The VW Golf - A Refined And Luxurious Family Hatchback
The VW Golf - A Refined And Luxurious Family Hatchback
The VW Golf is all about a small family hatchback. Most of its surfaces are soft to touch. VW has a good record in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey but recently it is going downhill. It's hard to think what a Golf doesn't have as there is stability control, front, side and curtain airbags as well as a airbag to protect the driver's knee. For added security you get deadlocks, lots of marked parts and a visible VIN. The 1.2 TSI delivers a respectable 104bhp, but the best of the bunch is the agile 120bhp turbocharged 1.4 TSI. A diesel engine 158bhp version with a supercharger gives almost a hot hatch pace.
The diesel engines include two 1.6s with 89bhp or 104bhp. There are three 2.0s with 109, 138 and 168bhp. No other trendy small family car mixes comfort and fun as well as the Golf. It's amazingly composed on demanding roads thanks to plenty of grip, tight body control and responsive steering making it fun to drive. It's also easygoing around town. The ride is smooth and controlled making the voluntary adaptive suspension system seem needless. The Golf's quiet cabin makes it an outstanding cruiser, with minimal wind, road or engine noise meddling at speed. The engines are smooth and quiet, with the 2.0 TDI diesel chiefly remarkable.
All of the main controls work with extreme accuracy, which adds appeal to the Golf's credentials. The VW Golf is certainly not the cheapest small family hatch, but it is definitely worth every penny. The Golf's trendy image means it has strong residual values combined with low running costs. Drivers are at ease with simple adjustable seats and steering wheel. Visibility is decent all round the car. The stereo boasts chunky buttons but with extra cash you can get touchscreen controls. The Golf has plenty of storage space and there is lots of head and legroom so four adults can travel with comfort.
The boot is big but the seats don't fold down flat completely which can be a letdown. Our favourite version, Match trim gives you amenities like cruise control, a DAB stereo, electric rear windows, Bluetooth and automatic headlights and wipers. The sporty GT version gets lowered suspension, luxurious interior and sports seats. The new Golf has very similar design to the old one and new technology is only optional on entry level models. However, it gets more kit as standard, it is more fuel efficient with more room and new safety features.
