MODELTESTED: Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI Evo 150 DSG GT
PRICE: £26,090 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl turbo, 148bhp
THE Volkswagen Golf is our current favourite family hatchback and blends premium appeal with practicality and technology. At £26,090, this 1.5 TSI Evo DSG model in GT trim is the most expensive choice here. But is it also the best?
Design & engineering
WHEN Volkswagen refreshed its Golf last year, it didn’t rip up the rulebook, choosing instead to refine the family hatch in a few key areas.
That means VW’S MQB chassis is still present under the slickly styled skin, but the car did get the firm’s latest 148bhp 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that features clever fuel-saving tech. It can shut down cylinders on the move to help improve efficiency.
Unlike in the Subaru, the motor drives the front wheels only, while the suspension layout is conventional, with Macpherson struts at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear. Our test car also featured £850 adaptive dampers.
Standard equipment includes VW’S Discover infotainment system with sat-nav, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, DAB, adaptive cruise and parking sensors, plus a strong level of safety tech to match its rivals here – an important factor of any family car.
Cabin quality is great and the VW feels worth the extra over its rivals here, with higher-quality materials and a well-built cabin.
The interior isn’t the freshest on sale, but it’s more functional and better appointed than in either of these competitors. All the kit is nicely integrated, while the ergonomics are solid. These foundations have underpinned the Golf’s appeal for decades, and while VW hasn’t altered too much in the overhaul to this Mk7.5 form, the car still scores strongly.
Driving
THE drivetrain is also a strong point. Although it’s down on power next to both of these rivals, it offers the most torque, with 250Nm from 1,500rpm. This gives flexibility, which, when combined with the transmission, makes it the nicest car to drive.
It’s more difficult to compare the Golf with its rivals due to their different transmissions, but the VW trailed the Honda by only four tenths from 0-60mph, taking 7.8 seconds.
The gearbox is smooth when left to its own devices – apart from when manoeuvring, when the clutch comes in abruptly so parking can be a little jerky. It shifts well in manual mode. Changes are rapid but smooth and, given the DSG’S merits, it’s difficult to recommend either of the rival CVT options over the Volkswagen.
Crucially, it also means you feel more in tune with the car. This 1.5 TSI Evo engine pulls well and is refined, so while it might lack the last few tenths in straight-line acceleration, this isn’t so critical out on the road, where other factors count for more.
The Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive suspension option gives a lovely, plush feel to the Golf’s damping. These are three of the bestriding family hatchbacks on sale, thanks to their sophisticated suspension set-ups, but with the DCC option fitted, the VW feels the most capable car in most situations – but there isn’t much in it. The ride comfort doesn’t sacrifice agility, either.
The steering is a good weight and this doesn’t detract from the driving experience. The Golf is relatively fun to push faster as the chassis underneath has a wide range of talents. This includes refinement and the Golf is smooth in town (ignoring the gearbox from stationary), and on the motorway it feels calm at speed.
Practicality
WHILE a 380-litre boot actually makes the Golf’s load bay the smallest here, its uniform shape and easy access from that wide, flat hatch mean it’s still more than practical enough for a family’s belongings.
The car’s packaging makes the most of the available space – legroom is slightly tighter than in the Civic, but it feels as spacious, while the trim quality and storage (a big central bin, plenty of trays and a clever double cup-holder) plus the shallower dash design ensure it feels more open.
As with the Subaru, the VW’S regular shape results in good visibility – better than the Honda’s.
Ownership
FIFTH place in the makers’ chart of our Driver Power 2018 survey put Volkswagen a few spots behind Honda, but the ownership prospects are just as good here, partly because the safety features are so strong.
Euro NCAP rated the Golf a five-star car when it was tested, and it’s no surprise when autonomous braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control and seven airbags are all standard.
Options include a £1,120 Lane Assist Plus pack, with blind spot alert and lane keep assist, as well as auto high beam headlights, cross traffic alert and traffic jam assist with semi-autonomous driving functions.
Running costs
GIVEN the VW badge’s prestige, it’s no surprise our experts predict the Golf will hold on to more of its value than its rivals – around 39.7 per cent, or depreciation of £15,745 over three years. That’s a bit more than the 37.4 per cent for the Honda (£15,630). The higher proportion of retained value for the more expensive VW means it’ll still be worth more after three years and 36,000 miles, at £10,345, next to £9,350 for the Civic.
The Subaru trails both rivals here, with a residual value rated at 33.2 per cent after three years – it’ll lose £16,709 and be worth £8,301 after the same period.
Testers’ notes
“The Golf’s £495 Active Info Display 12.3-inch dials are a brilliant feature that lifts the cabin. Honda’s dash seems dated and cluttered in comparison, while the Subaru doesn’t offer similar tech.”