2016 Volkswagen Golf R Review - All The Right Compromises In All The Right Places

Yes, the Canadian base price of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R is $11,400 more than the base price of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI. 

$11,400 for an additional 82 horsepower hardly seems worth it, does it?

THE GOOD + Power across rev range + A sedate small hatch... + ... or a serious hot hatch + Handsome from every angle + Fun to drive at any speed

THE BAD – Never wants to get crazy – Rear legroom could be better – Shift action isn't the best – GTI is way less $ – Missing expected features

But the $11,400 spread is hugely misleading. To begin with, that GTI base price refers to the 3-door model – the Golf R is 5-door only. The Golf R is only $6000 more than the least expensive 5-door Golf GTI. 

Then factor in the addition of all-wheel-drive – standard on the Golf R; not available on the Golf GTI. Traditionally, on models where all-wheel-drive was a standalone option, Volkswagen Canada has charged $2300. Factor that into the difference of these two cars and the margin is skimmed to $3700. 

Then consider the equipment differences. To get a Golf GTI 5-door with Golf R-like kit, you'd need to step up to the 220-horsepower Performance model which costs only $1900 less than the basic Golf R, and that's before the R's $2300 all-wheel-drive system is factored in. 

They won't be equipped identically – Volkswagen offers features on the GTI that aren't available on the R, and vice versa. But it's fair to say that the R, especially with its rarity and superior resale value, is far more than just a $40K GTI with 82 extra ponies. 

The 2016 Volkswagen Golf R is a whole 'nuther beast.

WHAT IS IT?
40 years ago, Volkswagen began selling GTI versions of its Golf small car. In North America, the Rabbit GTI arrived about three years later.

2016 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R Base Price: $41,700 * As-Tested Price: $43,715 * Colour: Lapiz Blue Assembly: Wolfsburg, Germany Drive Type: all-wheel-drive Transmission: 6-speed manual Engine: 2.0L DOHC 16-valve turbocharged I-4 Horsepower: 292 @ 5400 rpm Torque: 280 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm Curb Weight: 3305 pounds Length: 168.4 inches Width: 70.8 inches Height: 56.5 inches Wheelbase: 103.5 inches Tires: Continental ContiSportContact Tire Size: 235/35R19 Passenger Volume: 2647 litres Cargo Volume: 645 litres Max. Cargo Volume: 1492 litres EPA City: 22 MPG EPA Highway: 31 MPG NRCAN OEE City: 10.9 L/100km NRCAN OEE Hwy: 7.7 L/100km Observed: 26.4 mpg Observed: 8.9 L/100km * Canadian dollars, includes $1705 in fees.

The idea of a higher-performance, more luxurious, all-wheel-drive Golf wasn't fully realized until the end of the fourth-generation Golf's Golf R32 run. 

A 3.2L V6 engine and all-wheel-drive didn't help the Mk4 Golf R32's weight problem. Yet the first R, equipped in North America with a 6-speed manual transmission and only available with two doors, remains a highly respected car. 

The Mk5 Golf R32 ditched the manual transmission for a direct-shift gearbox but was again a two-door car in North America. 

The Mk6 Golf R, reviewed by GCBC three years ago, lost the numerals in its name, gained the option of two extra rear doors, and lost two cylinders. A 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder was more powerful than the old V6, and Volkswagen ditched the DSG in favour of a 6-speed manual.

Now we're in the seventh-generation of Volkswagen's venerable Golf line, and the R will enjoy a longer run during the Mk7's tenure as a four-door model only. 

The 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder is more powerful – Volkswagen didn't detune the 292-horsepower engine compared with its Audi S3 partner car. 

All-wheel-drive is still standard. This time, you can stick with the 6-speed manual or spend an extra $1400 on a two-pedal DSG. 

In Canada, the Golf R is available in six colours, two of which are white, and one of which (Onyx White Pearl) costs extra. The lone option is a $2015 Technology Package. 

Delivered to GCBC Towers by Volkswagen Canada in mid-May, our 2016 Volkswagen Golf R was equipped with the Technology Package, the standard 6-speed manual, and Lapiz Blue paint.

