GOT A COMMENT ON NO LIMITS? EMAIL ME AT MARK@MARKFORSYTH.NET
REMEMBER the Golf Plus?
No? It was like a normal Golf that had suffered a nasty accident with a garage airline. A normal Golf at 2.2 bar. A bloated Golf.
The Golf Plus mini-MPV was based on the Mk5 Golf platform which, while not a total disaster, was a long way off being as good as the later incarnation’s MQB platform.
But there’s no denying there was something a bit Crocs ’n’ socks, a bit tofu, mung bean smoothie…a bit food stains down your home-knitted Aran sweater about the Golf Plus.
That might be a bit harsh but it doesn’t matter. VW don’t make it any longer.
And now we have the Golf SV – short for sports van.
See? It’s better already. Plus suggests 50-inch, stretch-fit waistbands, sports van suggest bad ass, street wise mo-fo.
For those who want the space of a small people carrier without having to suffer the dynamic miseries normally associated with driving a Pope-mobile, this taller, longer version of the Golf hatchback is based on the slick-riding MQB platform.
And you know what? The Golf SV is bleedin’ lovely to drive. But that’s hardly a surprise, seeing as everything in the VW, Skoda, Seat and Audi range running MQB under-pinnings is a real treat to pedal.
I think the styling is also something of a mini triumph. The SV carries its extra proportions without looking like a frumpy version of the Golf it’s based on. I’m not sure what kind of family needs more headroom than currently offered by the already spacious Golf. Maybe basketball players or people fond of wearing top hats? Punks with mohicans? Or maybe just people with heads the size of Calor Gas bottles? I met one of those yesterday in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Just like the Golf range, the SV is available with a fairly bewildering range of engines, varying from a 1.0 litre petrol up to petrol and diesel engines twice that capacity. Trim levels are a three-choice affair, S, SE and range topper GT.
At the bottom, there are titchy 15in steel wheels but touches of luxury like air-con, DAB and Bluetooth. Can’t live without DAB.
A point to note is the 1.5 petrol engines are all-new and replace the older 1.4 units. To save fuel and cut emissions, active cylinder control shuts off cylinders when demand is low. Sounds like you’re going to have to call the RAC, but in reality it is saving you money – and the Philippines.
The driving position is around 6cm higher than the standard Golf – not a huge amount. But it’s the bigger glass area that creates the feeling of extra space inside. Ask Alan Titchmarsh, he knows about glasshouses.
Space in the back can be altered by the sliding rear bench seat, which has 180mm of backy-forwardy adjustment. The seat backs can also be split 60/40 and reclined or folded flat. Boot space is pretty similar to the Golf estate with the rear seats in the up position but folded flat it increases to a whopping 1,500 litres. Like a van, man.
Apart from the obvious sensation of extra space inside, you really don’t notice the extra size when you’re behind the wheel. Even if you’re pressing on a bit, the SV never feels anything other than planted, sure-footed and controlled. It’s the same from any of the passenger seats, I’m reliably informed.
Fitted with the pokey 1.5 litre 150PS TSI motor and £1,500 optional extra DSG auto-box, the SV is actually fun – yes, fun – to drive. For an MPV that’s a pretty nifty party trick.
You’d assume from its dimensions it would be marshmallowy and prone to body roll. Not a bit of it. Hustled along a twisty B-road, the SV feels taught and responsive, a sensation belying its bloat.
There are cheaper ways to achieve this sort of space and performance. With the SV range starting at a smidgen over £19k and rising to more than 30 big ones, its competition, particularly the Gallic competition, offer much more bang for the buck.
However, there’s no denying the premium feel and impressive build quality.
It’s about as posh and enjoyable as MPV travel gets. I won’t mention the caravan towing awards.
Damn, I did.