Volkswagen has always been committed to engineering cars that are fun to drive, but it has upped the ante with the return of the Volkswagen Golf. First introduced in 1975, this legendary hatchback has gone through many changes – including a name change. Now it’s back and it offers more than ever.

Ditching the Rabbit nameplate, the Volkswagen Golf returns for 2010 sleeker on the outside and more comfortable on the inside. One of the biggest changes is found under the hood. For 2010, the Golf is available with a diesel engine – the very same 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine used in last year’s Jetta TDI.

Like that of the Jetta TDI, this engine produces 140 hp with an impressive 236 lb/ft of torque and is paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Volkswagen says both the manual and Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) versions of the Golf TDI have fuel economy ratings of 29 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. According to Autoguide.com, the 236 lb/ft of torque helps the TDI go from zero-to-60 mph in a “reasonable” 8.6 seconds. This is today’s modern diesel!

Eco-friendly and fuel-efficient? Certainly true, but there’s a lot more to the 2010 Volkswagen Golf than its new engine option.

The 2010 Golf is definitely more modern and refined, with CarandDriver.com describing its sleek new appearance as “grown-up” and “classy.” The Golf sits on a wheelbase of 101.5-inches and measures 165.3-inches in length.

Available in two-door and four-door models, its standard features include cruise control, air conditioning, a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, 17-inch wheels, stability control, six airbags, antilock brakes and power locks, windows and mirrors. 

The 2010 Volkswagen Golf joins the VW TDI family alongside the aforementioned Jetta, SportWagen and Touareg.  Volkswagen’s Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) Clean Diesel technology offers excellent fuel mileage and plenty of torque, not to mention a 95 percent drop in emissions. Performance and efficiency are two components that any serious driver looks for, and the whole line of TDI Clean Diesels – including the new Golf – offers both.

Perhaps one of the standout reasons why VW’s diesels are so appealing is their price tags. Unlike those of Mercedes-Benz, a traditional diesel vendor, Volkswagen’s diesels are affordable. The 2010 Volkswagen TDI models start at $21,990.

Like the Jetta TDI, which has earned numerous accolades, the Volkswagen Golf TDI is already earning rave reviews even before it hits showroom floors in this country. Most notably, the Volkswagen Golf was honored as the “2009 World Car of the Year” at this year’s New York International Auto Show. 

The 2010 Volkswagen Golf is back and ready to impress.