VOLKSWAGEN has joined the premium compact wagon segment with a station wagon version of the latest MkVI Golf, with prices starting well under the previously envisaged $30,000 mark.

The 90TSI Trendline manual opens the new range at $26,990 (plus statutory and dealer delivery costs), which is just $2000 more than the equivalent five-door hatch.

The rest of the wagon range comprises an abbreviated version of the hatch line-up, not including the Comfortline manual, GTI and forthcoming R models.

The Golf became available as a wagon overseas with the introduction of the 1991 Golf III, but this is the first time the model has been officially sold in Australia, where it is the first small to medium Volkswagen station wagon since the 1982 Passat Wagon.

The Golf Wagon uses the Jetta sedan platform rather than the hatch’s underpinnings. While all three are closely related, the rear section of the Jetta and Golf wagon are different to the (shorter) hatch. The wagon adds between 70kg and 160kg over the hatch models, and is 432mm longer than the hatch.

Volkswagen Group Australia press and PR manager Karl Gehling said the company would not divulge projected sales forecasts for the Golf Wagon, saying only that: “We see that there is a market there”.

Mr Gehling said that the Golf Wagon will go head to head with the Peugeot 308 Estate and Hyundai i30 CW, as well as targeting shoppers of medium wagons such as the Mazda6 and Ford Mondeo.

The Golf Wagon is available across a condensed version of the hatch’s model line-up, with only two trim levels and four engines offered.

The entry-level Trendline is available with a 77kW TDI turbo-diesel engine or a 90kW TSI petrol engine. The 77kW TDI engine comes with a five-speed manual as standard or an optional seven-speed DSG automatic, while the 90TSI has a six-speed manual as standard and a seven-speed DSG as an option.

The flagship Comfortline specification is equipped with either the 118TSI petrol engine or the 103TDI engine.

The Trendline 90TSI develops 90kW of power at 5000rpm and 200Nm of torque at 1500-4000rpm, and accelerates to 100km/h in a claimed 9.9 seconds (manual and DSG) and consumes an average of 6.7L/100km (manual) and 6.2L/100km (DSG), while C02 outputs are 156g/km (manual) and 144g/km (DSG).

The Trendline 77TDI produces 77kW at 4400rpm and 250Nm at 1900-2500rpm. Acceleration to 100km/h takes 11.9 seconds (manual and DSG) and combined fuel consumption is 4.7L/100km (manual) and 5.2L/100km (DSG), while C02 outputs are a respective 124g/km and 135g/km.

The Comfortline118TSI develops 118kW at 5900rpm and 240Nm at 1750-4500rpm and accelerates to 100km/h in 8.4 seconds. The fuel consumption average is 6.3L/100km, with a C02 output of 148g/km.

The Comfortline 103TDI produces 103kW at 4200rpm and 320Nm at 1750-2500rpm and sprints to 100km/h in 9.7 seconds. Fuel consumption is quoted at 5.7L/100km combined and the C02 output is 149g/km.

Standard in both Trendline and Comfortline are six airbags, ESP electronic stability control, cargo net and a trip computer.

The Wagon doesn’t get the driver’s knee airbag offered in hatch models as it is based on the Jetta platform, which has not been engineered for this additional airbag.

The Trendline has visible exhaust tips, daytime running lights integrated into the headlights, a dual-tone horn, body-coloured door handles and mirrors and the semi-automatic ‘Climatic’ climate-control system.

Other standard features include electric windows (front and rear), remote central locking, cargo area lighting, various storage compartments including one in the roof-liner, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors and roof rails.

The premium model of the line-up, the Comfortline, gets 16-inch alloy wheels, ‘Comfort’ front seats, a rear seat armrest and ski-port and chrome highlights on its grille, side window trim, roof rails and interior light switch, plus leather-clad items like a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel, gearshift knob and handbrake lever.

The options list is comprehensive and comprises much of what is available in the hatch range, including Park Assist ($1400), satellite-navigation ($3000), rear-view camera ($500) and leather seats ($3300).

When the cargo net is installed and cargo is loaded up to the height of the top of the rear bench seatback, the Wagon provides up to 690 litres of load volume. When the rear bench seat is folded down and the interior space is fully utilised, up to 1495 litres of cargo volume can be stowed in the Golf Wagon.

With the rear bench folded, the continuous flat cargo area of the Golf Wagon up to the driver’s backrest measures 1.7 metres. Bins offer storage space under the cargo floor and in the side panelling. Even when the standard factory-installed asymmetrically split bench is not lowered, a respectable 1.07 meters of cargo length is still available. Maximum width is 1.29 metres, while the interior width between wheel wells is 1.01 metres.

The Golf Wagon has a cargo net that is stored behind the back seat and rolls out into place holders in the roof ceiling. The net can be detached and anchored near the front backrests when the backseat is folded. Four tie-down points are fitted to the right and left-side cargo area panels, and also at the front of the cargo area.

There is also a small storage compartment underneath the cargo floor, while fold-out shopping bag hooks are also fitted to the side panels of the cargo area.

Towing capacities are 1300kg (braked) and 690kg (unbraked), while maximum towball download has been set at 75kg.