Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan

Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan: which version to buy

Buy the restyled 1.5 DSG 150 hp if you want the strongest gasoline Golf Sportsvan on the numbers: 8.8 s to 100 km/h, 212 km/h, 250 Nm, 9.47 kg/hp. Buy the restyled 1.6 DSG 115 hp if mixed fuel use is the decision: 4.4 l/100 km and 111 g/km CO2, the lowest CO2 in the catalogue.

Buy the restyled 1.5 DSG 150 hp if you want the strongest gasoline Golf Sportsvan on the numbers: 8.8 s to 100 km/h, 212 km/h, 250 Nm, 9.47 kg/hp. Buy the restyled 1.6 DSG 115 hp if mixed fuel use is the decision: 4.4 l/100 km and 111 g/km CO2, the lowest CO2 in the catalogue. Buy a pre-facelift 1.0 MT 115 hp if you want the lightest car (1319 kg) and the lowest measured gasoline mixed use (4.5 l/100 km). Skip the 1.0 MT 85 hp and the 1.2 MT 85 hp unless you accept 13.0–13.2 s to 100 km/h. There is one Compact Van body, FWD on every version, and two catalogue blocks of the same first generation: 1 generation (2014-01-01–2017-12-31, 12 versions in the data) and 1 generation, restyling (from 2017-01-01, 10 versions).

Generations: what the restyling actually changed

Treat 1 generation, restyling as the same first generation with a new engine map, not as a second car. Body type is Compact Van on both blocks. Ground clearance is 144 mm on every version. Tank is 50 l on every version. Drive is FWD on every version. Boost is Turbo, layout is Inline, engine position is Front, transverse, injection is Direct injection (direct), front brakes are Ventilated disc, rear brakes are Disc, front suspension is Independent, spring.

What the restyling changed, by arithmetic on the same nameplates:

• 1.0 MT 115 hp: pre-facelift 10.4 s / 198 km/h / mixed 4.5 / CO2 105 / kerb 1319 / gross 1810. Restyle 10.5 s / 192 km/h / mixed 5.2 / CO2 118 / kerb 1330 / gross 1850. The restyle is 0.1 s slower, 6 km/h slower, 0.7 l/100 km thirstier, 13 g/km higher, 11 kg heavier. Power per litre stays 115.1 hp/l (115 hp from 999 cm³).
• 1.0 DSG 115 hp exists only before the restyle (10.4 s, 198 km/h, mixed 4.6, CO2 105). After 2017 the 1.0 DSG in the data is 110 hp, not 115.
• Diesel 1.6 MT: 110 hp and Euro 5 before the restyle (mixed 3.9, city 4.5, highway 3.5, CO2 110); 115 hp and Euro 6 after (mixed 4.3, city 5.1, highway 4.2, CO2 116). You gain 5 hp and lose 0.4 l/100 km mixed.
• Diesel 1.6 DSG: same 110→115 hp step; mixed 4.0 → 4.4; CO2 120 → 111 (the restyle DSG diesel is the CO2 winner despite higher mixed use than the pre-facelift 1.6 MT).
• Diesel 2.0 DSG 150 hp: 0–100 9.2 → 9.3 s; top speed 210 km/h both; mixed 4.6 both; torque 320 → 340 Nm; kerb 1492 → 1530 kg; CO2 not measured before the restyle, 120 g/km after.
• Gasoline 1.2 and 1.4 disappear after the restyle. Gasoline 1.5 (1498 cm³) appears. Entry gasoline moves from 1.2 MT 85 hp to 1.0 MT 85 hp.

Specs: every version, exact names

Same name, different power: three 1.0 MT on the restyle (85 / 110 / 115 hp); two 1.5 DSG (130 / 150 hp); two 1.4 DSG and two 1.4 MT on the pre-facelift (125 / 150 hp); two 1.2 MT (85 / 110 hp).

1 generation, restyling (from 2017)

Compression ratio: not measured on every version. Bore × stroke: not measured on every version.

