We drive 1,000 miles in the Volkswagen Golf
Model tested: Volkswagen Golf SE 2.0 TDI 110
Price as tested: £17,465
Insurance group as tested: 6
Insurance group range: 6 - 15
CO2 emissions as tested: 128g/km
CO2 emissions range: 128g/km – 166g/km
Company car tax %: 16 – 21%
EuroNCAP result: *****
Date tested: March 2009
Road tester: Andy Goodwin
Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 88%
Volkswagen has always styled its cars conservatively and the latest Golf is no exception. The biggest change is its new grille and headlights, which take inspiration from the pretty Scirocco.
Under the skin there is a new engine line-up offering the holy grail of better performance and improved economy with lower emissions.
We drove 1,000 miles on every kind of road and found the Golf to be a perfect travel companion.
Volkswagen Golf named 2009 World Car of the Year
Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor
The looks of the latest Volkswagen Golf brought about mixed feelings in our office, and among our readers. We found the new Scirocco-like nose and headlights attractive and modern, and we liked the more pronounced shoulder lines which run along the sides of the new Golf. However, we were less convinced by the taillights which seem like a step back from the more curvaceous clusters fitted to the Mk5 Golf.
8/10
The biggest step forward has been made inside the Golf, elevating its interior above all other competitors in the hatchback class. Every material you can touch feels high quality and strong and each button and switch is thoughtfully laid out. This is a cabin which puts some far more expensive cars to shame. The instruments are now backlit white instead of blue, remain illuminated at all times to make them easier to read and sit in individual metallic cowls. Volkswagen has also improved refinement by fitting thicker glass and better soundproofing.
10/10
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In the UK we buy far more Golf-sized hatchbacks than any other type of car – proof their practicality is adequate for most owners. The boot hasn’t grown; it’ll still hold 350-litres of shopping with the rear seats in place and 1,305-litres with them folded down, making it competitive but not class-leading.
The Golf is Volkswagen’s biggest seller, and particular attention does seem to have been paid to the small details which make it fit into an owner’s life. The large glovebox is lockable and cooled, there are deep door bins, well-placed cup holders and a boot mounted power source.
We don’t normally mention the manual, but the Golf’s is particularly clear and concise. Changing a bulb and performing simple tasks like checking the engine oil level and adding windscreen washer fluid is child’s play.
8/10
The Golf excels here because it works brilliantly in almost every situation, soaking up bumps and ruts on the motorway one moment and handling with verve on a twisting country road the next. It has a chassis which feels unflappable and secure and has a well-judged ESP system to help prevent skids. The steering is well weighted and accurate and the Golf has plenty of grip. Adaptive Chassis Control is available as an option, allowing the driver to select from normal, comfort or sport modes for the suspension, steering and accelerator. It’s an effective system which gives the Golf an even broader spread of talent if you think it’s worth the extra cost.
9/10
As with all previous iterations of the Volkswagen Golf, there is a good spread of engine variants to suit all comers. The 2-litre 110 TDI we tested was noticeably quieter and smoother than the previous generation 1.9-litre engine thanks mainly to its new fuelling system. Its idle and low speed noise level is significantly more refined and petrol-like.
There is no fuel consumption or tax band penalty if you opt for a 2-litre TDI 140 with its increased performance, so it's worth going for if you can afford its higher starting price.
Don’t be fooled by engine size in the petrol line-up, all the 1.4-litre engines with a TSI badge are more powerful, economical and cleaner than the less advanced 1.6-litre and command a price premium as a result.
Performance (0-62mph):
1.4 80 – 13.9
1.4 TSI 122 – 9.5
1.4 TSI 160 GT – 8.0
1.6 102 – 11.3
2.0 TDI 110 – 10.7
2.0 TDI 140 – 9.3
8/10
Significant emission improvements and high-tech new engines bring the running costs of the new Golf down. All diesel engines are fitted with a diesel particulate filter as standard. The only red herring is the 1.6-litre petrol which is showing its age and has the highest emissions in the new line-up. Thanks to its huge sales numbers, parts for the Golf will remain competitively priced and widely obtainable, as will servicing and repairs.
Residual values for the Golf are excellent, and the latest model is expected to retain half its value after three years.
When the Bluemotion model arrives in the UK it will emit just 99g/km and average more than 70mpg.
Fuel consumption (mpg)/emissions (g/km):
1.4 80 – 44.1/149
1.4 TSI 122 – 45.6/144
1.4 TSI 160 GT – 44.8/145
1.6 102 – 39.8/166
2.0 TDI 110 – 57.6/128
2.0 TDI 140 – 57.6/129
9/10
Volkswagen is listed just behind Ford and Vauxhall in the Reliability Index, but ahead of its more luxurious stable mate Audi. Many mechanical components have been carried over from the Mk5 Golf and are well proven as a result. Owners on website Drive the Debate have given the Mk5 Golf a 4.5 star score on average, and there is no reason to suspect the Mk6 will perform any worse.
8/10
The Golf is a five-star EuroNCAP car for adult occupant safety, fitted with seven airbags as standard, ESP, brake assist, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, Electronic Differential Lock and traction control. It scored four stars for child safety.
10/10
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Equipment levels increase logically from the entry level S through the SE and GT trims.
S specification highlights:
Electronic engine immobiliser
Automatic door locking, speed related, can be switched off
Remote central locking
Trip computer
Radio/CD player with four speakers
Electric front windows
Semi-automatic air conditioning
Twin exhaust pipes
Steel wheels
SE specification highlights:
Chrome trimmed grille
Alarm
Automatic driving lights with dusk sensor and illumination when you lock/unlock the car
Dimming rear-view mirror
Cruise control
Multi Device Interface with USB and iPod connectivity
Radio/CD player with eight speakers and Aux-in
Rear electric windows (five-door only)
Front armrest
Boot storage box
Front seats with height and lumbar adjustment
Front footwell illumination
‘Atlanta’ 16-inch alloy wheels
GT specification highlights:
Sports suspension (15mm lower)
Front fog lights
Cherry red rear light clusters
Rear tinted windows
Front sport seats
Leather trimmed Multifunction steering wheel
Chrome trim on door mirror and window switches
‘Porto’ 17-inch alloy wheels
8/10
Some might argue the new Golf carries too many parts over from the Mk5 to be regarded as a completely new model. We found its new engine line-up, interior and improved refinement do give it enough of a boost, even if it looks very similar from the outside. The Golf has always been about evolution, not revolution and this model is good enough to show every other hatchback in the class the way home.
10/10
What do you think of the new Golf?
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