Volkswagen New Golf Sport 1.4 TSI First Drive Review

At first glance, the new Volkswagen Golf looks hardly different from its predecessor, the Mark V. In fact, it is a bit of a conundrum. Why?

Well, it's supposed to be a new car, and it is, in the same way the 911 Porsche 997 models are "new" compared to the 996s. The New Golf's chassis is essentially the same as the previous models', and a significant quantity of its body panels are new.

So does that mean it's actually the same lady with a bit of make-up on? No.

Starting with the aesthetics, Volkswagen set out to create "a familiar impression and yet new feeling in the eye of the beholder". Quality was also one of the top priorities, as was acoustic comfort.

The New Golf not only employs the use of a sound-damping film on its windscreen; hi-tech measurements were performed all over the car during its development to weed out the areas where noise could be reduced. It even has side mirrors identical to the Eos and Passat CC's - a functional design which cuts wind noise. The result is very impressive. Although there aren't specific figures to go by, a cruise on the highway reveals much - it's probably as quiet as a Passat, or maybe even a little better.

Even on the inside, fiddling around with the car's buttons and fittings reminded me of the build quality that one would find in, perhaps, an Audi A3. The New Golf has that much improvement.

A more confident stroke

Our test car, the New Golf Sport 1.4 TSI, came with the twin-charged (turbocharged and supercharged) 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine. Producing 160 hp and 240 Nm of torque from 2,000 rpm, and paired with the seven-speed DSG, the petit 1.4-litre is not to be trifled with. The century sprint takes just eight seconds flat and it can get to a top speed of 220 km/h.

Bearing in mind that your annual road tax will cost just S$620, it is pretty good performance for your dollar.
This paddle-shifted seven-speed DSG from VW is one of my favourite gearboxes for two main reasons. Firstly, it has a good spread of ratios that pairs well with the torque produced by the engines that it's normally mated to. That makes for plenty of useable power when you need to get a move on. And of equal importance is its seventh gear, which gives excellent fuel economy when you travel on the highway. The Golf Sport's combined fuel economy rating is a remarkable 6.0 l/100 km, or about 17 km/l.

While silky smooth, super-quick shifts aren't exactly characteristics which the seven-speed DSG can boast about (especially in comparison to the six-speed's) it's one of those you can easily forget once you start driving.

Especially when you've "accidentally arrived" at a long and flowing windy road.

Ready to swing

Leave the gear knob in "S", wait for the gears to switch and the revs to rise - the car signals it's ready. The second you put the pedal to the metal, everything changes and the whole car comes alive. There's no difficulty with tight corners and its handling, once again, instills plenty of confidence.

It feels slightly less bothered by bumps, perhaps partially due to the 16-inch rims compared to the previous generation's 17-inch ones. Despite that, it's not a ride that leaves you wanting to turn around and have another go. The Golf Sport is obviously no GTI, but it's still something that you know will be ready for the next set of bends, whenever you choose the "S" mode.

Reassuringly, it's also safer. Five stars on Euro NCAP's score sheet is the most a car can get and the Golf sits comfortably on that A-list. It also has seven airbags as standard, including a driver's knee airbag.

Two new models are currently on offer - the New Golf 1.4 TSI (122 hp turbocharged 1.4-litre) and the New Golf Sport 1.4 TSI we tested (160 hp twin-charged 1.4-litre). Prices for the 122 hp model start from S$74,800 (with COE) while the faster Golf Sport costs from S$87.800 (with COE). Prices are subject to launch discounts.

One of Volkswagen's main concerns for the Mark V was that production costs were too high and they aimed to improve on that with this new model. Obviously, to most, cutting costs that way would logically translate into lower quality. But they'd be wrong.

The New Golf not only defies that logic, it has set the benchmark for quality in its class - with style and substance. More importantly, you'd need to take a look yourself to believe it.