An entire armada of innovative assistance and convenience systems is at work aboard the new Golf Estate as standard or optional equipment. The standard assistance and convenience systems in the Golf Estate include the standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and the further advanced XDS+ electronic differential lock. Optional systems are the mentioned PreCrash preventive occupant protection system, Driver Alert System (standard from Comfortline), adaptive cruise control (ACC), Front Assist with City Emergency Braking, Lane Assist lane-keeping assistant, road sign recognition and the latest generation of the ParkAssist parking assistant, DCC dynamic chassis control as well as the automated lighting functions Light Assist and Dynamic Light Assist. Other new technologies have been added such as a driving profile selector with up to five programmes ("Eco", "Sport", "Normal", "Individual" and in combination with DCC plus "Comfort") and a new generation of infotainment systems. A functional overview of the most significant systems:
Assistance systems
Driver alert system. This system, which is a standard feature from the Golf Estate Comfortline, detects waning driver concentration and warns the driver with an acoustic signal lasting five seconds and a visual message recommending taking a break from driving that appears on the instrument cluster. If the driver does not take a break within the next 15 minutes, the warning is repeated once.
Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. Another standard technical highlight of the Golf Estate is the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. When the vehicle is involved in a collision, the system automatically brakes the vehicle to significantly reduce its residual kinetic energy. Triggering of the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System is based on detection of a primary collision by the airbag sensors. Vehicle braking by means of the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System is limited by the ESC control unit to a maximum deceleration rate of 0.6 g. This value matches the deceleration level of Front Assist, and it ensures that the driver can take over handling of the car after automatic braking. The driver can "override" the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System at any time; for example, if the system recognises that the driver is accelerating, it gets disabled. The automatic system is also deactivated if the driver initiates hard braking at an even higher rate of deceleration. Essentially, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System applies the brakes until a vehicle speed of 10 km/h is reached. This residual vehicle speed can be used to steer to a safe location after the braking process.
PreCrash preventive occupant protection. If this preventive occupant protection system detects a potential accident situation – such as by the initiation of hard braking via an activated brake assistant – the seatbelts of the driver and front passenger are automatically pre-tensioned to ensure the best possible protection by the airbag and belt system. When a highly critical and unstable driving situation is detected – such as severe oversteer or understeer with ESC intervention – the side windows are closed (except for a small gap) and so is the sunroof. That is because when the windows and roof are nearly closed, the head and side airbags offer optimal energy absorption and achieve their best possible effectiveness.
Adaptive cruise control (ACC). This system uses a radar sensor integrated in the front of the car. The driver can set the car speed over a range from 30 to 160 km/h. ACC operates with either a manual gearbox or a DSG (dual clutch gearbox). In the Golf Estate with DSG, ACC comfortably brakes to a standstill when the vehicle ahead stops. After being enabled by the driver, ACC together with DSG can also automatically start off again. ACC maintains the vehicle speed preselected by the driver as well as a predefined distance to the vehicle ahead, and it automatically brakes or accelerates in flowing traffic. The system dynamics can be individually varied by selecting one of the driving programmes or by the optional driving profile selector.
Front Assist surroundings monitoring system. Front Assist uses a radar sensor integrated in the front of the car to continuously monitor the distance to traffic ahead. Front Assist assists the driver in critical situations by preconditioning the brake system and alerting the driver to any required reactions by visual and audible warnings, and in a second stage by a brief warning jolt. If the driver fails to brake hard enough, the system automatically generates sufficient braking force to avoid a collision. Should the driver, meanwhile, not react at all, Front Assist automatically brakes the car to give the driver more reaction time. The system also assists the driver by an alert if the car is getting too close to the vehicle in front. The City Emergency Braking function is part of Front Assist.
City Emergency Braking. The City Emergency Braking is a system extension of Front Assist and it monitors the area in front of the car by radar sensor. The system works in the speed range below 30 km/h. If the car is at risk of colliding with a moving or stationary vehicle ahead and the driver fails to react, the brake system is preconditioned in the same way as with Front Assist. If necessary, City Emergency Braking then automatically initiates hard braking to reduce the severity of the impact. In addition, if the driver fails to press the brake pedal sufficiently, the system assists with maximum braking power.
Lane Assist. The camera-based assistance system with steering intervention to maintain the car's position within the driving lane works with extended functionality in the Golf VII Estate. If desired, the system can maintain continuous tracking support. Whenever necessary, Lane Assist also intervenes with a steering correction when it detects that the driver is leaving the driving lane or is driving over lane markings without setting the direction indicator. The system then gently steers in the other direction.
Convenience systems
DCC dynamic chassis control. The latest generation of DCC dynamic chassis control offers the three driving modes "Comfort", "Normal" and "Sport", which are now selected and displayed under "Driving profile selector" on the centre console touchscreen. In "Sport" mode, especially agile handling is implemented, while in "Comfort" mode the ride in the Estate is exceptionally comfortable. In the "Individual" driving profile, other driving profile properties can even be assigned to the DCC mode.
