The new Golf is on the way. Paddy Comyndrove it, and found it a good mover, but still suffering anonymity
SELLING 25 MILLION cars, you could say, is a pretty good track record. That was the milestone reached last year by the Volkswagen Golf, a car that can rightly lay claim to the title of the "people's car" - long since outselling the iconic Beetle.
Ask someone to think of Golf, and they are almost as likely to think of the Volkswagen, as they are the game played by people in funny trousers. The evolution of the Golf since 1974 has been slow and steady.
There could be a spot prize for identifying the difference between this generation and at least two of the previous generations. A quick look at previous generations and you start to realise that perhaps the job of designing the VW Golf is one of the least challenging roles in the motor industry. The German brand could never be accused of tinkering too much with a winning formula. But even by their standards the unveiling of the all-new sixth generation Golf has been met with almost universal sigh of boredom. It was unlikely to be any other way. The orders were that the new Golf was to be built more efficiently, but look more upmarket.
Under the guidance of VW designer Walter De Silva, Volkswagen set about making an all-new Golf, using a familiar recipe. There have been changes, for sure. The exterior design carries nothing from the old car, with extensive re-working at the front and rear. It's better-looking, but still way too anonymous for a car that will be everywhere within months of its launch.
Inside, too, there have been changes. The surfaces higher up look and feel better, but get more brittle and somewhat cheaper feeling lower down. But it's under the bonnet where Volkswagen may just win the battle of the family hatchbacks. There is an impressive breadth of engines on offer and they, as usual, suit our market perfectly.
When the fifth-generation Golf was released here, it was at a time when few people knew what a CO2 emission was. The weedy 1.4-litre engine soldiers on, but thanks to our new CO2 emissions laws, may no longer be the default choice. The 1.4-litre 80bhp engine is joined by a 102bhp 1.6-litre, and two versions of the 1.4-litre TSI, one with 122bhp (it has a turbo) and a range-topping twincharger version (it has a turbo and a supercharger) with 160bhp.
We tried both the 122bhp and the 160bhp 1.4-litre versions at the launch and both are peppy enough. The 122bhp version is probably the best compromise as a petrol engine, with the entry-level 80bhp 1.4-litre best avoided at this stage.
Meanwhile, the choice of diesels will be a 2.0-litre TDi with 110bhp and returning 119g/km of CO2, meaning it will be a Band A car and a second 2.0-litre TDI with 140bhp, which will be a Band B car returning 129g/km. March will see the introduction of a 1.6-litre diesel engine with 90bhp and there will also be a top of the range 170bhp TDi too.
Volkswagen Ireland expects the 1.6-litre diesel to be the biggest seller, but whether eager buyers will wait until March to get their new Golf remains to be seen. These new engines have improved the fuel economy of the Golf by up to 28 per cent.
A lot of other things simply remain the same. The car has near identical dimensions to the current car. It has the same boot space, the same suspension set-up, and it feels pretty much the same to drive. There are new toys on offer such as ACC Automatic Distance Control, which is a laser-based system that maintains an ideal gap in traffic. In terms of safety, there is Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) as standard and new ant-whiplash head restraints. Seven airbags, including kneebags feature as standard.
The new Golf arrives here in January. With the expected volume seller to be the 1.6-litre diesel, prices will need to be competitive for the 110bhp 2.0-litre diesels and the 1.4-litre petrol versions. Expect a starting price of €22,000 for the entry-level 1.4-litre 80bhp version, and €24,000 for the 110bhp 2.0-litre TDi. We would opt for the latter, or the 122bhp 1.4-litre TSI if you must have your car in January, with the 1.6-litre diesel making the soundest buy if you can wait until March.
THE GOLF- Evolution of an icon
Mark I 1974:First-generation Golf is launched. By October 1976, 1,000,000 had been made. Diesel version and iconic GTi comes that same year.
Mark II 1983:Second-generation Golf revealed after much anticipation, with new GTi the following year.
By 1990, 12,000,000 Golfs had been produced.
Mark III 1991:Third-generation, tank-like Golf revealed. By 1992, 13,000,000 Golfs had been made. In 1993, the first Golf with a turbodiesel direct injection (TDi) engine debuts along with a Cabriolet and first Golf Estate.
Mark IV 1997:Fourth-generation Golf appears before going on sale in Ireland in 1998.
A third-generation Cabriolet, a 4MOTION 4wd version and a new Estate version are all introduced.
Mark V 2003:Fifth-generation Golf debuts, with new GTi version following in 2005, followed by R32 model later that same year. By March 2007, the 25,000,000th Golf had been produced.
Mark VI 2008:Sixth-generation debuts, with Irish sales starting in January 2008. Highlights include new exterior design penned by Walter de Silva.
FACTFILE - Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSi 122bhp
Engine:1360cc, 4-cyl turbo petrol
Peak power:122bhp at 5,000rpm
Peak torque:200Nm at 1,500rpm - 4,000rpm
Transmission:Seven-speed direct shift gearbox, front-wheel-drive
0-100km/h:9.5 seconds
Top speed:200km/h
Emissions CO2:139 g/km
Road Tax:€150 (Band B)
Combined cycle fuel economy:6.0 litres/100km
Price:€25,000 (Estimate) On sale January 2009
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDi 110bhp
Engine:1968cc, 4-cyl diesel
Peak power:110bhp at 4,200rpm
Peak torque:250Nm at 1,500rpm - 2,500rpm
Transmission:Six-speed manual, front-wheel-drive
0-100km/h:10.7seconds
Top speed:194km/h
Emissions CO2:119 g/km
Road Tax:€100 (Band B)
Combined cycle fuel economy:4.5 litres/100km
Price:€24,000 (Estimate) On sale January 2009