Tests and Features

Wolfsburg, Germany – Launched almost 30 years ago to replace a Beetle that was fading fast, back then the Golf was a simple car powered by a none-too-powerful engine and equipment that was on par with that of economy cars at the time. However, it revolutionized the design world with …

Take 30 young drivers between the ages of 16 to 26 carefully chosen from several thousand hopefuls. Put them behind the wheel of race cars rigorously and identically adjusted by the manufacturer. Preferably choose one of the cleanest and most frugal compact sedans out there. Then set up a solid …

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Thus begins one of English literature’s better known works; Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, and thus begins my experience in a pair of 2009 Jetta TDIs. For you see, although there may be little that technically separated …

The technology used to retract a hardtop into the trunk is far from new. In fact, in the 1930s, Peugeot introduced the Eclipse, a model that could do just that. Then, in the fifties, Ford brought this technology back, which Mercedes-Benz has done more recently. But these days, it takes …

Look no further. The modern compact sports car was invented by Volkswagen more than thirty years ago by a handful of engineers who were determined to create a sports version of the first Golf. After several very impressive prototypes with wide tires and modified suspensions, it was decided that the …

Volkswagen has been offering a minivan since last fall, which is a little surprising considering that this market is disappearing before our eyes. But when the decision was made in 2005, little did we know what problems were on the way in 2009... For its new minivan, Volkswagen just looked …

Select third. Trail brake ever so slightly into the turn in. Momentarily dial in some opposite lock and enjoy the rotation through the apex before introducing the throttle pedal’s backside to the floormat to exit cleanly, taking just a short glance in the rearview mirror to appreciate the glorious streaks …

It’s no secret that the automobile market consists largely of products that are not made with you directly in mind. That vehicles are made to please American tastes should come as no surprise given that more cars are sold in a few weeks in the United States than are sold …