VOLKSWAGEN Golf V Variant/ Jetta Sportwagon 2007-2014 Photos, engines & full specs

Volkswagen launched the Golf Variant (station-wagon) at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. It was an expected member of the family. Some might said it was an awaited version.

While the market trend started to switch from MPV to crossover and SUVs, Volkswagen and other carmakers still insisted on the station wagon market as a true alternative, and that was a correct assumption. These kinds of vehicles offered better running costs than the crossovers and the MPVs and still offered enough interior room for a family with a toddler.

The Golf V was a great success thanks to its design and the engineering inside it. The angled headlights with bigger lamps inside and the body's fluid lines made it an instant hit. It was developed with some concessions for the design, but nothing to worry about. It lost fewer points in practicality than it gained on the image. It was 36 cm (14.2") longer than the hatchback version due to the extra luggage area. Unlike its predecessor, the tailgate and the D-pillars were raked to improve the car's look.

Inside, the Golf V's dashboard was plain and simple, with a big center console between the driver and the passenger. The blue, back-lit instrument cluster was easy to read and comforting on long driving roads. On the center stack, depending on the option, the manufacturer installed a CD-radio for the base models or a complete infotainment unit with a sat-nav system. The rear passengers could sit well thanks to the longer roofline that offered enough headroom. The Golf Variant was fitted as standard with a split-folding seatback for the bench to expand the storage area.

Under the hood, Volkswagen installed a wide choice of diesel and gasoline engines with a power ranging between 80 hp and 170 hp.