VW Golf

THE World Car of the Year award is something that is awarded annually to a car that few people will have laid eyes on in the press let alone on the roads.

Judged by 66 journalists from 23 different countries it usually secures a distinctive CotY sticker in the rear window of their chosen vehicle for the duration of its year-long reign, marking out the success for all to see...when said car eventually hits the high streets.

I’ve yet to see one in the back of this year’s winner, the mkVII Volkswagen Golf.

Rather like the shirts of the Brazilian national football team, I suspect the new Golf might start to look somewhat cluttered if it took this stance with all its accolades.

The England team’s single star, denoting their World Cup win in 1966, looks classy. But ten stars on those iconic yellow shirts? Ronaldinho would look like a buck-toothed General Gaddafi.

Similarly, I suspect Golf drivers would not be able to see out of their back window if every award it secured attracted a window sticker.

For years the Golf has been the epitome of the aspirational hatchback, bridging the gap between its key rivals and premium saloons like the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4.

It may have been joined by the more expensive BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 in recent times as they aimed to offer yet more polish in the hatchback sector, but the Volkswagen’s balance of affordability and premium built quality has remained hard to beat.

This time around the advances in terms of technology and performance have been as great as ever.

It looks less striking and less evocative than ever in the metal, a markedly longer wheelbase (59mm) is obvious and it’s 13mm wider and 28mm lower than the car it replaces.

But the styling of the cars seems to have barely altered, save for a few straighter lines, sharper creases and a jaunty new fuel filler cap.

In the seemingly prerequisite Pacific Blue paintwork the effect of the conservative styling is further exacerbated.

Build quality and engineering innovation are what elevate the Golf above the hatchback crowd, though.

Volkswagen claims the mkVII is an average of 100kg lighter and 23 per cent more efficient.

The Golf SE 1.6-litre TDI I drove claimed an average fuel consumption of 74.3mpg and road tax dodging CO2 emissions of 99g/km with the help of brake energy regeneration and a fuel saving start/stop system.

Priced at £20,500 it comes at the mid-range point of a line-up that starts at £16,285 for the Golf S 1.2 TSI and tops out with the £24,880 Golf GT TDI.

Among the standard specification on the SE specification car was an array of technology not usually seen as standard in this sector.

Systems which alert the driver as the car strays out of its lane, radar-guided cruise control which maintains a set distance from the car in front  and an post-collision braking system which anticipates a collision an automatically applies the brakes all go above and beyond the industry norms.

Only the pre-collision braking proved problematic during my test. I nearly jumped out of my skin when it picked up a car turning off into a side road ahead and gave an aggressive jab of the brakes.

Other than that the Golf made the most of its new, larger footprint, feeling refined with a neutrally balanced chassis.

The 1.6-litre TDI engine readily delivers its 104bhp and 184lb.ft. of torque, revving freely and with remarkably little noise, and feels good for its 10.7 second sprint to 62mph and 119mph top speed.

Ford’s Focus offers more lively handling, offering greater adjustability, but the Golf offers a more grown-up feel, greater refinement and excellent build quality.

A premium feel is where the Golf majors and not only in its ride quality, refinement and comfort.

The cabin is one of the most spacious in the class and an infinitely adjustable driving position is a real boon. A new three-spoke steering wheel featuring some gloss black detailing is a nice addition, too.

The SE’s DAB radio-equipped 5.8-inch touchscreen is central to an uncluttered dashboard and works in intuitive fashion, a range of menu options being easily scrolled through with a stroke of the finger and even senses your digits approach, certain functions rising to attention on screen as you move in to explore its functions.

After spending a week with the new Golf 1.6-litre TDI it was clear that it was a car that would be infinitely easy to live with.

There’s plenty of space to accommodate a small family, a decent lick of pace and impressive fuel economy — though I averaged just short of 60mpg — and a host of technologies that subtly make life easy with a level of intuition that means you barely notice the fact that you have moved quickly into making full use of them.

While I still have reservations about its low-key styling I have to admit that it’s a worthy class leader...even if it doesn’t wear its stars on its chest.

Golf SE 1.6-litre TDI

Engine: 1,598cc, 4-cyl, turbodiesel

Power: 104bhp and 184lb.ft. of torque

Fuel Economy: 74.3mpg

Emissions: 99g/km CO2

Performance: 10.7 second (0 to 62mph) and 119mph

Price: £20,500

RATIONG ***** (out of five)

 

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