HOW BIG IS IT?
The 2016 Volkswagen Golf R is every inch a Golf, which means the R is three inches shorter, bumper to bumper, than the Ford Focus hatchback and 14 inches shorter than the sedan version of Honda's tenth-generation Civic, Canada's best-selling car. The Golf offers more passenger volume than the Focus hatch; less than the Civic. The Golf R's 645-litre cargo area is deeper than you think it'll be – extra rear legroom at the expense of some cargo capacity wouldn't go amiss. 

Weighing in at 3305 pounds, the Golf R is 267 pounds heavier than the Golf GTI we tested late in 2014. The R is also about an inch lower than regular Golfs and about a centimetre lower than the GTI.

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DOES IT WORK?
The fourth iteration of Volkswagen's high-performance Golf R isn't faultless. The short-throw shift action can feel a little crude at first. Rear seat legroom isn't up to the standard of what a future Honda Civic Type R buyer will encounter. Owners of the Audi S3, this Golf R's fraternal twin, enjoy Audi's superior MMI system, not Volkswagen's clunkier infotainment unit. At this price point, you may also expect features like a sunroof and a power passenger seat. Too bad.

And in a world of Ford Focus RS drift modes and the Subaru WRX STI's Sport Sharp setting, the Golf R can feel positively chock full of decorum. If the Focus RS is the automotive equivalent of running with the bulls in Pamplona and the STI equals swinging from Moab's Corona Arch, the Golf R is white clothes at Wimbledon. 

But strawberries and cream are very delicious, indeed. And when your years of running with bulls and swinging between giant rocks are over, the Golf R provides nearly as much performance with far less noise, vibration, harshness, stiffness, and boy racer addenda.

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Historical Monthly & Yearly Volkswagen Golf Sales Figures
2015 Audi S3 Driven Review
2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Driven Review
2016 Subaru WRX Driven Review
2013 Volkswagen Golf R Driven Review

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The EA888 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder (292 horsepower, 280 lb-ft of torque) is at the centre of the proceedings. Though the DSG in Audi's identically-engined S3 (and in some Golf Rs) may produce the quicker car on track and on the spec sheet, the dual-clutch transmission displays a measure of lag in real-world driving which, as it turns out, highlights the responsiveness of the 2.0L turbo when married to this Golf R's manual transmission. 

Any gear works at any time. Second focuses your mind, and your right foot, on the 2.0L's prodigious torque. Third is hugely flexible. Fourth would suffice as the Golf R's only gear if need be, pulling from low rpm with gusto while quickly pulling you into illegal territory with ease. If you think the GTI is quick, you'll be amazed by the Golf R, the way turbo lag is minimized and brief prods of the accelerator result in moments of alarming takeoff, a trait the GTI never displays.

All Photo Credits: Timothy Cain ©www.GoodCarBadCar.net
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Speed can't be the Golf R's only goal in life, however. Greater performance is available for less money, whether it be in the form of the Ford Mustang GT or the Nissan 370Z. The Mk7 Golf R is measurably and obviously quicker than the Mk6 Golf R we drove three years ago, but it's also lighter on its toes, more anxious to turn in, swifter to respond to abrupt driver inputs, and more comfortable while doing so.

The Mk7 Golf's sturdy structure permitted Volkswagen's suspension developers to create a decidedly agile car that still knows how to cope with potholes, frost heaves, and expansion joints. Or at least a car that can cope with such rough roads, if the dampers are left in Comfort mode.

Volkswagen's Mode selector sits to the left of the shifter and shuffles between Comfort, Normal, and Race. But it's the final press of the button that reveals Individual. Now press "Adjust" in the top right of the touchscreen and leave the sound, lighting, adaptive cruise, and engine in their raciest Sport settings, but switch ride quality to Comfort and the steering to its lightest Comfort mode, too. 

Heavier steering does not bring feel into the Golf R's equation, and the Golf R's cornering ability is more than sufficient in Comfort mode in 95% of on-road situations.

Now you're driving a faster and more luxurious GTI that handles like a sharper GTI, a Golf that copes better with winter than a front-wheel-drive GTI, and displays all the refinement and comfort of a conventional Golf. 

