The 2011 Volkswagen Golf is a surprisingly powerful and stylish car.

Advertised as a family vehicle the Golf – formerly known as the Rabbit in the United States – has been in production since 1974 and its sixth generation models are delightful.

Starting at $17,965 for the two-door and $19,685 for the four-door, the Golf is a bit pricier than competition in its class, such as Honda or Chevrolet, but it’s pricier for a reason.

It’s oval headlights and angular exterior make the hatchback pleasing to view, although it isn’t the most exciting car to look at. It’s an understated look that won’t stick out of a crowd but its interior makes up for its plain exterior.

For a small economy car, the inside is lavish. The interior feels large for the size of the car, a sunroof, heated seats and lumbar support makes the Golf a pleasure to just sit and relax in.

The various cloths and plastics in the vehicle were pleasing to the touch and felt like they were made to last. The heated seats are especially nice for Bakersfield’s four weeks of cold.

The stereo setup was nice with cable inputs for iPods and CD support.

As a vehicle targeted at families, its focus is on comfort and safety. In these categories it has more safety features than I care to count with all the standard belts and airbags people have come to expect in their vehicles.

The car probably isn’t going to satisfy the cravings of anyone who wants to fulfill their “Fast and The Furious” fantasies but it’s not made for that – it’s a family car. It handles well and its features make up for its lack of power.

The brakes are responsive and it steers fine. It accelerates well and overall it’s fun to drive.

While the Golf doesn’t get the mileage of a hybrid, getting 24 MPG in the city and 31 on the highway, the car isn’t the worst pick for the fuel conscious.

The Golf is also available in a diesel model, which I did not get to drive but it improves the gas consumption getting 30 mpg in the city and 42 on the highway although the diesel models begin at $22,810.

There are of course a variety of upgrades available and the buyer has the choice of manual or automatic transmission.

Overall the Golf’s price tag is justified. While not the flashiest or most efficient car around its combination of features and quality build make up for the drawbacks.

It’s a family car with a luxurious feel on the inside.