When148hp is more than enough

nearly all the ones that we saw were GTIs. That, the words of those enthusiastic writers in our VW-centric magazines and Hollywood regularly showing the Golf Cabriolet (“Rabbit Convertible” in the US) driven by gurrrls, got us to conclude that if one is to buy a Golf, it better be a GTI. Otherwise, forget it. It’s not worth the money. It’s not “good” enough.

Now, I (and those former housemates and friends too) am much older and wiser. I could now understand that not everyone wants or can handle the performance of the renowned Golf GTI, let alone the cracking Golf R which, in the hands of a capable pilot, can even keep up or leave behind the base-variant Porsche 718 Cayman/Boxster.

This one here is the Golf R-Line. It is a four-door hatchback with a 1.4-litre engine. Sounds “weak”, huh? But that engine is turbocharged and paired with a sevenspeed dry clutch direct

shift gearbox, putting out an impressive 148hp and 250Nm of torque between 1,500 and 3,500rpm. Willkommen to the 21st century, with its perfected and commonplace turbocharging, ceramic this, rare earth that and many other goodies in abundance.

The Volkswagen goes, stops, turns and handles spirited driving commendably. I’d say that it is among the top fun hatchbacks in the 1.2-1.6-litre category.

All that fun – as well as the R-Line’s practicality as a daily driver – is well guarded by an array of advanced safety features. Other than seven airbags, the hatchback comes features such as “Manoeuvre Braking” which automatically brakes the car when it senses objects while travelling up to 10km/h during parking. Also available is the automatic post-collision brake system where the brakes are automatically applied to prevent subsequent impact when the vehicle is involved in a collision.

The Golf R-Line also comes with Rest Assist and Proactive Occupant Protection System, which looks out for the driver and occupants in the vehicle while the Advanced Electronic Differential Lock (XDS) provides added grip during fast cornering.

Other safety features include anti-lock braking system with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution, anti-skid regulator, interior monitoring and towing protection, electronic stability control, engine drag torque control, hill hold control, Intelligent Crash Response system and tyre pressure loss indicator. When it comes to connectivity and convenience, the Golf R-Line offers the best of both worlds, thanks to its 12.3inch Active Info Display and eight-inch screen Composition Media with App-Connect (which runs systems such as MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple Carplay). Other convenient key features include LED headlights (with Dynamic Cornering Lights), two-zone Climatronic air conditioning system, rear-view camera, “Kessy” electronic locking and starting system, electronic parking brake and driving mode selections with four different modes such as Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual.

The Golf R-Line is available in Tumeric Yellow, Atlantic Blue, Pure White, Deep Black, White Silver and Indium Grey.

This one featured here is the R-Line variant that sits above the Sportline variant. It comes with the R-Line styling package, which includes R-Line front and rear bumpers, rear spoiler, R-Line badges on its radiator grille and side panels and R-Line leather seats. The seats have been upgraded to the R-Line Vienna leather seats.

Other standard equipment include 17-inch Singapore alloy wheels, 12.3-inch Active Info Display, eight-inch composition media with AppConnect as well as LED headlights with Static and Dynamic Cornering Lights.

All those, plus the renowned fun you can (and will) have with the Golf go for RM160,608 (on-theroad, excluding insurance and while we’re still on the tax holiday). It comes with three years’ free maintenance, five years’ manufacturer warranty, roadside assistance and 15,000km service schedule.

The Golf is such an iconic model for Volkswagen and more than 34 million units have been sold worldwide since its market introduction in 1974. Out of that many Golfs, a majority aren’t GTIs and Rs. My friends and I were simply too ignorant of that fact, 20 years ago ...