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The 2016 Volkswagen Golf TSI S 2-door remains familiar and fine

With a hatchback formula that's been refined over numerous generations, the 2016 Volkswagen Golf TSI S 2-door remains a top draw in the compact segment. Hatchback utility, good fuel efficiency, comfortable on road manners and a respectable collection of interior tech can be had for just $20,000.

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Jon Wong
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Even as a two-door, the Golf features lots of cargo room and a spacious backseat with good headroom.

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The Golf looks sportier with two doors, but the car's overall look remains conservative and clean.

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Through the autocross, the Golf features impressive turn-in response and features a remarkable amount of grip on its 15-inch all-season Continental tires.

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The seventh-generation of the Golf debuted in the US for the 2015 model year.

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While the 1.8-liter turbocharged I-4 produces a respectable 170 horsepower, the engine does suffer from a noticeable turbo lag when accelerating from dead stops.

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Like many Volkswagen vehicles, steering is lightly weighted but responsive to inputs. A little more heft in the steering would be welcome.

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While it's nice to see Volkswagen still offering a manual transmission, it's a little disappointing that it's only a five-speed unit.

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Between gears, the revs drop drastically requiring frequent downshifts even for daily driving.

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VW's infotainment system with Car-Net features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities.

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Like the exterior, the interior of the Golf is simple and straightforward. Build quality is impressive and materials used throughout are of high quality.

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