting a honest 26 or 27 miles per gallon, Volkswagen cars are great I had a corrode and a Jetta a few years ago, this car would be a great daily driver, if this was a Jetta it would be $1000 more if the same pricing is used as it was 10 years ago. Nice review

not sure which cars gave the VW brand the reputation of horrible reliability or if ni fact it wan't owner neglect that led to the unreliable car, but I have a 2004 GTI that has not given me any fuss since day one. There has been zero problems that were the car's fault not getting me to/from a place. Even through 1 accident on day 3 of its life ('04), replaced strut bushings ('08), failed sunroof drains ('09), a parking lot battle ('09), massive hail storm ('10), a failed (open) t-stat ('12), rusted through downpipe ('15), new rear rotors/pads ('15) and a cracked evap hose under the hood ('15), the car has been there for me EVERY day. It's on its third set of tires and has survived the best that CO and OH can throw at it. It isn't stock, but it's never been chipped. It still returns 29mpg or better when I behave. So, I'm not sure what car or what owners gave VW the bad rap', but you could have fooled me. I've seen horror stories on the VWvortex, which is probably higher than average, but my car must be the non-VW VW. One more note - it was made in Brasil. I would happily buy another VW (GTI), with three pedals, if they didn't cost $27K+. The aftermarket is abound with parts to keep these cars running for decades...

Any long-term reliability reports? I'd like to buy a pre-owned but I've heard that VW cars are really problematic if the owner has not followed the maintenance schedule, whereas a Japanese car is a bit more resilient. I need to get rid of my Focus, though - four clutch packs in 80 000 is excessive and the last one was replaced after 5000 km. I have had enough of Ford Motor Company and their shitty products.

The basic is better I like manual

No DSG gearbox ??? In Europé we have Electric parkingbrake,no lever.

Totally agree with ya Sam; we right now have a SE Tdi Passat 2015 which we got right before[days] the truth came out; true we are saddened by the truth yet loving the 57 avg and now are like the Lord wills and we live what will be available in the future that is comparable that's not a lie also or electric[which we abhor]

Isn't it a 5-speed manual transmission?

love driving these machines...but hate to own them....you have to live next door to a VW dealer

I love the 2 door models but the TDI lying scheme that VW pulled and generally questionable reliability keeps me away. I just admire them from a distance lol.

Das auto

I like their attitude towards epa, most of the emission testing junk is a bunch of crap. They wasted millions of not billions on all these e-check centers around here just to see that it was a waste and that our vehicles aren't that bad and then closed them down

I would love a car like this.. the only thing is the reliability makes it a no-no :/

Lol that rear cam is going to break so fast, if not from crappy electronics then from the environment.

You cannot get an SE or SEL with a manual....

199 ft lbs of torque....