At its market launch, the successful Estate (more than 95,000 new vehicle registrations in 2008) will be offered in the three equipment versions Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. The latter replaces the previous Sportline version as the top equipment line. Always standard in all versions are six airbags, the ESP electronic stabilisation program with counter steering assist and trailer stabilisation and climate control. Moreover, there are specific details that distinguish each version. The Golf Estate Comfortline, for example, has a standard folding backrest on the front passenger seat that folds completely forward to provide space for especially long objects. The Golf Estate Highline has details such as a panoramic sunroof and Alcantara sport seats that make up its special character.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT – BASE VERSION ELIMINATED
Golf Estate Trendline
The lowest featured version even offers a considerable array of standard features. In Germany, the new model is distinguished from the previous model by additional standard features such as the multi-function display (trip computer), visible tailpipes (beginning at 105 PS), "Titan" decorative accents, daytime running lights integrated in the headlights, dual-tone horn, extended ESP that includes the comfort braking assistant, door handles and door mirror housings painted in body colour and the semi-automatic "Climatic" climate control system. Other standard features include electric window lifts (front and rear), RF remote central locking, a removable cargo area liner, cargo area lighting, various storage compartments including one in the roofliner, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors and roof rails. The Golf Estate Trendline is delivered with size 205/55 R16 tyres as standard equipment.
Golf Estate Comfortline
The differentiating features are even more distinctive on the new Golf Comfortline. Above and beyond "Trendline" items, the additional features that now underscore the high-end character of this version include new 16-inch steel wheels with 5-spoke covers in alloy look, comfort seats and folding front passenger seat,, a chrome light switch, new decorative inserts ("Black Pyramid"), chrome trim strips on the side windows, chrome frames around the horizontal radiator louvers, parking distance control (Park Pilot) front and rear, carpet floor mats, leather for the new three-spoke steering wheel, leather gearshift knob and handbrake lever, new velour upholstery ("Scout") and the RCD 210 radio-CD system with MP3 function.
Golf Estate Highline
The "Highline" equipment line was discontinued on the previous fifth generation of the Golf, in which the Golf Sportline assumed the role of the top model. Exterior features distinguishing the new "Highline" version from the Golf Estate Trendline and Comfortline include: new 17-inch alloy wheels ("Porto") with size 225 tyres, chrome louvres on the radiator grille and air intake screen also in chrome, front fog lights with static curve lights, headlight washing system, heated windscreen washer nozzles and silver-anodised roof railings.
Inside, the Golf Estate Highline makes its appearance with features such as the extended multi-function "Plus" display unit, sport seats with centre panels in Alcantara ("Dropmag" style), decorative inserts in "Brushed Chrome", height adjustment for the front passenger seat, chrome bezels around the light switch, mirror adjustment switches and control keys for the window lifts, heated seats and climate control (Climatronic).
Moreover, there are numerous other features, some of them new, that are available as options on all versions of the new Golf Estate.
INFOTAINMENT
Radio and Radio-Navigation systems
Volkswagen is offering the new Golf Estate with three radio systems and two radio-navigation systems of the 210, 310 and 510 series. Hands-free telephone units can be added to any of the infotainment systems. Always standard equipment on cars with one of the radio and radio-navigation systems, starting with the 310 series, is an AUX-IN port for an external MP3 player. 310 and 510 series units also have an optional USB port (MEDIA-IN) and CD changer (for the navigation systems).
All radio and radio-navigation systems have a MP3-capable CD player. The radio systems carry the designations RCD 210, RCD 310 and RCD 510; their counterparts with an additional navigation system are the RNS 310 and RNS 510. A rearview camera integrated in the tailgate can also be interfaced to the RNS 310, RCD 510 and RNS 510 units. The RNS 510 utilises a 30 GB hard drive for navigation and entertainment.
The latest infotainment unit in the Volkswagen program is the RNS 310 radio-navigation system. Like the larger RNS 510 radio-navigation system and the RCD 510 radio system, it is also equipped with a user-friendly touch-screen. This colour screen measures five inches (400 x 240 pixels). Furthermore, the RNS is equipped with a SD card slot and a dual tuner. The SD card can be used to save navigational data (data copied from the navigation CD) as well as MP3 files for music reproduction.
ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS
Park Assist
The "Park Assist" parking assistance system being offered for the first time in the Golf Estate is an example of high-end technology. The system is capable of nearly automatic reverse parking in parallel parking spaces that are just 1.1 meter longer than the vehicle. The driver just needs to operate the gas pedal, brake and clutch; meanwhile, the Golf Estate steers into the pre-measured space, guided by sensors. Whenever the steering process is interrupted by manual steering, "Park Assist" is deactivated. The intuitively operated system is started by pressing a button located right in front of the gearshift knob.
While driving down the road at speeds up to 30 km/h and at a distance of 0.5 to 1.5 meters from other parked cars, ultrasonic sensors detect all parking spaces aligned with the roadway on either the left or right (depending on the turn signal direction that is set), and a control module computes the ideal parking path. "Park Assist" communicates the starting position to the driver via the multi-function display. Then the driver shifts into reverse gear.
Now appearing on the display is the message "Steering control active! Watch your surroundings!" The driver only needs to accelerate, apply the clutch and perform braking during the rest of the parking process; the steering is handled by the Golf Estate. As soon as the "Park Pilot" switches to a continuous signal at the rear, this indicates that the optimal distance to the next vehicle has been reached (approx. 20 centimetres). If the speed is excessive and/or the driver makes any sort of steering wheel movement, "Park Assist" is instantaneously deactivated. Generally, the entire parking process after shifting to reverse gear takes only 15 seconds.
Rearview camera
The new generation of the Golf Estate will also be available for the first time with a rearview camera, or what is known as "Rear Assist". As soon as the reverse gear is engaged, the camera integrated in the tailgate monitors the space behind the Golf Estate.
The system can be ordered in conjunction with the new touch-screen radio and radio-navigation systems RNS 310, RCD 510 and RNS 510. Camera images are transmitted to the touch-screen as real-time images. The path steered is also shown by orientation lines on the screen. Even the smallest of obstacles are easy to recognise with the rearview camera, and the tightest of parking spaces can be mastered with millimetre accuracy. "Rear Assist" also simplifies the process of hooking up trailers. The camera itself has a wide-angle lens. Horizontally, it acquires objects over an angular range of 130 degrees, and vertically over a range of 100 degrees.