New Golf gets on the green

With 29 million sold, Volkswagen has had plenty of time to play Golf. But just how economical is the latest version? Richard Gooding finds out

The Volkswagen Golf needs little introduction. Over almost four decades years it’s become something of the default choice for buyers wanting a small, well-made family hatchback, and has a reputation for being the sensible, non-assuming choice. It’s the best-selling car in Europe, the best-selling Volkswagen in the UK, and the shiniest gem in Volkswagen’s crown jewels. Therefore, the company never strays far from the well‑established template it set way back in 1974. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing

The Golf has long been a classy (and classless) car, and the seventh-generation is the classiest yet, hinted at by the £20,500 list price of the mid-range SE 1.6 TDI model. The 1598cc four-cylinder diesel engine develops 104bhp, and is both the lowest-polluting (99g/km) and lowest-powered TDI engine currently fitted to new Mk 7 Golf models. Yes, the lower-spec S model is usefully £935 cheaper, but forgoes a lot of the niceties of the SE.

While all Golfs now come with a 5.8” touchscreen ‘Composition’ media system with DAB radio, electronic differential lock, air-conditioning and a multifunction computer as standard, the SE imparts a little more luxury with 16” alloy wheels, rain sensors, Automatic Distance Control (including a radar sensor-controlled distance monitoring system), Driver Alert system and automatic driving lights. All Golfs now come with Stop/Start and battery regeneration, too, the whole range embracing BlueMotion technologies.

Driver profile selection
Importantly, SE models also feature a driver profile selection operated via the centre console touchscreen. The driver can choose between four modes – ‘Normal’, ‘Eco’, ‘Sport’, and ‘Individual’. Adjusting the engine and adaptive cruise control settings (and steering depending on which preset mode is chosen), these four modes allow the car’s character to be adjusted slightly, and crucially, can allow it to be more eco-friendly, something which was borne out on the 386 miles I drove. I spent most of my week with the car in ‘Eco’ mode, and saw a near-10mpg increase in fuel economy values over the non-eco-minded ‘Normal’ mode. Even the air-conditioning goes into an eco shutdown, making this particular Golf the greenest one currently available until the 85g/km BlueMotion arrives in August.

Volkswagen claims the latest Golf is 23 per cent more economical than its predecessor. Its advertising states that you can travel from Exeter to Edinburgh on a single tank of fuel – a distance of 475 miles. OY62 ZKF arrived with a full tank of fuel, stating it had 495 miles left of range. When it left me, the range indicator was reading 135 miles, so when adding that figure to the 386 miles I’d driven, the theoretical range based on my driving style would have been 521 miles, beating Volkswagen’s distance claim. Over my time with the car, the lowest average mpg reading was 48.7, while the highest was 60.2. The real-world tally was 53.7mpg, still some way short of Volkswagen’s official 74.3mpg combined cycle figure. To help you keep track of your eco endeavours, a touchscreen display informs you of since refuelling, since the start of your journey, and long-term mpg values. The engine is relatively torquey – developing its 184lb ft between 1500–2750rpm, but is a relaxed cruiser, too, the unit spinning over at 2,000rpm at the legal limit. A gear shift indicator lets the driver know when best to change up or down to score maximum economy.

Small hatchback quality benchmark
Golfs have always been fuss-free to drive, and the latest version, unsurprisingly, doesn’t veer too much from the path of its predecessors. I’ve driven previous generations and this one feels more dynamic, a little more involving, yet still impressively refined. Volkswagen currently judges its weightings very well – the steering feels sharp and the handling keener than before, while all the controls move with that well-damped VW precision. Ride comfort is another Volkswagen strength, and it excels again here. Built on the new Modular Transverse Matrix platform which will underpin a whole range of Volkswagen Group cars large and small, the Golf deals with road imperfections in a mostly calm and unflustered manner.

The Golf has long held the small hatchback quality benchmark, and for the Mk 7, Volkswagen has upped the quality yet again. The cabin materials wouldn’t feel out of place in an executive saloon, the brushed silver inserts which come with the SE specification, lifting the ambience a little. Some may find it short of flair, but it’s the usual story of restrained elegance with faultless ergonomics

Juries of motoring journalists have unanimously awarded the Golf both the 2013 European Car of the Year and 2013 World Car of the Year titles, and I can see why. The Golf’s superior blend of build quality, economy, improved dynamics and refinement is an appealing draw. It’s conscientious, composed and discreet, and would fit into your life with minimum fuss. That may be either a blessing or a curse, but the Golf still excels as the near-perfect all-round choice, and for the majority of drivers (of which 68 per cent will be fleet choosing the five-door SE 1.6 TDI tested here), that will be comfort enough.

Details
Engine: 1598cc, four-cylinder diesel
CO2: 99g/km
MPG (combined): 74.3
VED: Band A
BIK: 13%
Price (OTR): £20,500 (including VAT. £21,585 as tested)