Volkswagen tweaked its lineup for 2018, hoping to make even more headway in the American market, and now there are more ways to enjoy a Volkswagen than ever. Volkswagen also extended its basic warranty in an effort to make a comeback from scandals involving its diesel engines. Starting in 2018 almost all VW cars will have a 72,000 mile, or six-year warranty. To make that even better, the warranty is transferable should you sell the car before the warranty runs out. In its effort to be a bigger player, Volkswagen added two new crossovers. There are several versions of the Golf available, and fewer of the Jetta, which is due for a redesign next year. The Passat gets more engine choices. Volkswagen dropped the Touareg from its lineup for 2018 after sales were not very good. Volkswagen is much more than the Beetle it was at one time. Want to explore the 2018 Volkswagen lineup? Check out the following questions and answers below!
There are several versions of the Volkswagen Golf. The Atlas and Tiguan are new crossovers. The Beetle still rules, and comes as a convertible too. The Passat and Jetta round out the lineup.
The 2018 VW Atlas is a new full-size three-row crossover, and is the biggest VW ever. It as a turbocharged four-cylinder or a V6 available as a powerplant. You may get it in all-wheel or front-wheel drive. There are the S, SE and SEL trim levels which build on each other and go up in luxury at each level.
The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is the second new addition to the lineup, another large crossover but not quiet as big as the Atlas. It seats seven and has several trim levels available. It has front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive is an option. There is also a Tiguan limited which is a compact SUV. It offers the features of an SUV, but is small enough to not feel like a huge vehicle.
The Passat is Volkswagen's mid-sized sedan which is looking to put a dent in a hugely competitive market. It as an all-new four-cylinder 2.0 liter turbocharged engine that cranks out 200 horsepower. It has similar power to last year but offers better gas mileage. There is also a GT tri that adds sports tuned suspension and extra handling features
The Jetta is a small sedan, somewhere between Beetle and a Passat. A new luxury trim, called Wolsburg, adds a lot of nice features. The manual transmission is no longer offered. It has several engine choices, like 1.4, 1.8 or 2.0 liter four cylinders. The Jetta also has a surprisingly large back seat for a car this size. The smallest engine can get 38 miles per gallon.
The Beetle is the classic Volkswagen, and it remains strong in this lineup as a compact car that also comes as a convertible. The 2018 version has a new coastal trim that has a Beach-Boys inspired look and feel. The R-Line trim was dropped, as well a the larger engine.
The Golf is a small wagon, that comes as a Sportwagen or an Alltrack. The sportwagon makes use of a strong turbocharged four-cylinder to rank out 170 horsepower. It has four-wheel drive and automatically shifts torque to where it needs to go. A six speed automatic is also available. The Alltrack is not exactly off road but it is close. It has a higher clearance and is set up for more difficiult terrain than other versions.
The non-wagon version of the Golf is a compact car similar to the Beetle, but more a traditioal compact car. It has minor trim changes at all levels for 2018 and there is a new infotainment with touchscreen technology now available for the Golf. LED lights are now standard as well. The S and SE are the main two trim levels which vary by the level of luxury you want.