Getting in even higher
Nearly twenty years ago, the off-road craze took hold of even the most ordinary Volkswagens. The manufacturer claimed that you could clearly distinguish yourself from the crowd with the CrossGolf. It was one of those typical spruced-up versions of those days. A little higher on its legs and, of course, different bumpers to emphasize the ‘adventurous’ character.
Hearing the name CrossGolf, one might think someone is talking about their worn-out VW, about to breathe its last on a muddy circuit, amidst a horde of emaciated peers. Could have been, only this isn’t about a cross-Golf, but the CrossGolf, which Volkswagen added to the Golf range in 2007 as a kind of elite model. According to the manufacturer, it was the chosen version for the man or woman who, despite choosing an omnipresent VW, didn’t want to blend into the crowd. ‘ Weil es Spass Macht Anders zu Sein ‘ (Because it’s fun to be different), read an advertisement for the three models that would eventually form the Cross range; the CrossGolf had followed in the footsteps of the CrossPolo and would later be joined by the CrossTouran. ‘The right models for those who want to feel elevated,’ Volkswagen also said about it. That was true, because the spirited trio distinguished themselves by two centimeters of extra ground clearance from their more well-behaved siblings. Count your blessings.
Rather steep surcharge: €3,000
In the case of the CrossGolf, the starting point was the practically oriented, because extra spacious, Golf Plus. It had been fitted with trinkets such as shiny 17-inch light-alloy wheels, an impressive front bumper, thick plastic all around, and an aluminum accent here and there on the inside. That doesn’t sound particularly impressive, but the CrossGolf still got a very different look than the car it was based on. Well done, because that’s exactly what Volkswagen wanted to do. The only problem was that in our country there was a rather stiff surcharge of €3,000 for the Cross part, which is quite a lot on a total price of 28 grand for the 1.4 TSI. And there was no question of increased off-road capabilities. VW did mention it, but only because of that little bit of extra ground clearance. You better keep that beautiful light metal on the asphalt, just like all those new, real crossovers. Is the T-Roc a descendant of the CrossGolf? Yes and no: just as off-road-like, but not nearly as special. It’s high time Volkswagen did something crazy again: bring on that CrossT-Roc!
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