C ar S cene I nvestigation: The New Volkswagen Golf

It’s as if it’s Christmas again.

· Design & Engineering:

The Volkswagen Golf has always been one of VW’s most successful and appealing models. After 5 years of the previous Golf, the new Mark 7 has made its debut—promising even more than its predecessor. From the front, the Golf sports that prominent VW face—doing so with a bit more flair than the Mark 6 though. Furthermore, redesigned xenon headlamps with avant-garde LED styling make their presence known on the roads. From the side, it is clear that VW has optimized the Golf’s wheelbase to the max, pushing everything forward or backward in order to create a bigger vehicle on the inside. Also, styling is more aerodynamic. From the rear, that is where I truly begin to see changes in the new Golf. For instance, it alleviates the car’s social status, making it seem more grown up, and futuristic. With credit to the newly designed rear lights, I’d say that the Golf looks at its best from the back.

· Interior:

Clearly, Volkswagen produces mass-market vehicles—hence its “das auto” labeling. Being a parent company of Audi (which produces the world’s best mass-produced interiors), Lamborghini, and Bentley, one can expect a certain level of quality in the Mark 7’s interior. Upon gliding into the vehicle, it is clear that build quality and use of materials has shifted upwards. From the driver’s perspective, the beautifully crafted steering wheel provides one with a sense of luxury and maturity—usually found on more expensive models. Coupled with an array of multi-function buttons, paddle shifters and the sort, one finds it relatively easy to live with the Golf, as the whole picture melds together for seamless use. With the dashboard, it’s the same deal as with the current Passat—clear and easy to read dials, with the key details of the vehicle displayed in clear and simple manners. Moving on to the… center console. Without a doubt, the new center console is probably the Golf’s selling point. If it doesn’t appeal to you, it sure does to me! The new multi-function 8-inch high colour screen (dubbed ‘Discover Pro’ by VW) provides you with a futuristic yet intuitive touch to modern technology. Bluetooth, GPS, etc. come standard. For instance, one can see the vehicle status vis-à-vis a diagram of the vehicle, and can select driving modes, via the screen. A cool feature comes with the option to zoom in and out on the graphic GPS map, just as one would naturally do on say, an iPad. Classy piano black plastic finish lines the doorsills, further alleviating the mood of the cabin. Naturally, rear air conditioning comes as standard. To sum it up, I’d say that the boffins in Germany have outdone themselves—again.

· Ride & Handlings

Powering the Mark 7 is a 1.4-liter turbocharged TSI engine, churning out 140 BHP, which gets the Golf from a standstill to the century point at around 8.4 seconds. With credit towards space saving methods and a DSG gearbox, driving the Golf is a breeze, as power comes easily, along with comfort. For serious drivers, the paddle shifters (especially in sport mode) do make for a promising drive. As for the eco-friendly human, an Eco mode comes along as well, featuring VW’s BlueMotion technology. Sadly, once the hood is opened, the Golf starts to lose marks, as it is a sheer mess under the bonnet. Unlike competition, wires are astray, creating a myriad of ‘mess’. Tsk-tsk.