DRIVING REVIEW: Volkswagen Golf 1,4 TSI DSG Comfortline
WHAT IS IT?
The quintessential family hatch, now in its seventh generation and achieving sales figures that should leave its rivals green with envy. This version is the middle-of-the-range 1,4 TSI Comfortline, here fitted with VW’s too-clever-for-its-own-good seven-speed dual-clutch auto box and award-winning 1,4-litre turbopetrol engine. It costs a not-inconsiderable R323 500.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
As inoffensive as they come, which is exactly how it should be. The Volkswagen Golf has to appeal to a variety of buyers, from successful singletons in their 20s and 30s to retirees who love its comfortable ride, Tardis-like space utilisation and the peace of mind offered by a standard five year/90 000 km service plan.
Geometric shapes abound, and although the Volkswagen Golf can look bland from some angles, the magic is in the detailing. The door handles are solid to the touch, shut lines are impeccably linear and door thin pillars mean sight lines out of the vehicle are as unobstructed as they come.
Pull one of those door handles and you gain entry to the best cabin in the family hatch class. Quality is excellent throughout, space front and rear is immense considering the compact exterior dimensions and comfort levels are tops thanks to widely adjustable seats and steering wheel.
WHAT DOES IT OFFER?
Where this Comfortline model does fall short is in its standard equipment tally. Rivals offer items such as leather seats and USB/Bluetooth audio as standard (both are optional in the Golf) – some even throw in navigation, such as the Mazda3. But the Golf’s always been about substance over surface appeal. One short drive quickly highlights where the money was spent during its development…
HOW DOES IT DRIVE?
Sublimely. The Golf doesn’t pretend to be sporty, and it’s all the better for it. The 1,4-litre engine offers oodles of torque at low revs, the gearbox stirs its ratios creamily smooth and the ride is pillowy at all speeds. There some roll in bends, of course, but nothing that will alarm, and the brakes are strong underfoot. It’s the class of the field.
IN CONCLUSION
Volkswagen has been building Golfs for 41 years, and it shows. Like BMW evolves its 3 Series and Porsche the 911, constant tweaks have meant the Golf has remained the undisputed leader of the C-segment.
It isn’t infallible, however. As mentioned, there are rivals that are better equipped and cheaper – those pesky Koreans and French – while the Ford Focus and Mazda3 come close to edging the Golf for on-road manners. For now, though, the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf, like the ones before, is king of the class.
WORDS: TERENCE STEENKAMP @Terence_Stp