Oh, and the R has all the practicality and flexibility of a regular Golf, too. Practicality, flexibility? The Golf R is evidently not a Mustang or 370Z.

IS ANYONE BUYING IT?
Volkswagen Canada doesn't break down Golf sales figures by trim line, though we do know that the GTI accounts for 12% of total Golf volume.

That's a much lower figure than the GTI achieves in the United States, where the overall Golf line is far less popular than it is in Canada. Of the 17,241 Golfs sold in America in the first four months of 2016, 41% were GTIs, another 11% were Golf Rs. That's 8936 total performance Golf sales so far this year. For perspective, Subaru reported 9974 WRX and STI sales in the U.S. in the first-third of 2016.

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Which One? Golf GTI vs. Audi S3 vs. Golf R
Drag Race: Golf GTI vs. Golf GTD vs. Golf R

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SHOULD I BUY SOMETHING ELSE INSTEAD?
There are certainly a handful of hugely intriguing possibilities when it comes to practical performance at the Golf R's $41,700-$45,115 price point. The most obvious competitors are the more ostentatious, more performance-oriented Ford Focus RS and Subaru WRX STI, both of which feature all-wheel-drive just like the Golf R. Pricing for the Subaru starts at $40,000 and rises to roughly $47,000, but the interior and relative lack of refinement will be a letdown after time spent in the Golf R. The Ford Focus RS takes performance to an obscene level, but pricing begins at $49,669, on par with the 2016 BMW M235i when equipped with its optional $3750 all-wheel-drive system.

None of them bring together luxury, refinement, and performance with affordability quite as well as the Golf R.

HOW MUCH SHOULD I PAY?
Tempting though it may be to grab the most affordable Golf R, come resale time it'll be helpful to have the $2015 Technology Package: adaptive cruise, blind spot monitoring, navigation, auto braking, front and rear parking sensors. Save $1400 by skipping the 6-speed DSG and you have a car just like our test specimen, a $43,715 2016 Volkswagen Golf R, including $1705 in delivery fees.

WHAT'S THE VERDICT?
If there could be just one car, only one vehicle produced by all the automobile assembly plants around the world, solely one vehicle that satisfactorily meets all the conflicting demands of all new vehicle buyers, the Mk7 2016 Volkswagen Golf R would be a top pick. It can carry surprisingly big loads, but it can also squeeze into a downtown parking spot. It's luxuriously equipped and full of safety kit, but it's not nearly as pricey as similarly outfitted cars from premium German marques. The Golf R is supremely quick, but it's also decently economical. Performance tires will make it fun on a track day, but there's all-wheel-drive for owners who spend half their year in winter conditions. Sure, it can't seat eight like a Honda Odyssey, but there's room for 150% more passengers than you'll fit inside a Mazda MX-5 Miata. 

Yeah, we know, if there could be only one vehicle, it'd be a Ford F-150 SuperCrew XLT 4x4. Duh. Of course.

But we want it to be the Volkswagen Golf R. Almost every time a new vehicle visits GCBC Towers, we're ready on day seven for the vehicle to depart. Bring on the next one. Put another slice in the toaster. Change the channel. Turn the page. 

The 2016 Volkswagen Golf R, on the other hand, need never leave. It's difficult to envision replacing a minivan, our 2015 Honda Odyssey, with a compact hatchback. But the idea is now under serious consideration.

Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures. Follow on Twitter @goodcarbadcar and on Facebook. The Golf R was supplied by Volkswagen Canada's press office.

GCBC's The Good 12 For 2016

GCBC's The Good 12 for 2016 includes the vehicles that would be most welcomed as permanent members of the GCBC Towers driveway. Park them out front on Christmas morning. Tie them with a bow. We appreciate your kindness.

None have base prices above USD $67,000. They reflect many different parts of the market, they come from different places, they're powered by very different engines, they're accomplished in different areas. And when any one of them drives by, I want it for myself. 

Click any of the images to be taken to the model's Sales Stats page. Don't forget to check out GCBC's The Bad 8, the cars which we don't want to receive even as gifts. For more on what The Good 12 really is, visit the GCBC Awards page.