1 generation (2014–2017)

Power per litre (hp ÷ cm³ × 1000): restyle 1.0 MT 115 hp = 115.1; 1.0 MT 110 hp = 110.1; 1.0 MT 85 hp = 85.1; 1.5 DSG 150 hp = 100.1; 1.5 130 hp = 86.8; 2.0 DSG = 76.2; 1.6 diesel = 72.0 restyle / 68.8 pre-facelift; pre-facelift 1.4 150 hp = 107.5; 1.2 MT 85 hp = 71.0 (lowest specific output).

Performance, mpg, and what the extra power buys

Restyle gasoline ladder (same 999–1498 cm³ family after 2017)

• 1.0 MT 85 hp: 13.0 s, 177 km/h, city 6.1, highway 4.4, mixed 5.0, CO2 115. Lightest restyle 1.0 after the 115: 1335 kg, 15.71 kg/hp. Payload 1850 − 1335 = 515 kg.
• Stepping to 1.0 MT 110 hp: +25 hp, +25 Nm, 0–100 shorter by 2.3 s (13.0 → 10.7), top speed +15 km/h (177 → 192), mixed +0.1 (5.0 → 5.1), kerb +5 kg, still 6-speed Manual instead of 5. Specific output jumps 85.1 → 110.1 hp/l. Weight per hp 15.71 → 12.18 kg/hp.
• 1.0 DSG 110 hp versus that Manual: identical 10.7 s and 192 km/h; Robotic 7 versus Manual 6; kerb 1360 versus 1340 (+20 kg); city 6.0 versus 6.1; highway 4.6 versus 4.5; mixed both 5.1; CO2 both 115. The DSG does not buy acceleration. It buys two extra ratios and 20 kg.
• 1.0 MT 115 hp versus 1.0 MT 110 hp: +5 hp, torque still 200 Nm, 0–100 10.5 versus 10.7 (−0.2 s), top speed both 192, mixed 5.2 versus 5.1, CO2 118 versus 115, kerb 1330 versus 1340 (−10 kg). The 115 is the lightest restyle gasoline (1330 kg) and the best restyle 1.0 on kg/hp (11.57).
• 1.5 MT 130 hp versus 1.0 MT 115 hp: +15 hp, displacement 1498 versus 999, 0–100 9.6 versus 10.5 (−0.9 s), top speed 202 versus 192 (+10), mixed both 5.2, CO2 both 118, kerb 1385 versus 1330 (+55 kg), gross 1900 versus 1850. Rear suspension becomes Independent, spring (the 1.0 restyle cars use Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem). Torque stays 200 Nm — you are not buying more pull, you are buying 0.9 s and 10 km/h.
• 1.5 DSG 130 hp versus 1.5 MT 130 hp: same 9.6 s, 202 km/h, 200 Nm, mixed 5.2, CO2 118. DSG adds 25 kg (1410 vs 1385) and 20 kg gross (1920 vs 1900). City 6.4 vs 6.5, highway 4.5 vs 4.4.
• 1.5 DSG 150 hp versus 1.5 DSG 130 hp: +20 hp, +50 Nm (250 vs 200), 8.8 vs 9.6 s (−0.8 s), 212 vs 202 km/h (+10), mixed still 5.2, CO2 still 118, kerb +10 kg (1420 vs 1410). This is the only restyle gasoline with 250 Nm. kg/hp 9.47 — best gasoline restyle, second only to pre-facelift 1.4 MT 150 hp at 9.27 kg/hp.

Restyle diesel versus gasoline at the same 115 or 150 hp

• 1.6 MT 115 hp Diesel versus 1.0 MT 115 hp Gasoline: same 115 hp; torque 250 vs 200 (+50 Nm); 0–100 11.1 vs 10.5 (diesel 0.6 s slower); top speed 194 vs 192; mixed 4.3 vs 5.2 (−0.9); city 5.1 vs 6.1; highway 4.2 vs 4.6; CO2 116 vs 118; kerb 1445 vs 1330 (+115 kg); gross 1950 vs 1850. You buy 0.9 l/100 km mixed and 50 Nm; you sell 0.6 s and 115 kg.
• 1.6 DSG 115 hp versus 1.6 MT 115 hp: same 11.1 s and 194 km/h; mixed 4.4 vs 4.3; city 4.6 vs 5.1 (DSG wins in town by 0.5); highway 4.0 vs 4.2; CO2 111 vs 116; kerb 1465 vs 1445. Lowest CO2 in the whole model: 111 g/km.
• 2.0 DSG 150 hp Diesel versus 1.5 DSG 150 hp Gasoline: same 150 hp / 110 kW; torque 340 vs 250 (+90 Nm); 0–100 9.3 vs 8.8 (gasoline 0.5 s quicker); top speed 210 vs 212; mixed 4.6 vs 5.2 (−0.6); city 5.4 vs 6.3; highway 4.1 vs 4.5; CO2 120 vs 118; kerb 1530 vs 1420 (+110 kg); gross 2010 vs 1920. Rear axle Independent, spring on both 150 hp cars. The 2.0 is the heaviest Golf Sportsvan (1530 kg) and the torque peak (340 Nm).

