Volkswagen Golf FSI 2005 review

Mix the red body with the right look and you've got the perfect car. After all, boys, it is about the look – and pulling power.

Why else do women spend so much time getting ready?

Well, girls, I have some great news which may save you some of that time.

The Golf is made by the same people who make Audis. Those in the know tell me it is built on the same platform as the gorgeous A3. Audi experts will tell you there is no comparison between the cars but the Golf comes a lot cheaper and has plenty of style.

The hip little hatch also came as a relief.

After all, the only memories I had of Golfs were terrible. Just picture laborious drives in a hippie mate's clapped-out, lardy-bodied diesel Golf in northern New South Wales in the 1980s. Would I need the stereo blaring to drown the engine noise?

Driving south to the beach, noise wasn't a factor – it was smooth driving, with Jack Johnson on the CD and a mid-winter breeze coming through the sunroof.

Lucky enough to time it right to get the quirky one-way expressway south, the six-speed compact got a workout on the drive to Port Willunga.

The big hill wasn't a problem but, to be honest, I wasn't concentrating on performance.

The fifth-generation Golf FSI is an IT car.

The IT factor comes in the form of a cute curvy body, three-spoke sporty steering wheel, plenty of zip and such designer fashion touches as cute little VW insignias in the twin headlights and the mag wheels.

We all know every gal loves the designer thang.

The FSI also boasts brushed-silver interior trimmings, comfy high-back seats with adjustable headrests, fold-out cup holders behind the console for rear-seat passengers, and those dinky little lights blinking under the rear-view mirrors when you're indicating to turn.

But, best of all, the red made a statement: fast and fun.

LOVE IT LEAVE IT

VW Golf FSI

$29,990

LOVE IT

Zippy and stylish

VW insignias in lights and mags

Sporty steering wheel

Blinking lights on rear-view mirrors

LEAVE IT

Chiming to put on seatbelt