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	Chevrolet Suburban Can it ____? Yes. What about ___? Of course. Even ____? Yeah, that too. Fill in the blanks however you want. The Chevrolet Suburban is what you buy when you need one vehicle to meet every potential vehicular need.
	Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Remember the first Dodge Charger SRT-8 with its audacious 425-horsepower V8? That car was an edgy and affordable Detroit riposte to the typical German muscle sedan. This Charger SRT? 707 horsepower. Edgy, indeed.
	Ford Mustang There isn't just one good Mustang. The V6 is fun and affordable. The GT is fast and evocative. The Shelby GT350 is a proper European sports car fighter. They all look terrific. They're all far more modern than Mustangs were just two years ago.
	Honda Odyssey The value quotient with every minivan is unbelievably convincing. The Odyssey separates itself from the people-carrying pack with the sort of steering, ride, and handling that, rather than punishing you, rewards you instead.
	Jeep Wrangler Just ask the politicians who flop because they couldn't pull off the cowboy-boots-at-the-Iowa-state-fair look: authenticity matters. The Wrangler is exactly what the Wrangler is supposed to be.
	Mazda 3 5-Door Mazda's most popular car is the best all-around small car money can buy. It's sufficiently quick and fuel efficient, tackles a corner with aplomb, and marries attractive interior styling to terrific exterior styling.
	Mazda MX-5 Miata You wake up early on a Saturday morning in July. You took care of the day's pressing concerns last night. You own a Miata, so you leave the house to go for a drive. To nowhere in particular.
	Mini Clubman Most Minis are simply too small. The first two big Minis – Countryman and 4-Door – are awkward. So why not a Mini wagon? Mixing great on-road behaviour and a small wagon body at an affordable price produces a winner.
	Porsche Macan S 20 years ago the idea would have sounded foolish. But what's so categorically wrong about a Porsche with Porsche-like dynamics, all-weather appeal, and space for five people and their stuff?
	Ram 1500 EcoDiesel The Ram 1500 is a very good pickup truck, with or without the diesel. Highly regarded handling, true full-size capability, and attractive styling are integral to the equation. But mixing all this torque with so little fuel is a remarkable achievement.
	Volkswagen Golf GTI Before you even spend time with the GTI, you know it will be good. But then it's better than that. More space than you expected. More power. More expertise on a twisty road. And a more mature blend of performance attributes than you thought possible.
	Volvo XC90 Nobody does wagons quite like Volvo. But the modern wagon isn't really a wagon, is it? We want to ride high, climb snowbanks, and see the traffic beneath us. Thus, Volvo presents the second-gen XC90, with one of the best interiors in the current automotive universe and a prototypical Swedish exterior.

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RECOMMENDED READING
2015's The Good 12
2014's The Good 12
Every Vehicle Ranked By November 2015 YTD U.S. Sales
Every Vehicle Ranked By November 2015 Canadian Sales
2016's The Bad 8

Auto News For Wednesday, December 16, 2015 - Infiniti Readies A 400-Horsepower Q50

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories and videos for Wednesday, December 16, 2015.

HORSEPOWER
Ever since Infiniti restored its G nameplate in 2002, the brand's entry-level sedan has been anything but short on power. But for the 2016 model year, Infiniti's G35/G37 successor, the Q50, will be offered with even more power, including a 400-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6. There will also be a 300-horsepower V6 and a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder with 208 horsepower, an engine you know from the Mercedes-Benz CLA250, Mercedes-Benz GLA250, Mercedes-Benz Metris, and Infiniti's new Q30 and QX30.

SLC
As pitiful as alphanumeric names so often are, Mercedes-Benz appeared to have built up some cachet with the SLK roadster. So they're throwing it away, just as they've tossed overboard the M-Clas, GL-Class, and GLK-Class. The SLK is now the SLC, and replacing the SLK55 AMG is this Mercedes-AMG SLC43. Replacing the 5.5L V8 is a 3.0L twin-turbo V6. So what's the deal with the 43 part?

TTAC
Ford's four former core brands at the Blue Oval's Premier Automotive Group haven't completely gone their separate ways – Jaguar and Land Rover remain paired at India's Tata Motors. But Chinese-owned Volvo and Ford-owned Lincoln and the JLR tandem are now isolated entities. How has their status been affected in the U.S. over the last decade?