Pre-facelift: when the older map is the better buy on paper

• Pre-facelift 1.0 MT 115 hp mixed 4.5 and CO2 105 versus restyle 1.0 MT 115 hp mixed 5.2 and CO2 118: the 2014–2017 1.0 is 0.7 l/100 km and 13 g/km better, 0.1 s quicker (10.4 vs 10.5), 6 km/h faster (198 vs 192), 11 kg lighter (1319 vs 1330). If the question is gasoline economy, the pre-facelift 1.0 115 hp wins the 1.0 class.
• Pre-facelift 1.6 MT 110 hp mixed 3.9 is the lowest mixed figure in the catalogue (city 4.5, highway 3.5, CO2 110, Euro 5). Restyle 1.6 MT 115 hp mixed 4.3 is 0.4 higher. Highway 3.5 l/100 km is the lowest highway number in the data.
• Pre-facelift 1.4 MT 150 hp and 1.4 DSG 150 hp match the restyle 1.5 DSG 150 hp on 8.8 s and 212 km/h and 250 Nm, from 1395 cm³ instead of 1498. Mixed 5.6 (MT) / 5.4 (DSG) versus restyle 5.2. CO2 not measured on 1.4 MT 150 hp; 126 g/km on 1.4 DSG 150 hp versus 118 on the restyle 1.5. The restyle 150 hp gasoline is the cleaner 150 hp gasoline on the measured CO2.
• Pre-facelift 1.2 MT 85 hp: 13.2 s, 177 km/h, mixed 5.2, CO2 not measured, 160 Nm, 1327 kg. Restyle 1.0 MT 85 hp: 13.0 s, 177 km/h, mixed 5.0, CO2 115, 175 Nm, 1335 kg. The restyle 85 hp is 0.2 s quicker, 15 Nm stronger, 0.2 l/100 km lower mixed — the one case where the restyle entry car beats its predecessor on the same power.

1.2 versus 1.0 at 110 hp (pre-facelift 1.2 vs restyle 1.0)

1.2 MT 110 hp: 10.7 s, 192 km/h, mixed 5.3, CO2 122, 175 Nm, 1324 kg. Restyle 1.0 MT 110 hp: same 10.7 / 192, mixed 5.1 (−0.2), CO2 115 (−7), 200 Nm (+25), 1340 kg. Same sprint, more torque, less fuel, less CO2 after the restyle.

Dimensions, weight, and payload

Clearance 144 mm and tank 50 l do not change with version. Wheels on the restyle (all ten versions): 195/65 R15, 205/55 R16, 225/45 R17, 225/40 R18.

Kerb range: 1319 kg (pre-facelift 1.0 MT 115 hp) to 1530 kg (restyle 2.0 DSG 150 hp) — 211 kg spread. Gross: 1810 kg (same 1.0 MT) to 2010 kg (restyle 2.0 DSG).

Payload (gross − kerb), restyle: 1.0 MT 85 hp 515 kg; 1.0 MT 110 hp 510 kg; 1.0 DSG 110 hp 490 kg; 1.0 MT 115 hp 520 kg (highest restyle 1.0 payload); 1.5 MT 130 hp 515 kg; 1.5 DSG 130 hp 510 kg; 1.5 DSG 150 hp 500 kg; 1.6 MT 115 hp 505 kg; 1.6 DSG 115 hp 505 kg; 2.0 DSG 150 hp 480 kg (lowest restyle payload — the extra 110 kg of kerb versus the 1.5 150 hp is not matched by gross).

