VW sold 95,000 Golf Estates in 2008.

The fourth variant of the  new Golf goes on sale in Europe this week, the station wagon or Estate version. While wagons are out of fashion in the U.S., they are wildly popular overseas – VW sold more than 95,000 Estates in 2008 alone. So it’s not surprising that the sixth generation Golf continues the tradition.

For Americans, the Golf, aka Rabbit, aka Golf, aka Rabbit, has had a checkered marketing history. Since VW in the U.S. markets the previous version as a Jetta SportsWagen, we will have  to see how the name ultimately sorts out.

The Estate picks up the latest Golf design cues, sheet metal and interiors.

Starting in Germany at €18,500 ($25,472), which at first seems expensive until you look at the standard equipment list that includes electronic stability control, six airbags, daytime running lights, roof railing, power windows, upshift indicator, power and heated outside mirrors, split folding rear bench seat, central locking and air conditioning. The cars won’t be delivered until this September.

Two driver assistance systems are also available as options for the first time: “Park Assist” or an automatic parking system, and “Rear Assist,” a rearview camera. Another popular option being the large “panorama” sunroof carries over from previous versions.   

The engines mirror those in the 2-door and 4-door Golfs: a turbocharged gasoline direct-injection four-cylinder (TSI) rated at with 90 kW (120 horsepower) and two (TDI) “common rail” turbocharged diesels rated at 77 kW and 103 kW (103 and 138 horsepower).

Other less powerful and less expensive engines without “directly into the cylinder” fuel injection systems are also planned. An optional automatic “dual clutch” transmission can be ordered with the more powerful gasoline and diesel engines.

VW keeps making much of the latest versions of the steering wheel and instrument panel, which are competent, but hardly breakthrough designs.

Outside and inside the Estate picks up the latest Golf design cues, sheet metal and interiors. VW keeps making much of the latest versions of the steering wheel and instrument panel, which are competent, but hardly breakthrough designs.

The Golf over the years has lost the crispness of the original, as it gained weight and luxury and options that made it a much bigger, more expensive car. The styling of the new one hints at the forgotten past by reverting, sort of, to the look of the original grille.

However, the car is rounded and flared, with character lines added. Overall, as always, it’s a safe, mainstream design that is in keeping, on the subdued side, with all current Euro designs. This has worked well over the generations as Golf has sold 26 million units in 120 countries.