INSIDE THE AUTO INDUSTRY
To what degree can Volkswagen turn the tide of public opinion if the company introduces an all-electric Microbus at the CES next month? Likely not as far as Volkswagen could turn the tide if they delivered a production Microbus with a mass-appeal powertrain, a vehicle that would appear on driveways near you in 2017.

WATCH
We're big fans of the new Mini Clubman. After Mini flubbed the first-generation, the new Clubman is a genuinely spacious Mini, but with more handsome proportions than the 5-door. And the barn doors do look cool, even though they're a bit of a nuisance.

Auto News For Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - AWD Toyota Prius Stays In Japan

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories and videos for Wednesday, December 9, 2015.

NOT SO BAD?
Volkswagen initially believed some 800,000 cars in Europe were sold with falsified emissions ratings. But the scandal may only be linked to 36,000 cars, as it turns out.

FUTURE?
You can now buy a fourth-generation Toyota Prius with all-wheel-drive. In Japan. 

AUTOFOCUS
Thanks to the launch of the new iM, Scion is on the rebound in Canada. Which isn't saying much.

TTAC
November sales at the Volkswagen brand tumbled in the United States. Leading causes for the decline? Low inventory, volume brought forward into October, a tarnished image, and, well, you know, the inability to sell diesels.

WATCH
Consumer Reports' new crash test methods for child seats have led the publication to encourage parents to move older infants into a rear-facing convertible seat by their first birthday even if the child hasn't outgrown their infant seat.

Auto News For Monday, December 7, 2015 - Volkswagen Dealers Are Frustrated

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories and videos for Monday, December 7, 2015.

INSIDE THE AUTO INDUSTRY
Volkswagen dealers are frustrated, Automotive News reports, because, as one dealer GM said, "You're selling from empty shelves." 

FUTURE
While you're waiting for the first versions of the gorgeous new Buick LaCrosse to arrive in Enterprise fleets and complete their run in Enterprise fleets so you can buy an inexpensive luxury car, Buick will begin selling their first Chinese-built vehicle in America, the Envision.

MINIVANS
The 2017 Chrysler Town & Country must be a revolutionary product. But while FCA's Chrysler brand attempts to capitalize on what remains of the minivan market, FCA's Dodge brand will continue with the current Grand Caravan.

AUTOFOCUS
Volkswagen's in trouble, but through the first ten months of 2015, the three-best-selling European vehicles in Canada are all Volkswagens. It helps that most competitors are upmarket, far more costly vehicles.

REVIEW
Take one of the planet's most fun-to-drive cars, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata, and remove the manual transmission. What do you have? An MX-5 with an automatic. Is it any good? 

WATCH
On a YouTube full of quick hit Ford Fusion car reviews, odd cats, strange birds, and abundant iPhone unboxings, evo magazine's excellence in cinematography stands apart, particularly during their awe-inspiring Car Of The Year test in Scotland.

Auto News For November 24, 2015 - Audi Has A 3.0L Diesel Software Fix

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories, recalls and videos for Tuesday, November 24, 2015.

FUTURE
BMW’s latest Concept Compact Sedan is a handsome little thing that previews a sub-3-Series entry-level BMW. The car was introduced at an auto show in Guangzhou, China, but there’s no reason to believe this couldn’t be a global model. 

DIESEL
There’s a fix for 3.0L diesel engines, Audi announced yesterday. The software update needs to be approved by the EPA and CARB, but the news suggests that 85,000 Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen vehicles with the 3.0L diesel can be remedied with software alone. 

DETROIT
Jaguar and Land Rover won’t display cars at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. The two Indian-owned British luxury automakers prefer to emphasize auto shows in New York and Los Angeles. 

REVIEW
The Wall Street Journal’s Dan Neil praises the new fourth-gen Lexus RX plenty, but also notes that, "The preproduction RX I drove sounds kind of thrumming and unhappy in the lower rpms, around town, and the 8-speeder shifts like it’s just trying to stay busy.” 

