2019 VW Golf Will Reportedly Lose 23 HP By Downsizing To Jetta Engine

It looks like the Passat is not the only VW model that will see significant changes for the 2019 model year in the United States.

VW will reportedly downsize the standard engine of the Golf from a 170-hp 1.8-liter turbo-four to a 147-hp 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. According to an Autoblog report that doesn’t cite any specific sources, every 2019 VW Golf with front-wheel drive will get the new engine from the 2019 Jetta.

That means a drop of 23 hp, but the peak torque stays the same at 184 lb-ft (250 Nm). Both the Golf hatchback and SportWagen will make the switch to the smaller engine, but the all-wheel-drive Golf Alltrack will soldier on with the 1.8-liter engine rated at 170 hp and 199 lb-ft (270 Nm) of torque.

However, to alleviate the loss of 23 horsepower and enhance fuel efficiency, VW will give the Golf new transmissions. The current model’s standard five-speed manual will be replaced by a six-speed manual, while the optional six-speed auto will leave room for an eight-speed automatic.

Although an entry-level Golf weighs 75 pounds more than the Jetta, fuel economy figures should be quite similar to the sedan given the increased gearing. The 2019 Jetta returns 28 mpg city/40 highway/33 combined with the five-speed manual and 28 mpg city/38 highway/32 combined with the six-speed automatic.

Besides replacing the standard engine, VW will make some adjustments to the 2019 Golf’s trims and options too. The base Golf S and the Alltrack S will add automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitors, but those will be options on the SportWagen S. SE models will gain adaptive cruise control, with the SportWagen SE also getting LED headlights as standard. However, the Alltrack SE will only get LED lights as an option. Finally, the SportWagen SEL grade will be ditched.