We review the Volkswagen Golf Mk7 from price to economy and all its features
ANYONE for Golf? Well, with nearly 30million owners, the VW Golf is almost as popular as the game itself.
And Golf sales are the driving force behind Volkswagen’s relentless goal to become the world’s biggest car firm by 2018.
The Golf is the class act of the family hatchback world and the only mainstream model that BMW and Audi owners don’t look down on.
FIND A USED VOLKSWAGEN GOLF FOR SALE NEAR YOU WITH SUN MOTORS
And, like the European Ryder Cup team, the VW Golf has consistently conquered America but it’s also cornered every market around the globe.
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In the UK the Golf has clocked up more than 1.6million sales in the last 38 years and it remains a key model — already passing 50,000 sales this year.
What makes the Golf such a sales phenomenon is its image and rock-solid reputation. Not only does it make sense as a shrewd buy but it also retains its value better than any other mainstream car when selling it.
This is why Volkswagen don’t play around with the way the Golf looks. The owners like the timeless design and the crisp, clean lines.
You instantly recognise the new version and will have to look closely to see the changes. There are plenty, but they’re just subtle.
I do wish the designers would let their hair down a bit, but you can’t blame them for playing safe with one of motoring’s few cast-iron certainties.
Even so, the Golf has an aura about it. There’s nothing special in the way it looks but, somehow, everyone’s impressed by it. There’s something about the solid, simple lines that seems to reassure people.
And you get a little bit more of everything from the new version. It’s 5.6cm longer and 113cm wider and it has been lowered by 2.8cm to give it a more planted look on the road.
Despite the size increase — which means more room for rear passengers and a boot space up by 30 litres to 380 litres, the Golf is actually 100kg lighter and, more importantly, 23 per cent more fuel efficient.
A new range of petrol and diesel engines, all with stop/start technology, deliver an mpg ranging from 57.6 for the 1.2litre petrol to 74 for the 1.6 turbo-diesel.
I tested the 2litre turbo diesel and it’s got a turn of pace and refinement that plenty of petrol cars would be happy with, can hit up to 68.9mpg and has emissions of just 106g/km.
I found the six-speed manual gearbox a little stiff, but the car was brand new.
I was particularly impressed with the new 1.4 direct-injection petrol which features active cylinder technology that can deactivate two of the cylinders. This pushes economy up to 58mpg — and it’s quick to boot.
A driver profile selection is also available for the first time, which allows you to choose from four modes — Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual — that alter the engine mapping to the chosen style.
So the new Golf provides power, refinement and economy, but what’s it like to travel in?
Well there’s nothing flash about the Golf but it has a touch of class. It feels more substantial than its rivals, it has a German precision and the quality fit and finish seem just that bit better.
The Golf is big on equipment and even the entry-level model gets an entertainment system including a 5.8in colour touchscreen, DAB digital radio and CD, iPod connectivity, Bluetooth phone preparation and semi-automatic air con.
As you move up the range the equipment hits the levels you’d expect in an executive car, from park assist to help park up, driver-profile modes and rain-sensitive wipers to a top-of-the-range multimedia and navigation system.
And I’ve left the best till last as prices start at £16,330 for the 1.2litre turbo petrol — that’s actually £95 lower than the model it replaces — and goes up to £24,625 for the 2litre turbo diesel GT model.
Popular models such as the iconic GTI and the 88mpg BlueMotion will follow later in 2013.
You can order the Golf now with the first deliveries coming in January.
What to look out for when buying a used Volkswagen Golf
The reality of Golf ownership doesn’t always match up to the perception that this is a well-built, high-quality and reliable product: the Golf has suffered from a number of problems. There are a number of issues which have afflicted models throughout the Volkswagen Group, including glitches with the DSG gearbox (for which there has been a recall), excessive oil consumption, turbo and supercharger failure and even piston failure in the TSI engines, and clogging-up of diesel particulate filters. A further recall was issued for potential fuel leaks from the 2.0 TDI diesel engine.
Owners are also reporting issues including misfiring and ignition trouble, premature clutch wear, failure of the wipers, ventilation system and air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity and other electrical problems, as well as water collecting in the bottoms of the doors, poorly-fitted doors and bonnets, peeling paint, rusting-up of brake discs and trim rattles.
The service and treatment of owners by the Volkswagen franchises appears to be patchy, and the brand scored only marginally above average (13th place) in the 2012 JD Power/What Car? dealership satisfaction survey. The Golf was seventh in its class (the Skoda Octavia came top) and 45th overall in the 2012 JD Power/What Car? customer satisfaction survey, but a better eighth overall in the 2012 Auto Express Driver Power study (again, behind the Octavia), and above average in the Warranty Direct Reliability Index (cars with an average age of 4.25 years) but only 97th in their top 100.