The Volkswagen Golf has won over two dozen major awards worldwide last year. It emerged victorious in the European 'Car of the Year' and was crowned 'World Car of the Year 2013'. It also created history by becoming the first ever non-Japanese car to win the 'Car of the Year Japan' award.
Now, according to the new tweak in the COE system come February, cars with 1.6-litre capacity and producing more than 130bhp will be shifted to Cat B, which also means that the Volkswagen Golf Sport with 140bhp will be removed from Cat A.
Taking this into account, Volkswagen Singapore has revised its lineup of the seventh generation icon and will be introducing an even smaller engine variant - a 1.2-litre TSI.
Up close and Personal
Just like its other siblings, you get the same good-looking sheet metal, with a styling that's sharp, sleek and sophisticated.
The upmarket feel continues inside, where you'll find top-notch materials and excellent build quality, plus one of the best driving positions in the business. The dash is laid out neatly with easy-to-reach controls, while eye-catching metal-effect trim covers the centre console.
The Golf is clearly a family car with plenty of family-friendly storage, such as deep door bins, multiple cup holders and a number of handy cubby holes. Rear passengers also get plenty of head and legroom.
The Golf is clearly a family car with plenty of family-friendly storage, such as deep door bins, multiple cup holders and a number of handy cubby holes. Rear passengers also get plenty of head and legroom.
The Drive
Powering this baby Golf is a 1.2-litre TSI engine that produces 105bhp and 175Nm of torque. Pottering about, the power plant is extremely civilised and suits the Golf well.
Of course there will be times when a few extra horses would be welcome, particularly when overtaking. But you just cannot deny how well-matched the engine is to the seven-speed DSG gearbox.
Not only is the four-cylinder engine smooth, there is also very little wind and road noise. More impressively, the engine is capable of returning a fuel economy of 13km/L after a few hours of hard driving.
The supple ride also does a great job of soaking up bumps and ruts effortlessly, and while it may not be as quick or powerful as its larger brethrens, the 1.2-litre model is still agile and engaging on the twisties.
Powering this baby Golf is a 1.2-litre TSI engine that produces 105bhp and 175Nm of torque. Pottering about, the power plant is extremely civilised and suits the Golf well.
Of course there will be times when a few extra horses would be welcome, particularly when overtaking. But you just cannot deny how well-matched the engine is to the seven-speed DSG gearbox.
Not only is the four-cylinder engine smooth, there is also very little wind and road noise. More impressively, the engine is capable of returning a fuel economy of 13km/L after a few hours of hard driving.
The supple ride also does a great job of soaking up bumps and ruts effortlessly, and while it may not be as quick or powerful as its larger brethrens, the 1.2-litre model is still agile and engaging on the twisties.
Conclusion
The thing about a good car is that it doesn't necessarily need to be expensive. While it may lose out on performance and a few features such as a multifunctional steering wheel or a drive mode selector, the Golf 1.2 TSI is such an easy car to drive, offers adequate practicality and isn't thirsty after a long run.
Plus, with an Open Market Value (OMV) of below $20,000, the car will not be subjected to additional taxes under the tiered Additional Registration Fee (ARF) scheme, allowing consumers to loan up to 60 percent of the selling price - which is possibly a lower one.
