| The Golf doesn't relish being hurried. It has | | | | It certainly appears a quality item; panels |
| a laid-back character, and is at its best | | | | gaps are thin, black plastic inserts are well |
| when traveling at high speed. On motorways, | | | | executed and details such as the jewel-like |
| very little wind noise penetrates the cabin. | | | | light clusters and rounded door handles are |
| | | | unbeatable. |
| On smooth surfaces, the cruising ability is | | | | |
| superb. But on bumpy roads, the softer | | | | Better still, tap a body panel and the metal |
| suspension of regular models means there's a | | | | sounds thick; slam a door and there's a |
| fair amount of roll and wallow. In short, the | | | | satisfying thunk. The range of S, Match, |
| VW isn't as well controlled as exemplars such | | | | Sport and GT models stands out alongside |
| as the Ford Focus, and feel slightly | | | | rivals such as the Ford Focus, Vauxhall |
| lethargic. | | | | Astra, Toyota Auris and Honda Civic. Don't |
| | | | forget, there are also sporty GTI and R32 |
| It turns in accurately enough, and the | | | | variants as well. |
| speed-sensitive steering is well weighted, | | | | |
| but compared to the Focus, it's not a | | | | Owning:In terms of design, the VW is |
| particularly engaging car to drive. Sport | | | | unspectacular. It's well laid out, very |
| models, with stiffer, lower suspension, are | | | | user-friendly and tasteful, but ultimately |
| better in this respect, with a small penalty | | | | rather unimaginative. What saves it is its |
| in terms of ride quality. As for engines, the | | | | sheer depth of quality - and not only in |
| 1.6-litre FSI is the most popular petrol | | | | obvious areas. |
| choice, but it isn't the last word in | | | | |
| smoothness. It's quite at idle but is | | | | Everything in the cockpit has clearly been .. |
| intrusive once on the move, and becomes | | | | has clearly been subjected to the same |
| coarse and boomy toward the upper reaches of | | | | rigorous checks and controls. Whether it's |
| its rev range. Yet it provides reasonable | | | | the beautifully damped cubby lids, the |
| mid-range power. | | | | leather on the steering wheel, the |
| | | | blue-backlit dials or the near-silent |
| More impressive is the costlier 1.4-litre TSI | | | | electric mirror motors, all features have |
| unit, which combines supercharger and | | | | been carefully honed. We also love the wide |
| turbocharger to provide meaningful low-rev | | | | door pockets that will hold 1-litre water |
| pull coupled with sprightly high-rev manners. | | | | bottles. Comfort is another strong suit, with |
| It's a superb engine, with the performance of | | | | masses of seat and steering adjustment, and |
| a larger unit yet the economy of a regular | | | | ample space around the driver. Four adults |
| 1.6. There's also a 2.0-litre FSI that's | | | | will fit in with ease and the light, bright |
| likely to be phased out soon, plus a | | | | environment also features a high roof and |
| 1.4-litre entry-level engine that struggles | | | | classy trim. This upmarket air clearly |
| with the Golf's weight. Brakes aren't | | | | impresses the used sector - the Golf has a |
| class-leading due to the high kerbweight, | | | | superb retained value of over 50 per cent. |
| too. | | | | Most models are economical too, and a large |
| | | | 55-litre fuel tank gives ample miles between |
| Marketplace: | | | | fills. But price may be a stumbling block. |
| | | | This is a premium product and VW charges so. |
| Want to build an upmarket hatch? This is the | | | | It's therefore disappointing to see only |
| benchmark by which all others are judged. The | | | | average equipment levels and expensive |
| Golf is a byword for quality and comfort, and | | | | options. |
| so is one of the class's most desirable cars. | | | | |