2010 Volkswagen Golf 2-Door

Having driven this base Golf back-to-back with its turbocharged GTI brother, I'm not so sure I'd blindly pay an extra $4000 for the extra boost. This in-line five is fairly smooth and provides decent acceleration, especially if you're willing to make the most of your shift points. Yes, the steering wheel is larger than that of the GTI, but this, along with different seats, the bare-bones AM/FM/CD radio, and the lack of a flip-up cover over the 12-volt outlet in the center console, are the only major differences I noted during my time behind the wheel. At no point does this cabin come off as cheap or stripped down - in fact, most of the materials and components are identical to those used in higher-spec Golf and Jetta models, which we've previously lauded as being upscale. Although Phil misses the deluxe audio options, I miss the six-speed manual gearbox used in both the TDI and the GTI, as the I-5 turns around 3000 rpm while cruising at 70 mph. I'm sure the five-speed was chosen to help lower the starting price on this German-built hatchback, but other competitors in the compact class are starting to offer six-speed transmissions as standard equipment. Evan McCausland, Web Producer