Volkswagen cautious with new Golf
24/03/09 13:20 Filed in: Road
tests
It would be hard to overestimate the
importance of the Volkswagen Golf to the Volkswagen Group. Ever
since the European demise of the original Volkswagen Beetle, the
Golf has been the mainstay of the range.
Looking back to the 1970s, Volkswagen realised the Golf was absolutely critical to its furutre when the original Beetle was being pensioned off to Mexico. The story goes that Volkswagen set two teams to work producing two new mainstream cars. One came up with the original Polo, the other, the Golf. In the years since, these two models have diverged somewhat – the Golf growing in size and moving a little upmarket, while the Polo has remained truer to its original size.
But there is a hint of Volkswagen’s concern not to rock the boat in the history of the Golf. New models, often as not, have been met with a degree of disappointment from those who like to see a more radical look for new models.
Never has this been more true than with this sixth-generation Volkswagen Golf. During my week with the car, no-one exclaimed “is that the new Volkswagen Golf?”, no-one asked for the keys and not a single head turned.
But then, that is probably what the market wants from a Golf. At least for the “cooking” models, the image is of understated good taste and dependability. There is some logic in the likeness to the outgoing model. Although most of the panels you see are new, the platform and some other panels are carried forward.
The no-nonsense exterior styling is replicated with the interior design. Again, there is a functional style to the interior, but Volkswagen have responded to some criticism of the previous interior. Some felt the Mark 5 Golf had a rather plasticky interior which did not reflect the slightly up-market aspirations. The new Golf addresses that, with materials and textures that work well and project the right image.
Space is good for a hatchback of this size with good rear seat room and, thanks to good packaging, a very usable luggage area with the usual ability to fold down the rear seat for large loads.
Refinement was a key focus for the new Golf’s design team. My clear impression is that they have succeeded. The new Golf rides well on all manner of road surfaces. My test car was the 1.4 SE FSI, so I cannot gauge how well the Volkswagen team have suppressed the noise of the diesel models, but the petrol test car is nicely hushed.
Combine that with a chassis set up that seems pretty near perfect for a family hatch and this Golf won me over on the open road. It makes light work of our rapidly deteriorating roads. Combine this with tight body control and sharp steering and the Golf proved to be an enjoyable companion on my commute, which involves some twisty country roads with crumbling tarmac.
You could perhaps wish for a little more feedback from the steering, but what does get telegraphed through to you confirms that this is a very competent chassis.
The 1.4-litre FSI engine puts out 122PS giving the car a very respectable 0-62 mph of 9.5 seconds. Even more respectable is the fuel consumption. I regularly managed 35 mpg or more, which leaves me wondering why anyone but the highest-mileage driver would pay the premium for a diesel, plus the additional cost at the pumps.
The Volkswagen Golf SE 1.4 TSI in five-door form costs £16,515.
Looking back to the 1970s, Volkswagen realised the Golf was absolutely critical to its furutre when the original Beetle was being pensioned off to Mexico. The story goes that Volkswagen set two teams to work producing two new mainstream cars. One came up with the original Polo, the other, the Golf. In the years since, these two models have diverged somewhat – the Golf growing in size and moving a little upmarket, while the Polo has remained truer to its original size.
But there is a hint of Volkswagen’s concern not to rock the boat in the history of the Golf. New models, often as not, have been met with a degree of disappointment from those who like to see a more radical look for new models.
Never has this been more true than with this sixth-generation Volkswagen Golf. During my week with the car, no-one exclaimed “is that the new Volkswagen Golf?”, no-one asked for the keys and not a single head turned.
But then, that is probably what the market wants from a Golf. At least for the “cooking” models, the image is of understated good taste and dependability. There is some logic in the likeness to the outgoing model. Although most of the panels you see are new, the platform and some other panels are carried forward.
The no-nonsense exterior styling is replicated with the interior design. Again, there is a functional style to the interior, but Volkswagen have responded to some criticism of the previous interior. Some felt the Mark 5 Golf had a rather plasticky interior which did not reflect the slightly up-market aspirations. The new Golf addresses that, with materials and textures that work well and project the right image.
Space is good for a hatchback of this size with good rear seat room and, thanks to good packaging, a very usable luggage area with the usual ability to fold down the rear seat for large loads.
Refinement was a key focus for the new Golf’s design team. My clear impression is that they have succeeded. The new Golf rides well on all manner of road surfaces. My test car was the 1.4 SE FSI, so I cannot gauge how well the Volkswagen team have suppressed the noise of the diesel models, but the petrol test car is nicely hushed.
Combine that with a chassis set up that seems pretty near perfect for a family hatch and this Golf won me over on the open road. It makes light work of our rapidly deteriorating roads. Combine this with tight body control and sharp steering and the Golf proved to be an enjoyable companion on my commute, which involves some twisty country roads with crumbling tarmac.
You could perhaps wish for a little more feedback from the steering, but what does get telegraphed through to you confirms that this is a very competent chassis.
The 1.4-litre FSI engine puts out 122PS giving the car a very respectable 0-62 mph of 9.5 seconds. Even more respectable is the fuel consumption. I regularly managed 35 mpg or more, which leaves me wondering why anyone but the highest-mileage driver would pay the premium for a diesel, plus the additional cost at the pumps.
The Volkswagen Golf SE 1.4 TSI in five-door form costs £16,515.