WATCH 
Curiously, Fiat USA’s recent commercial, featuring Pentatonix, aired during the American Music Awards and failed to display in any meaningful way the company’s latest model, the 500X.

Auto News For Friday, November 20, 2015 - Subaru XV Crosstrek Is Now The Subaru Crosstrek

Here are the six must-read, must-watch auto news stories, recalls and videos for Friday, November 20, 2015.

SUBARU
Once upon a time, Subaru decided to really shake things up by referring to the flop that was the B9 Tribeca as simply the Tribeca, sans B9. Fast forward to model year 2016, and the success that is the XV Crosstrek is losing its XV preface.

VW
Outside of the costs already incurred by Volkswagen and the damage done to the brand’s reputation, at least one of the recalls the brand will soon begin won’t be nearly as costly as you likely expected. “The technical fixes for the 1.6-liter diesel engines require installing a 10-euro ($10.74) sensor inside the air filter and a software update,” Reuters says.

SUPERCAR LIVING
You’ve often dreamed of one day owning a proper supercar. But would you really want to live with one on a daily basis? CAR Magazine is going to spend six months with a McLaren 650S Spider. “No-one would dream of running a 458 Speciale as an everyday car, but with its greater refinement, flawless ergonomics and versatile Proactive suspension, the 650S promises to be a supercar you can use like a supermini.” 

RECALL
Hyundai is recalling 304,900 copies of the 2011 and 2012 Sonata because, "the brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the stop lamp switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.”

Toyota is recalling 30,812 copies of the 2013-2015 Avalon and the 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and Lexus ES300h because, "the Pre-Collision System may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.” 

WATCH
We’ve been waiting, and it’s finally here. 52 minutes of Chris Harris, Tiff Needell, and Marino Franchitti hustling the Ferrari LaFerrari, Porsche 918 Spyder, and McLaren P1 around the circuit at Portimao is how you’re going to spend the next 52 minutes of your day.


WATCH MORE 
It’s been more than two years since we spent two weeks with the third-generation Acura MDX. Now it’s time for an Alex On Autos video review of the 2016 MDX.

Auto News For Tuesday, November 17, 2015 - Ford Refreshes Escape For 2017

Here are the seven must-read, must-watch auto news stories, recalls and videos for Tuesday, November 17, 2015.

FORD
Ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Ford introduced a facelifted 2017 Escape with a new front fascia, new technology, and new engines. The Escape’s new 2.0L turbo is said to be more powerful and efficient, a 1.5L turbo – like the 2.0L – features stop-start tech, and Ford also debuted SYNC Connect, which will enable owners to start the vehicle, unlock the vehicle, and check other things on the vehicle from a remote location. The Escape is Canada’s top-selling SUV; America’s second-best-selling SUV.

VW
The 2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune won’t save Volkswagen from its diesel emissions troubles, nor will it be a mainstream car. But to Beetle enthusiasts, it’s likely everything they wanted the Beetle to already be.

KIA
Toyota struck gold with the Prius. But with the auto industry increasingly earnings its keep with SUVs and crossovers, Kia is going to try to replicate the Prius’s success with a dedicated hybrid crossover, the Niro. 

AUTOFOCUS
Across much of the world, Volvo has not been struggling. But in North America, the brand’s sales fell so low some wondered whether its Chinese ownership would want to continue funding the North American operations. The XC90 is here now, however, and it’s selling very well, and Volvo thus appears to be on its way back.

TTAC
Scion is about to introduce a new crossover based on the Toyota C-HR Concept. Scion is already displaying signs of life because of the iM and iA. The C-HR could be just what the brand needs to regain the strength Scion displayed a decade ago. 

RECALL
BMW is recalling 7162 copies of the 2016 5-Series – 528i, 535i, 550i, 535d, and M5 – because of, "an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that may have been bent downwards, preventing the child seat from fully engaging both lower anchors.” 

WATCH 
Americans couldn’t have the first-generation Smart Fortwo. The second Fortwo sold well at first but gradually waned. The third-generation is believed to be a dramatic improvement. Here’s Alex Dykes’ Alex On Autos review, the most detailed and thorough on YouTube.

