I am certain that Volkswagen could only dream of the success they would reach with a new nameplate in 1974. Golf. A small hatchback with a meagre 1.1-litre engine and a four-speed gearbox.
It was time to replace the Beetle, you see – and front wheel drive was suddenly a thing. Looking back more than five decades – that was possibly genesis.
The latest iteration of VW’s evergreen Golf is truly superb. Not just what I believe to be a stunning design, but a collection of perfectly calibrated bits and pieces produce a car that is near as dammit to perfection.
Interior
The interior is well laid out, the materials are of great quality… but it is the build quality that stuns. VW has been very good at quality for a very long time.
Thanks to our previous MD here in South Africa, Thomas Schäfer who is now CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, sanity has prevailed and we have physical buttons back on the steering wheel and to control the most used functions in the cabin.
Engine
Under the bonnet is VW’s familiar 1.4 TSI unit paired with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. The TSI offers 110 kW and 250 Nm … it may not sound earth moving, but in reality is perfectly ample for something that doesn’t wear a GTI badge.
VW says it can manage 6.3l/100km on the combined cycle … We know it can do better than that on the open road from our launch experience. After a brisk 150km, we averaged 6.1l/100km.
Driving
It is, however, on the road, from the driver’s seat, where it once again dawns on you. Nearly everyone in some newfangled SUV has bought the wrong car.
The Golf, for most applications, is nearly perfect. It is lighter, more delicate to drive, more efficient and cheaper than many SUV competitors and will still seat five – yet the buying public has this fascination with "sitting high".
The cabin on the open road is truly quiet. Hardly any wind noise around the frame, even at 140km/h. Then we get to the suspension. The Golf has some of the best damping I’ve experienced in a new car of late.
Beautifully comfortable. Not only is the damping superb, but the steering calibration is wonderfully accurate – nearly as if the Golf treads exactly where you think it should.
Safety
The Golf sports a comprehensive suite of safety features, seven airbags to boot – as well as all the modern active and passive safety features one has come to expect from a new car.
The active features include lane departure and blind spot warning, collision warning with emergency brake assist – that kind of thing. On the passive side, you have traction control, stability control and ABS brakes.
Summary
I will sum up the new Golf like this. I implore you – if you’re in the market for a new car, no matter the body style – go test drive a Golf first.
It is calibrated better than any offering the Chinese have – then as you go drive all your options, measure them against the Golf … it sets a new standard at the price point.
Initially baffled, but when one considers that VW has poured their hearts and souls into this car for 51 years, it makes sense.
Perfection takes time.
It comes with a three-year/120 000km warranty, five-year 90 000km service plan, and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty.
Pricing
Golf 1.4 TSI 110kW Tiptronic Life: R580 900
Golf 1.4 TSI 110kW Tiptronic Life Plus: R604 500
Golf 1.4 TSI 110kW Tiptronic R-Line: R660 000
Golf 1.4 TSI 110kW Tiptronic R-Line Plus: R688 100