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VW Golf Series

Pros

• Simplicity of design creates solid fundamentals
  
• Excels in almost every attribute with ease
  
• Solid workmanship inside and out

Cons

• Handling feels a bit too safe sometimes, the Mk1 this is not.
  
• Not the quickest in a straight line

Description

If you fancy feeling a lot older why not remind yourself that we're now on the seventh generation of Volkswagen Golf! Europe's best-selling car is certainly not feeling stale, and the most recent incarnation has seen the German manufacturer return back to basics. Has this new design approach led to understated excellence, or simply another dull hatchback?

Volkswagen Gold Seventh Generation (2013 - Present):

It's business as usual for the Golf in terms of exterior styling; new horizontal lines do reinforce an image of solidity whilst the front styling helps make the bonnet appear longer and sleeker. According to Volkswagen's designers a longer bonnet suggests a more upmarket car to customers. Not that the Seventh Generation needs such design tricks to coax interest, it's solid workmanship and understated style do that nicely enough. 2013 saw the seventh generation pick World Car of the Year and European Car of the Year both... not bad.

The improved engine lineup and new gearing ratios are part of the reason awards have flowed so easily. Petrol options are well-engineered and quiet with 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre options available. In short, whatever balance of performance and economy you need, you can find it here in petrol form. The diesel options are much more limited though with 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre powerplants rounding out the range. None of the Golf's are particularly fast, but the new longer gearing ensure it's an easy car to cruise in, perfect no-fuss driving for the busy family. Alongside this effortless gearing the smooth and quiet engines go very nicely so although excitement is sometimes lacking, a refined and classy drive isn't.

The interior design isn't quite as novel as the engineering though the new multimedia center is rather fetching. Despite claims of an overhaul from Volkswagen it all seems like more of the same, a few smart technological touches like the new display screen add a little extra to what is already a refined package. Space-wise things have improved with around 15mm extra legroom for passengers in the rear and the wider stance giving almost double that in extra elbow room. Like almost everything the Golf does, the interior is a solid 9/10.

Conclusion

The family hatchback market has never been stronger, and it seemed as the Ford Focus had an unassailable grip on the top position. The latest Golf undoes all this and just about pips the Ford Focus to the family hatchback throne, it simply feels better engineered even if the Focus is more exciting to drive. Aside from these two stunning successes only the Seat Leon comes close.