2013 VW Sportwagen TDI Driving Impressions

[Matt]

[Reposted from MatthewsVolvoSIte]

I tested the hi zoot $30k Sportwagen, fresh off the dealer lot. For comparison, my ex got a mid-zoot manual 2012 during their (model) year end sale for about $24k in late summer.



Driving

• Road noise is almost non-existent
• Touch of wind noise around A pillar
• Idle reveals this to be a diesel, there's no hiding it, but most will never think twice about it
• After 4200 RPM, the engine sounds like a hidden sewing machine component has been activated somewhere under the hood
• Nimble, steering feels nice and tight
• Understeer far less prevalent than my 850, which pushes like a snowplow
• Brakes are very powerful and bite hard, fade after repeat use not tested

Cabin

• Cabin controls very good, except the hard-to-read climate dials
• Easy to get a comfortable driving position
• Keyless start just works, no fuss
• Radio w/ Sirus seems good, but I didn't test it too much
• Gauges are very crisp, very easy to read

Engine

• Robust power sub-2k to 4k, then a cliff at around 4200 RPM
• WOT throttle upshifts put the tach at 3200 RPM, which seems a touch high to me
• Dead-start lag in the auto is significant, beware

Would I buy one for me? A year-end manual model might tempt me, but not this particular sample I drove today.

[edrobinson]

We have an '11 and it's road noise is fierce. My 850 sounds like a Rolls in comparison.

The steering is indeed tight. I understand it s electric. What happens if the electric fails?

It's a real hot rod. I hope the VW emissions fix doesn't destroy that aspect.

[Matt]

I think the road noise goes up faster with tire wear than say Volvos. I was in that Sportwagen a few months ago, before my mom got rid of it for a new CC, and the noise was up substantially, like you mention.