The Volkswagen Golf has long been the five-door hatch benchmark and, as such, played in the upper-levels of the price range for the segment. But now the Golf goes on the attack with drastically reduced prices and increased spec. We spend a day thrashing a couple of them at the Golf 7 launch.
What is it?
It’s a Golf; the quintessential five-door hatch, really. Over the last 38 years and six generations, the Golf has cemented its place as THE benchmark for other five-door hatches to reach for.
Now the new seventh generation is here and raises the bar once again. Although you almost certainly not think it to look at it. From the front it is almost indistinguishable from the Golf 6 and it is really only at the are that the biggest change is noticeable; a set of Hyundai i30/Toyota Corolla style taillights.
So while it doesn’t particularly raise the bar in an aesthetic sense (it still looks good, just not particularly different), what the Golf 7 does do is take the fight down into the Corolla’s territory. Price-wise, that is…
the Golf range has gone from having a single model scraping in under $40,000 to having only a single model over the magic number. That’s right, only the top-of-the-range TDI Highline tops the $40k mark, with all four other Golf models available at launch coming in under (and some WELL under) it.
The range kicks off with the TSI Comfortline that comes with a 90kW/200Nm 1.4-litre petrol engine hooked up to a six-speed manual transmission. It also comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, electric, heated door mirrors, an electric park brake, manual air con, a leather multifunction steering wheel and a cooled glove box as standard, as well as the full range of Volkswagen’s fuel-saving Bluemotion technologies (Stop/start, low rolling resistence tyres, etc), Bluetooth, a 5.8-inch touch screen infotainment system and a very clever new variable load bed in the boot that increases storage capacity by 30-litres when needed, which are all now standard across the Golf range.
The manual TSI Comfortline costs $32,250, while the addition of a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG takes it up to $34,750. The 77kW/250Nm 1.6-litre diesel-powered TDI Comfortline is only available with the DSG and costs $37,250. A $3,000 optional pack is available on Comfortline models that adds 16-inch alloy wheels, dual zone climate control, parking sensors (front and rear), an auto-dimming rear mirror, auto headlights and rain sensing wipers.
Stepping up to the Highline trim gets you a choice of two, more powerful engines and adds a whole lot of kit, including 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights and rain sensing wipers, navigation, sports front seats, dual zone climate control, ‘piano black’ dash inserts and front and rear parking sensors.
The TSI Highline gets the 103kW/250Nm version of the 1.4-litre petrol engine, while the TDI Highline has a 110kW/320Nm 2.0-litre diesel. Both are only available with the seven-speed DSG and cost $39,750 (TSI) and $43,750 (TDI).
What’s it like?
On our brief time with it on the launch, the Golf 7 came across as very impressive indeed.
Ignoring, for a moment, the drastic drop in price and jump up in standard spec, the new Golf feels bigger (and it is, but only fractionally, even though interior space is well up), more mature and incredibly well built. In short, it feels FAR more expensive than it actually is.
We drove an optional 18-inch wheel-equipped TDI Highline and a basic TSI Comfortline DSG during the launch and came away impressed with both.
The 2.0-litre diesel engine is a torque-monster from virtually everywhere in the rev-range and pulls the little Golf out of corners at a startling rate. The optional 18-inch wheels compromise the ride quality slightly, but don’t ruin it and the handling is simply wonderful.
The 1.4-litre petrol in the TSI Comfortline was possibly an even bigger surprise, with performance seemingly beyond that of its relatively modest 90kW/200Nm claim. The big clue to this comes when you look at the spec sheet and realise that all 200Nm is available at 1500rpm and tops out at 4000rpm…
The ride on the 15-inch alloy wheels is sublime, although they do look a bit little and weedy, and the performance and handling of both Golfs we sampled exceeded our expectations. Which is particularly impressive when you consider that this was a new Golf launch – our expectations were already quite high…
What’s good about it?
The decreased prices and increased spec, obviously. The build quality and quality of materials used in the interior is particularly impressive, especially for the price VW NZ have landed it at.
Handling and ride are both impressive, with seemingly no compromises made by one for the other and the engines we tried are both strong and frugal.
What’s not so good?
During our short drive – not a lot.
The relative lack of exterior evolution may bother some (after all, how WILL the neighbors know you have a new car if it looks so similar to the last one…) and the most obvious change (the taillights) is strangely derivative.
First impressions?
Very positive. As mentioned earlier, the new Golf managed to exceed our expectations even though they were rather high to begin with.
Overseas reports have raved about the Golf 7 and it is easy to see why. Incredible quality, sublime handling, a great ride, increased interior space, impressive comfort and good (if relatively unchanged) looks all add up to a remarkable little package.
Add in the fact that all models now come with more kit and are a lot cheaper and you have a very compelling proposition indeed…
Specifications
Models/prices
TSI Comfortline (manual) – $32,250
TSI Comfortline (DSG) – $34,750
TDI Comfortline (DSG) – $37,250
TSI Highline (DSG) – $39,750
TDI Highline (DSG) – $43,750
Powertrain
1.4-litre inline four-cylinder petrol producing 90kW/200Nm; six-speed manual transmission or seven-speed dual clutch automated transmission; front-wheel drive (TSI Comfortline), 1.6-litre inline four-cylinder diesel producing 77kW/250Nm; seven-speed dual clutch automated transmission; front-wheel drive (TDI Comfortline), 1.4-litre inline four-cylinder petrol producing 103kW/250Nm; seven-speed dual clutch automated transmission; front-wheel drive (TSI Highline), 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder diesel producing 110kW/320Nm; seven-speed dual clutch automated transmission; front-wheel drive (TDI Highline)
Fuel consumption: 5.2L/100km (TSI Comfortline man), 5.0L/100km (TSI Comfortline DSG), 3.9L/100km (TDI Comfortline DSG), 5.0L/100km (TSI Highline DSG), 4.4L/100km (TDI Highline DSG)
CO2 emissions: 120g/km (TSI Comfortline man), 116g/km (TSI Comfortline DSG), 102g/km (TDI Comfortline DSG), 116g/km (TSI Highline DSG), 117g/km (TDI Highline DSG)
Safety
ANCAP/EuroNCAP rating: 5 star
Air bags: 7
Stability control: yes
Lap/diagonal belts: 5
