Volkswagen Golf SV
FIRST DRIVE Can facelift finally help hatch-based Sportvan woo British buyers?
Mpv-styled Sportvan gets a welcome refresh. We drive it
WHEN was the last time you saw a Volkswagen Golf SV? Chances are you can’t recall it; the firm has sold fewer than 13,000 in the UK since the model was launched in 2014. For context, Ford shifts around 90,000 Fiestas to British customers every year.
It’s a different story in the SV’S domestic market, however, because more than 150,000 examples have found homes with German owners. To see if we’re missing a trick, we’ve been out in Spain to drive the facelifted car.
The changes broadly follow those of the Golf hatchback, which was revised wholesale last year. That means a similar set of headlamps with new daytime running lights, new bumpers and LED tail-lights, plus new engine options, extra equipment and a suite of improved safety tech. There are five new alloy wheel designs, as well as a new Cranberry Red paint colour. It’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it stuff on the outside, however.
But inside, there’s new trim, fabrics and leather seats, plus VW’S updated infotainment system.
The SV is just as practical as before; it’s slightly bigger than a Golf hatch, but smaller than a Golf Estate. The 500-litre boot expands to 590 litres (versus the Estate’s 605 litres) with the rear seats pushed forward, while folding them flat reveals a 1,520-litre load bay – 100 litres shy of the Golf wagon’s capacity.
The SV’S raised driving position gives a more commanding view of the road, but a Tiguan is higher still, and comes in a more fashionable SUV body.
There’s plenty of space in the back seats, however, and the sturdy tray tables will prove handy for those with small children. The high roofline means you can happily fit taller adults in the rear, although three across the back may prove a squeeze. Up front, you’ll notice the same, logically laid out and beautifully built cabin as in the latest Golf; it’s smart, but fairly conservative.
The new infotainment system is crisp and responsive, and comes packed with technology. VW has upgraded the basic 6.5-inch screen to an eightinch display set-up, while the optional latest Discover Navigation Pro features a crystal-clear 9.2-inch screen.
In addition, the new Golf SV gets Front Assist and Pedestrian Monitoring as standard, as well as optional kit such as Adaptive Cruise Control and Traffic Jam Assist. The company’s up-to-date Park Assist system makes its debut on the SV, too.
Also new is the 1.5-litre TSI Evo petrol engine as tested here. It replaces the old 1.4 TSI and joins the three-cylinder 1.0 units, while a range of 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesels will also feature on the price list.
The 1.5 is available in two outputs (128bhp or 148bhp), and we tried the lower-powered car. VW reckons this model will be the best seller, with the seven-speed DSG automatic likely to appeal to more buyers than the standard six-speed manual gearbox.
It’s a relatively punchy performer, picking up speed efficiently and without much drama. It’s remarkably refined, in
“The car’s high roofline means you can happily fit three taller adults in the rear”
“Rev it and it’s a little coarse, but this isn’t the kind of car you’ll want to hustle down a B-road”
fact, emitting barely a whisper at idle and very little in the way of wind or road noise at motorway speeds. Rev it out and it’s a little coarse, but this isn’t the kind of car you’ll want to hustle down a winding B-road. While it never feels sloppy, the steering is light and there isn’t much feel through the wheel.
Body roll is well contained, however, and the DSG box shifts smoothly and without hesitation. Our car did without the optional Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) system, but the passive dampers work well, offering a compliant ride on all but really rough surfaces.
Because Volkswagen has neglected to include a Bluemotion version of this engine, the 130PS TSI misses out on the Golf hatchback’s clever coasting function. That shouldn’t matter to many buyers, however, because the SV still claims more than 50mpg, with acceptable CO2 emissions as well.