MotorTrend

From the Press Room: The Volkswagen Golf

A look at the Golf, a midsize sedan available in two trim levels with the powertrain of a 2019 Jetta.

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Fred Williams and his friend Brian rescue a ’60s VW-based dune buggy in Oregon and attempt to drive it from Bend to the beach navigating using the Magellan eXplorist TRX7. The old dune buggy only had 38 hp when new, and there is a fair bit of mountains between Bend and the beach, so it will be an uphill battle as Fred and Brian push, pull, and fight their way to a fun, relaxing day at the water’s edge.

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MotorTrend's Ed Loh & Jonny Lieberman sit down with Mike Kunigonis, VP & GM of Corning Automotive Glass Solutions. From iPhones to windshields! The guys discuss fiber optics in cars, Gorilla Glass, their partnership with Apple, their newest innovation: Fusion 5, the evolution of glass technology, AR & HUDs, and much more.

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By incorporating a few lessons from the hard-to-love bZ4X, Toyota's second modern EV should go further and charge faster than its rookie effort. More important, the C-HR+ has the potential to crack the affordability nut that’s choking the entire American EV market right now.

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History repeats in the best way for Volkswagen’s icon: the Golf lineup—GTI and R—earns MotorTrend’s 2026 Car of the Year. In refreshed Mk8 form, both models sharpen design and tech while honoring hot-hatch roots. Outside: crisper headlights, reshaped bumpers, illuminated grille bar, and a bolder R with aggressive aero and an available Euro Style package (lighter seats, no sunroof, Akrapovič titanium exhaust). Inside: a cleaner cabin centered on a quicker 12.9-inch infotainment system with conversational voice control powered by ChatGPT. On the road, MQB chassis tuning, stiffer springs, and revised mounts make it more planted and playful. Power comes from a 2.0L turbo: GTI 241 hp/273 lb-ft (FWD), R 328 hp/295 lb-ft (AWD), both with a responsive 7-speed dual-clutch. IQ.Drive driver assists are standard. Efficiency stays strong (up to 27 mpg combined GTI; 25 mpg R), and value impresses (GTI from $33,670; R from $48,325). A daily driver with real thrills—this is the Golf at its best.

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