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