Auto News For Monday, November, 16, 2015 - Volkswagen Dealers Need More Cars

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories, recalls and videos for Monday, November 16, 2015.

VW
Against expectations, Volkswagen U.S. sales increased in October 2015, albeit modestly. Now, Volkswagen dealers have a new problem. They don’t have enough cars and Tiguans to sell. 

AUTOFOCUS
This list of Canada’s 25 best-selling passenger cars through the first ten months of 2015 is packed at the top end with vehicles that aren’t selling as often this year as they did in 2014.

REVIEW
It was only last night that we saw an old Land Rover Defender waiting at the Eastern Passage Autoport in Nova Scotia to be loaded onto a ship headed for who knows where. There’s nothing like a Defender, which North Americans haven’t been offered for sale in many years, to give a Land Rover fan a true case of the wants. But what if you could have a Defender, what if you had the money to actually buy your own? Would you - or would the driving experience be too off-putting?

TTAC
Five crossovers from Chevrolet and GMC are as old as the hills. But they’re selling better than ever.

WATCH 
Early reviews of the 2016 Nissan Titan XD are in, and the word from PickupTrucks.com’s Mark Williams is good. The Titan XD splits the difference between regular full-size trucks and their heavy-duty brethren, as Nissan attempts to find a larger niche to exploit in the booming truck market. So it’s good, but will anybody buy it?

Auto News For Friday, November 13, 2015 - Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 Is The Best Winter Tire

Here are the six must-read, must-watch auto news stories, recalls and videos for Friday, November 13, 2015.

VW
Volkswagen is encouraging its workers to feel perfectly comfortable blowing the proverbial whistle. For another couple weeks, that is.

INSIDE THE AUTO INDUSTRY
Buick has historically been an enormously popular auto brand in China. Buick used to be an enormously popular auto brand in America. The two shall finally meet if, when, Buick begins selling the Envision in the United States early next year. And yes, the Envision is built in China.

RECALL
Kia is recalling 256,459 copies of the 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV because, "the adhesive used to secure the steering pinion gear to the steering gear assembly may have insufficient strength, and as a result, the pinion gear may separate from the steering gear assembly."

Porsche is recalling 21,835 Macans (model years 2015 and 2016) because they, "have a low pressure fuel line in the engine compartment that may leak."

WINTER
As in a recent Car & Driver winter tire test completed in Finland, Kal Tire's winter tire test produced a Finnish winner, as well: the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2. On average, the winter tires in the test enabled a car to stop nearly 15 metres sooner than non-winter tires.

REVIEW
The GLK-succeeding Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class small SUV is beginning to trickle into the autoport near GCBC Towers on the east coast of Canada. It is definitely a looker. But in a class full of attractive utility vehicles – Q5, X3, XC60, Evoque, Discovery Sport – the GLC needs to be more than just attractive. So is it any good?

WATCH 
In yesterday's news, we showed you Alex On Autos' video review of the refreshed-for-2016 Honda Accord. Today, we're showing Alex On Autos' video review of the refreshed-for-2016 Nissan Altima. No video review on YouTube is more detailed and thorough than an Alex On Autos video review.

Watch 2015 Volkswagen Beetle 1.8T Video Review - Alex On Autos

It's been nearly two years since GCBC reviewed the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible and voiced our complaints about the permafilth in the beige interior.

Today, we're showing you a video review of a hardtop Beetle, a 2015 model with the 1.8L turbocharged four-cylinder we recently tested in the Golf. 

This week's Alex On Autos' $25,885 tester was fitted with an automatic transmission and achieved 28 mpg during its stay with Mr. Dykes. U.S. sales of the Beetle are down 20% to less than 11,000 units through the first five months of 2015. It ranks 65th among cars in new vehicle sales volume.

As always, you won't find a more detailed, thorough, intelligent video review of the 2015 Volkswagen Beetle 1.8T on YouTube. 


Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures. Follow on Twitter @goodcarbadcar and on Facebook. Alex On Autos is also on Facebook and Twitter.

Auto News For Tuesday, June 23, 2015 - Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback On Its Way

Here are the seven must-read, must-watch auto news stories, review and videos for Tuesday, June 23, 2015.

