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BRAINTREE, Mass., March 31 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — When most drivers think of a family car, what usually comes to mind is a large, unwieldy minivan-type vehicle. Volkswagen, which has always defied popular perceptions of what a vehicle “should” look like, has a surprising challenge to those minivans: the family-friendly VW Golf. Currently available at Greater Boston Volkswagen dealer Quirk Volkswagen, the 2011 Golf was recently named a 2011 Top 10 Family Car by Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com.

Joined by vehicles twice its size and others nearly twice as expensive, the Volkswagen Golf was chosen for KBB’s top 10 list for its practicality, fun European driving dynamics, an interior worthy of a much pricier car and its reasonable starting price. The 2011 Top 10 Family Cars list is determined by the editors of KBB.com based on what they believe are the best vehicles for families available at dealer showrooms.

KBB.com editors looked at a variety of features important to families to compile this year’s list, including safety, comfort, operating costs, child-friendliness and resale value. The VW Golf delivers in each of these categories, with the clean-diesel Golf TDI already holding Kelley Blue Book’s 2011 title for Best Resale Value in the Hybrid/Alt Energy Car category. The four-door Golf has also been named a 2011 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick.

“The Volkswagen Golf has long been the ideal family car for those that don’t want to throw fun out the window once they have children,” said Jason Thompson, general manager of Quirk Volkswagen. “For families with just a couple of kids, there’s no need to buy a big SUV or minivan. Parents who want safety and value will find it in the Golf, even as it jets to soccer practice.”

Available in two-door and four-door models, the Golf delivers a fun ride that makes plenty of room for cargo and safety. The easily loadable hatchback provides a quick and convenient location to store backpacks, sports gear and groceries. Standard safety features include six airbags with side-curtain protection, child-safety rear door locks in the four-door trim, LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) child-seat anchor points and an Intelligent Crash Response System that automatically unlocks all doors, turns off power to the fuel pump and turns on the hazard lights in the event of an accident.

When it comes to the family budget, the Golf tackles rising fuel costs with great mileage in both models. The two-door Golf gets 23 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, while the four-door trim gets 24 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. The award-winning Golf TDI clean diesel offers 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway for both its two-door and four-door models.

“The family car needs to make life easier, and that’s the reason why the Golf has been so popular with our Massachusetts Volkswagen customers,” Thompson added. “Try parking an SUV in Cambridge or at the supermarket on a Saturday and you immediately see the benefits of a smaller vehicle. With the Golf, you not only get a car that keeps your family safe, but one that takes away a lot of the headaches of suburban and city driving.”

About Quirk Volkswagen:
Quirk Volkswagen is the premier Greater Boston Volkswagen dealer. Massachusetts Volkswagen customers choose Quirk for the great service and pricing on new and used VW cars. A dedicated and knowledgeable staff is on hand to show you their extensive selection, with Volkswagen models ranging from the Jetta to the Touareg. You can preview their inventory online at www.quirkvw.com, like them on Facebook, reach them by phone at (877) 624-0143 or visit their dealership showroom at 20 Granite Street in Braintree, Massachusetts.