Video Rant: 2019 VW Sportwagen 1.4 Turbo 

Eric, you hit the hammer right on the nail - the Sporwagen is so much better than a compact crossover because it drives like a car.

Dude: "rant" is for things you DONT like.

I used to be anti-push button start, but the reality is such systems have become much more reliable in the past 10 years or so...to the point where i actually bought a car that has it (2016 GTI) and have no issues. The biggest plus for me is the steering column plastic around the ignition switches no longer gets scratched and gouged by early morning (or late night) stabs of the key that miss the target a bit.

I have 2019 1.8T 4motion manual for daily. Bought new for little over $6K off. Had to ship from cali to nyc for $1k but still saved huge money. It also has one and only option of driver assistance/blind monitoring/ depature warning. Everything about this car is great. Driven 16K miles so far and only down side for me would be steering could use more feedback. Feels numb especially compared to my bmw e90 m3 back in the day but better than anything in its class probably. Also breaking can use more bite. But then what am I complaining, i got a new car for 19k when avg new car price is now 47k. Another note. I am getting at least 40mpg highway. I drive mostly city yet getting avg mpg of 31. Absolutely crushes what vw advertises and i do bit of spirit driving.

I have the 2018 AllTrack. I love the thing. Had a BMW 3 series AWD wagon for 16 years. And I prefer the AllTrack. A little bit smaller, higher, tighter. Great visibility and utility.

The 1.8t is not optional; it's std on 4motion cars and Alltracks. All fwd wagons (and golfs) get the 1.4t. GTIs keep the 2.0t. Trim determines your engine.

Fellow libertarian and Sportwagen 1.4T 2019 owner here. Thanks for your video! As to VW and the diesel fiasco, that's not really being crucified, though the EU can be a bit draconian. VW made an intentional mistake. I don't like how draconian air emissions standards are, but that's where we're at, and VW didn't just do this on accident. It was intentional. But they have made good since then. Still, diesel is by nature a dirty fuel, no matter how much you clean it up. See the new "anti-soot" fluids in diesel trucks in the USA. Again, not defending the EPA, but at the same time, diesel is dirty. Gas can be far less dirty. But of course this is a generalization either way you slice it in favor of diesel or not in favor of diesel. Really, the key ignition you spoke of is just security theater in a way. Or mechanical theater. The engine computer can start the 1.4T without needing the key, so really, a physical key makes no difference. In actuality, the push button is just paying for a convenience option, as either way the engine computer is what starts the engine, and because both key and button starter cars can auto-stop/start their own engines. For this car, the stats are out now. I regularly get 35-39 in town and 40-44 on the highway. Side note, a performance enthusiast would probably want a smaller, lighter car, but I digress. My personal impresion: SUVs and vans are not wise if someone's goal is fuel economy. This Sportwagen, as you're aware, has a better coefficient of drag, and ours has as good if not better storage, as you're aware. This is why I like wagons: they make more fuel efficiency sense, and technically performance sense, though again, performance favors lighter smaller cars.

Why didn't the reviewer actually drive the car? Or open the hood and show us the 1.4T? Because frankly, I don't think this was a 2019 1.4TSI. I think this is a 2018 4Motion. Go to 7:34, you can see the badge. Plus, this car has 16" rims, same as the 4Mo.

Some constructive feedback: camera shake is pretty rough. I suggest a camera with some built in stabilization, or a tripod.

I have a worn out key in my current keyed car that doesn't work. A new one not only has to be cut but reprogrammed. The ignition key cylinder is also a wear item. The heavier the key chain, the more the wear and a worn key cylinder can cause intermittent problems like the engine shutting off- a safety hazard obviously. It's no wonder auto manufacturers are going to remote entry. It's a significant and worthwhile advancement.

Great video. I jumped the gun and bought a 2017 Golf Sportwagen 5 speed manual thinking it was my last chance to buy a manual Wagon in the USA. I wish the 1.4 6 speed manual was available 2 years ago. My guess it will have an EPA rating of 28 city/ 39 highway.

The TDI version would be amazing just like before. I have the 2014 JSW TDI and it is killer.

Amen to the silly push button start and e brake

Thank you for some insight into the 2019 1.4 Golf Sportwagon. We are a family of diesel VW owners and have been lamenting what to drive next? Maybe VW have finally given us an answer at last! Would have liked your opinion on how it drives too. I have a Jetta wagon, a 2005 and I LOVE it’s versatility!

So manual 19 gsw do exist, nice.

How do you like the wagon? How is the performance of the 1.4 T engine?

There is an immobilizer chip in that key. Nothing cheap about it. Lock cylinders and ignition switches are known to wear out.

hey, like you video, one more question, is your car, this 1.4T engine has Oil consumption issue? i mean, when you drive 2000km, you engine oil level drop a bit, have you notice about that? thanks in advance.

Eric has provided many of the basic 2019 Sportwagen changes which this sailor savors. I did not note his suspension comments. I was hoping he'd address the rear suspension. I recall some rather sour past comments on the torsion bar approach to IRS. I believe this vehicle would be the most sensible approach to replacing my late lamented (buyback) TDI wagon.

Loved my sportwagen till it started leaking through the pano.

Thank god vw doesn’t offer the Diesel engine.