INSIDE THE AUTO INDUSTRY
Although GM's latest compact car, the Chevrolet Cruze, was a massive leap over the Cobalt, which was itself a massive leap over the Cavalier, it's somewhat small lineup has limited its appeal. While Toyota can make the Corolla succeed with a sedan only, many rival small cars need more than one body style. For the next generation of the Chevrolet Cruze, GM will begin selling the hatchback version seen in so much of the world in North America, as well.

INSIDE THE PICKUP TRUCK INDUSTRY
Perhaps V8s are overrated. The turbocharged diesel in Ram's heavy duty pickup trucks uses only six cylinders. But the Cummins inline-six – it's not a V – now makes 900 lb-ft of stump-pulling torque. In Canada, the overall Ram lineup set a sales record in 2014. U.S. sales rose to the highest level since 2003.

INSIDE AUTO CEO SALARIES
Nissan paid its CEO, Carlos Ghosn, $8.4 million in 2014. Still working the counter at Burger King? You're in the wrong line of work. Ghost is also the company's largest shareholder. Yet he could possibly expect a bigger raise. His pay went up 4% as Nissan's profits jumped 18%. Nissan/Infiniti now own 8.7% of the U.S. market.

REVIEW
The Tiguan lives, so why not drive it? Car & Driver recently spent time in the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line, a front-wheel-drive model. While U.S. interest in the aged Tiguan has waned over time, Canadian price cuts have made the fun-to-drive Tiguan more appealing, and it's selling better than ever north of the border.

RECALL
It's a LaFerrari recall! Ferrari is recalling 85 LaFerrari supercars because, "The affected vehicles have L32 seats as standard equipment for the passenger seat and as optional equipment for the driver seat. In a crash, the headrests of L32 seats may not absorb the required amount of energy." A separate LaFerrari recall covers tire pressure monitoring troubles.

INSIDE THE AUTO PRESS ROOM
Because Chevrolet is excited to be finishing eighth grade at a private girls school, they've issued a press release purely in emojis. Jalopnik's Jason Torchinsky attempts to translate.

WATCH
Asks Chris Harris: "Do you need anything more than a BMW 320d?" He drives it to the Nürburgring to find out. And to race an Aston Martin.

Auto News For Monday, June 22, 2015 - Current Dodge Grand Caravan Lives Through 2017

Here are the six must-read, must-watch auto news stories, review and videos for Monday, June 22, 2015.

INSIDE THE AUTO INDUSTRY
Why were auto industry observers, including GCBC, skeptical of any plan that said the Dodge Grand Caravan was about to die? Windsor, Ontario's, FCA minivan plant has undergone renovations in order to build the next generation of Chrysler's minivans, but now we learn from Automotive News that Dodge will build the current, value-priced Grand Caravan for the 2016 and 2017 model years.

INSIDE THE CANADIAN AUTO INDUSTRY
The Globe & Mail makes rather obvious the point that FCA Canada isn't really selling quite as many vehicles as they say. The problem? It's not really an apples to apples comparison. We don't know what tactics other automakers are employing. We also know that no automaker's sales figures are directly comparable to another's at the best of times, since their lineups, outlets, prices, and incentives don't line up. 

INSIDE CANADA'S FASTEST-GROWING AUTOMAKER
No automobile manufacturer is growing at a faster clip in Canada than the Volkswagen Group: Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche. Autofocus.ca's Timothy Cain, the founder of this site, has details on the year-to-date Canadian sales of every VW Group product.

REVIEW
Automobile Magazine compares the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6, and Subaru Legacy and finds that the best-selling Camry was the worst of the bunch while the Mazda 6 buyers ignore is the best. 

RECALL
72 Dodge Challengers (model year 2015) are being recalled by FCA because of a loose or missing rear mounting bolt in the driver's side air bag.

Toyota is recalling 1,973,468 Tundras, Sequoias, Corollas, Matrixes, Lexus SCs, and Pontiac Vibes from assorted model years between 2002-2007 "to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag."

WATCH
The upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLK-replacing GLC is more offroadable than you'd expect. That doesn't necessarily make it a modified Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, of course.