2015 Volkwagen Golf Sportwagon: The SUV Antidote

Don't look for any differentiation between the standard Golf and the Golf Sportwagon under the hood.

What's much easier to notice is the fact that the Golf Sportwagon is significantly more gifted in the cargo compartment as compared to the five-door flavour of the Golf hatchback.

Cargo keeners will no doubt point out that the 2015 Golf Sportwagon hasn't really put any distance between itself and the older model.

Part of the 2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagon's appeal is the fact that it shares its entire MQB platform with the hatchback edition of the car.

Volkswagen's infotainment system is good, but not quite at the same level as class-leaders.

The new Sportwagon is somewhat larger than the previous-generation edition.

Only eagle eyes will be able to spot the dimensional increase in length and width (and almost no one will pick up on its slightly lower height).

One of the most compelling reasons to consider the 2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagon is because it's not an SUV.

The Golf Sportwagon offers SUV-levels of hauling capacity without the fuel mileage penalty of all-wheel drive or the boring driving dynamics of a too-tall ride height.

There's a wide range of transmission options in the Golf Sportwagon, including two different manual and automatic options.

The wagon niche needs more champions, and the Golf Sportwagon is happy to step up to the plate.

It would be a stretch to say that the Sportwagon lives up to the first word in its compound name.

The TDI edition makes use of a 2.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder unit that churns out 150 horses and 236 lb-ft of twist.

Entry-level Sportwagon models are outfitted with the same 1.8-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder found in the hatch.

There's additional passenger room to be found at almost every position, and the flatter load floor and lower liftover at the rear of the Sportwagon make it easier to load.

Have you ever looked at the Volkswagen Golf hatchback and thought 'it's simply not practical enough?'

The car's lack of growth is more than balanced out by an interior that is bigger overall than ever before, thanks to the MQB platform's more effective use of space.

The SEL trim offers heated leather seats, a 5.8-inch navigation and infotainment touchscreen, and a well-executed interior.

While the market for crossovers might seem infinite, the buying habits of a significant number of Canadians indicate a thirst for small, practical vehicles that sticker at an affordable price.

The base Golf Sportwagon's $22,495 starting price is cheaper than the previous model.

The Golf Sportwagon is certainly more pleasant to drive than the majority of sport-utility vehicles at its price point, and it's definitely easier to park.

The 1,868 litres of total cargo space available in the Sportwagon is a full 376 litres greater than what the hatch has to offer.