VOLKSWAGEN GOLF Review

Summary:

What we like: Interior size, Cargo versatility

What we don't like: Fuel economy compared to competitors

Click here to get the lowest price on a VOLKSWAGEN.

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF review in detail:

Volkswagen has sharpened its pencil and packed the VW Golf with desirable standard features for which you have to pay much more in other vehicles. The result is a spectacular rise in sales in Australia over the last couple of years.

As you would expect in a German car, the interior is impeccably tailored and a solid feel is evident throughout. The seats are firm but comfortable. Three children, all with the safety of lap-sash belts, will find there's plenty of room to move in the back seat area. Several Audi touches are evident in the cabin, including a familiar display on the instrument panel, TT-style grab handles on the centre console, and the overall ambiance of the interior.

The VW Golf features a well-damped chassis that uses VW's four-link independent rear suspension. The electromechanical steering provides good feedback through the twisties and decent on-center feel on the freeway.

VW is well and truly back into the turbo-diesel market and the latest diesels are impressive pieces of automotive technology.

Performance and refinement from the diesel are almost as good as a petrol engine's.

Fascinatingly, the recent advances in Volkswagen/Audi transmission technology mean Golfs are quicker in a straight line in 'automatic' DSG format than when a full manual gearbox is used. Braking from the four discs is also impressive, and getting a comfortable position behind the wheel is easy with the multi-adjustable seat and tilt-telescoping steering column.

Golf R32 is the hottest variant of all and it is now a permanent part of the Australian automotive range, not a once-in-a-while special edition.

Jetta is the name given to the Golf sedan.