Driving profile selector. A total of four programmes are available via the Driving Profile Selector, and in conjunction with DCC five driving programmes: Eco, Sport, Normal, Individual, and in combination with DCC the additional Comfort. In the "Eco" driving profile, the engine controller, air conditioning and other auxiliary units are controlled for optimal fuel economy. In addition, vehicles with DSG have an additional coasting function in "Eco" mode; when the driver releases the accelerator pedal – e.g. in downhill driving segments – the DSG disengages, and the engine idles. This enables optimal utilisation of the kinetic energy of the Golf Estate. In "Sport" mode, on the other hand, damping is increased (which reduces body structure movements) and engine response and shift points of the DSG are configured to be even more dynamic.
Electric parking brake. Instead of a handbrake lever, a control switch plus an Auto Hold switch are located on the centre console of the Golf Estate. The electric parking brake offers numerous advantages: eliminating the conventional handbrake frees up more space on the centre console; in addition, the brake is automatically released when driving off. And that simplifies driving off up a hill. Last but not least, the Auto Hold function prevents unintentional rolling from a standstill position.
Dynamic Light Assist dynamic main beam control. Via a camera on the windscreen this system analyses the traffic in front and oncoming traffic. With the help of the camera, the main beam modules of the bi-xenon headlights with dynamic cornering lights are masked only in those areas that the system has determined could potentially disturb other road users. Technically, this function is implemented by a pivoting masking aperture between the reflector with the xenon filament and the lens. Along with lateral swivelling of the entire module and independent control of the left and right headlights, this additional aperture geometry is able to mask the light source and thereby avoid dazzling traffic ahead or any oncoming traffic.
Light Assist main beam control. For all Golf Estate models with no dynamic cornering lights the base version of automatic full-beam control is available in the form of Light Assist. Light Assist analyses traffic ahead and oncoming traffic – via a camera in the windscreen – and automatically controls activation and deactivation of the main beam (at 60 km/h and above).
Road sign recognition. Road sign recognition is available in combination with a navigation system, because the traffic signs are also shown in the display of the active navigation window (map and/or pictograms). If the system detects any speed limit or "No overtaking" signs via a camera (integrated in the windscreen near to the rear-view mirror), up to three of these will get shown on the instrument cluster in front of the driver and on the navigation system display.
Park Assist parking assistant. This parking assistant not only enables assisted parking parallel to the carriageway, but also reverse parking at right angles to the road. In addition, the system is equipped with a braking and parking space exit function. The system can be activated at speeds of up to 40 km/h by pressing a button on the centre console. Using the indicators, the driver selects the side on which the car is to be parked. As soon as Park Assist has detected a large enough parking space (a manoeuvring distance of 40 cm in front and 40 cm at the rear is sufficient) with its ultrasound sensors, assisted parking can begin: having put the vehicle into reverse, all the driver has to do is operate the accelerator and brake. The car takes care of the steering. Acoustic signals and visual information on the multifunction display assist the driver. If a collision is imminent, the system can also actively apply the vehicle's brakes.
Infotainment systems
Radio and radio-navigation systems. Volkswagen is equipping the Golf Estate with an entirely new generation of radio and radio-navigation systems. All systems have a touchscreen as standard. The new device generation is available in three different display sizes: 5 inches ("Composition Touch" radio, "Composition Colour" radio), 5.8 inches ("Composition Media" radio, "Composition Media" navigation function) and 8 inches ("Discover Pro" radio-navigation system). For the first time, Volkswagen is implementing displays that have proximity sensors (5.8-inch display and above): as soon as the driver or front passenger moves a finger near to the touchscreen, the system automatically switches from display mode to input mode. The display mode shows a screen that is reduced to just the essentials. In the operating mode, on the other hand, the elements that can be activated by touch are specially highlighted to simplify intuitive operation. The displays also have a function that lets users scroll through lists or browse CD covers in the media library with a wipe of the hand.
Mobile phone. For the Golf Estate, Volkswagen is offering the two mobile phone interfaces "Comfort" and "Premium" as well as a smartphone ("Nokia Asha 300") integrated via the hands-free unit. "Comfort" and "Premium" mobile phone interfaces can be ordered together with the "Composition Media" (only "Comfort" mobile phone interface), "Discover Media" and "Discover Pro" audio/navigation systems. The "Comfort" interface offers such features as an external and device-independent antenna interface. The "Premium" interface contains a telephone unit with excellent voice and reception quality that can be operated via the touchscreen of the infotainment system or the multifunctional display. As an alternative to the mobile phone coupled via Bluetooth, it is possible to phone via a separate SIM card integrated in the system. The Premium interface also provides passengers aboard the Golf Estate with a WLAN hotspot implemented via a GSM/UMTS transceiver; up to five wireless devices can be connected to it simultaneously.
Dynaudio Excite sound system. Newly developed for the Golf and therefore for the Estate, is a sound system from Danish hi-fi specialist Dynaudio. This system makes the Estate a concert hall on wheels with its eight high-end loudspeakers plus subwoofer, a digital 10-channel DSP amplifier and 400 watts of system output power. The system can be customised by choosing from four sound characteristics ("Authentic", "Dynamic", "Soft" and "Speech") which are tuned to the interior of the Golf Estate and four seating configurations ("Driver", "Front passenger", "All occupants" and "Rear") for the audio output.
Notes:
TDI, TSI and DSG are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG or other companies of the Volkswagen Group in Germany and other countries.
All features and technical data apply to models offered in Germany. They may differ in other countries.