Volkswagen Golf 7 2013 Review

Volkswagen Golf is a huge player on the world’s motoring scene and has been so for almost 40 years. Total sales over the six Golf generations to date are approaching 30 million.

We were among 1500 plus journalists invited to the global launch of the all-new Golf 7 in Italy last year. Now Golf has arrived in Australia and we have just experienced it in local driving conditions to check how it copes with our sometimes harsh roads.

DESIGN

Styling of the Golf has always been relatively conservative and the all-new Golf 7 continues that tradition. It retains cues to its predecessors, but comes with some sharp new lines that tie in with the latest styling trends.

The front has a neat grille that ties in with modestly shaped headlights. Naturally, Golf 7 has the kinked C-pillar that has been a distinctive feature since the first model. The shape is neat, competent and likely to be as timeless as that of its honourable ancestors.

Inside, the theme continues in that the cabin is sensible and ergonomic, with no unnecessary frills. Two large dials are easy to see and the satellite navigation, where fitted, is clear and legible, though the screen is perhaps smaller than we like.

The Volkswagen designers have gone right back to basics with the new model. This is not an evolution of the Golf 6, which was in turn closely based on the ‘5. Rather the ‘7 is an all-new design using the latest in weight reduction.

Though the car itself is slightly larger than the Golf 6 the overall weight is up to 100 kg less than before. Even more cleverly, this has been achieved without having to use expensive materials such as aluminium in large quantities. Light weight, of course, assists in performance, reduced fuel usage and lower CO2 emissions.

Boot space is useful at 380 litres, up from 350 in the Golf 6. Volume is increased to 1270 litres with the rear seat backrests down. Cleverly, the luggage cover stores neatly under the boot floor when not required, so you don’t have to find space for it elsewhere. The cover can be set at two levels, one of them providing the security of out-of-sight space under it.

SAFETY

Active safety features include Lane Assist that actively steers the car back into the correct lane or away from the edge of the road (providing there are clear line markings at the road’s edge); City Emergency Braking at speeds up to 30 km/h; crash anticipation and preparation; and adaptive cruise control.

The basic safety features are standard in all Australian models, but you have to pay extra for some of the advanced safety items in the lower cost variants. Check with your local VW dealer for information.

ENGINES

Power comes from new-design turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines. The petrol displaces 1.4 litres; the diesel is a 2.0-litre. The petrol engine comes in two states of tune, producing either 90 kilowatts of power, and 200 Newton metres of torque between 1400 and 4000 revs; or 103 kW and 250 Nm from 1500 to 3500.

Diesel peak power is 110 kW, with torque running at a strong 320 Nm between 1750 and 3000 revs. The biggest impression made by the all-new Volkswagen Golf 7 is of sophistication. It is as smooth and quiet as a car at least a size larger.

The Golf’s engine is almost electric-motor quiet at idle and little noise intrudes into the cabin, even when it’s accelerated hard. Response is significantly better than that of most modern turbocharged engines, to the extent you can forget it’s a turbo most of the time.

DRIVING

Handling is neat and precise and the Golf is easy to point and willing to change direction. Comfort is good and even on some of the very rough backroads we punted it over in a 300+ kilometre drive program out of Melbourne, the coarse-chip surfaces and large potholes didn’t increase sound and vibration levels to any real extent.

The windscreen pillars are reasonably slim and don’t hamper the view outside as much as in many contemporary cars.

VERDICT

Volkswagen Golf 7 is an extremely impressive car with a highly refined feel inside the cabin and the level of performance offered by relatively small engines. It seems assured of sales success in Australia, as it has already been in dozens of other countries.

The complete Golf 7 range is:

90TSI 1.4-litre turbo-petrol five-door hatch: $21,490 (manual), $23,990 (DSG)
90TSI Comfortline 1.4-litre turbo-petrol five-door hatch: $24,990 (manual), $27,490 (DSG)
103TSI Highline 1.4-litre turbo-petrol five-door hatch: $31,990 (DSG)
110TDI Highline 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door hatch: $34,490 (DSG)

Volkswagen Golf 90TSI Comfortline

Price: from $21,490
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder, 90kW/200Nw
Transmission: 6-speed manual or 7 speed DSG, FWD
Thirst: 5.4L/100km, CO2 126g/km