Pre-facelift payload examples: 1.0 MT 115 hp 1810 − 1319 = 491 kg; 1.2 MT 85 hp 513 kg; 2.0 DSG 498 kg.

Independent, spring rear axle in the data sits on the stronger gasoline and the 2.0 diesel: restyle 1.5 MT / 1.5 DSG 130 and 150 hp, restyle 2.0 DSG; pre-facelift 1.0 115 hp, 1.2 MT 85 hp, all 1.4, and 2.0 DSG. Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem sits on restyle 1.0 and 1.6, and on pre-facelift 1.2 110 hp and 1.6.

Which version to choose

Daily gasoline, restyle, lowest use of fuel among current 1.0 cars: 1.0 MT 85 hp (mixed 5.0). Only if 13.0 s and 177 km/h are acceptable. The next 25 hp costs 2.3 s and 15 km/h and 0.1 l mixed — that is the steepest performance step in the restyle.

Daily gasoline, restyle, best 1.0 compromise: 1.0 MT 110 hp. Same 10.7 s as the DSG, 20 kg lighter than 1.0 DSG 110 hp, mixed identical 5.1. Take 1.0 DSG 110 hp only for the Robotic 7; it does not change 0–100 or top speed.

Daily gasoline, restyle, lightest 115 hp: 1.0 MT 115 hp (1330 kg, 10.5 s). Versus 110 hp you buy 0.2 s and lose 0.1 mixed and 3 g/km CO2.

If you want 200 Nm and Independent, spring rear on a restyle gasoline: 1.5 MT 130 hp or 1.5 DSG 130 hp. Versus 1.0 MT 115 hp you buy 0.9 s and 10 km/h at the same mixed 5.2. MT versus DSG at 130 hp is 25 kg, not acceleration.

If you want the fastest restyle gasoline: 1.5 DSG 150 hp — 8.8 s, 212 km/h, 250 Nm, mixed still 5.2. Versus the 130 hp DSG you buy 0.8 s, 10 km/h, 50 Nm, 10 kg. There is no 1.5 MT 150 hp in the restyle data; 150 hp gasoline after 2017 is DSG only.

If mixed litres matter more than seconds: restyle 1.6 DSG 115 hp (4.4 mixed, 111 CO2) or 1.6 MT 115 hp (4.3 mixed, 116 CO2). Versus 1.0 MT 115 hp you save 0.8–0.9 l/100 km and add 50 Nm, at +115–135 kg and +0.6 s. Pre-facelift 1.6 MT 110 hp still has the catalogue’s best mixed 3.9 if Euro 5 is acceptable.

If you want maximum torque: restyle 2.0 DSG 150 hp, 340 Nm. Versus restyle 1.5 DSG 150 hp you lose 0.5 s and 2 km/h, gain 90 Nm and 0.6 l/100 km mixed, pay 110 kg. Pre-facelift 2.0 DSG is 20 Nm down (320), 0.1 s quicker (9.2), same mixed 4.6, CO2 not measured.

If you are looking at 2014–2017 stock: do not buy 1.2 MT 85 hp for economy versus the restyle 85 hp — mixed 5.2 vs 5.0, CO2 not measured, 0.2 s slower. Do buy pre-facelift 1.0 MT 115 hp or 1.0 DSG 115 hp if gasoline CO2 105 and mixed 4.5–4.6 beat the restyle 1.0 115. Do buy pre-facelift 1.4 MT 150 hp if you want 8.8 s with a Manual 6 — that pairing does not exist on the restyle. CO2 on that MT is not measured.

Do not buy (on these numbers) if the alternative in the same generation is available: 1.2 MT 85 hp (slowest 13.2 s, weakest specific output 71.0 hp/l); restyle 1.0 MT 85 hp unless payload 515 kg at 1335 kg kerb is the point; restyle 2.0 DSG if you wanted 150 hp without 1530 kg — 1.5 DSG 150 hp is 110 kg lighter and 0.5 s quicker.

Problems, reliability, and sale prices are not measured in this dataset. Eco class is Euro 6 on all restyle versions and on pre-facelift gasoline and 2.0 diesel; pre-facelift 1.6 MT and 1.6 DSG are Euro 5.