First look: Golf V wagon has legs

VOLKSWAGEN GROUP AUSTRALIA is seriously investigating the local release of the German giant's third-generation Golf wagon following the redesigned model's global premiere at last week's Geneva motor show.

A "comprehensive analysis" is underway at VGA for the wagon, which is known as the "Variant" and features a cargo capacity of 690 litres – rising to 1550 litres with the rear seats folded.

VGA executives say the better-than-expected fact that one-third of all new Passat sales are wagons augurs well for Australia's first Golf wagon.

"For a long time Australia was not a wagon market," managing director Jutta Dierks told GoAuto at the local Eos launch late last month. "But we will seriously look at the possibility of a smaller wagon given the success of Passat." Measuring 4560mm long, the Golf V Variant range is powered in Europe by 75kW and (supercharged and turbocharged TSI "Twin Charger") 103kW petrol engines, plus 77kW and 103kW TDI turbo-diesel engines.

The Golf Variant 2.0 TDI has a top speed of 205km/h, consumes just 5.6L/100km and returns average CO2 emissions of 148g/km.