One of my fondest road test memories of VW's Golf was several years ago south of Melbourne, at the helm of the limited edition three door GTi Pirelli.
I had found some marvellous back roads on the Mornington Peninsula and let the car have its head. It wasn't long before I was blown away by the impeccable handling, the super direct steering, and the rorty crackle and pop from the exhaust on gearchanges both up and down. It was absolutely exhilarating, pure point and squirt motoring at its very best.
The new Golf 7 is all that and more.
It rides like a much larger car, solid, smooth and refined.
The only sound in the cabin is a faint whisper from the tyres, aided by the fitment of an acoustic windscreen, that absorbs almost all ambient noise.
It's refinement that makes the Golf stand out from the pack.
It's a classy hatch, that cossets the occupants like no other in its segment. VW is a master of well controlled suspensions, and the ride on the Golf 7 shod with 225/45/17 tyres is proof.
Suburban bumps vanish...absorbed with sublime ease.
Yet when called upon to charge along winding roads the Golf grips with astonishing aplomb.
On long interstate trips in a hatch, the Golf would have to be the first choice for comfort, performance and economy.
Australian delivered Golfs are no longer made in South Africa, but in the company's main plant in Wolfsburg Germany, and as such the quality has lifted by a quantum margin.
The fit and finish of the Golf 7 is at prestige car levels, and that's where it has the edge over its rivals.
Everything you touch feels just right, from the padded armrests to the grip of the steering wheel, to the dashboard switches, it's all very tactile. The doors close with the surety of a proverbial bank vault.
On test here is the Golf 7 103TSi with Bluemotion, VW's fuel saving idle stop engine technology.
Unlike the Beetle's 118 KW 1.4 litre turbo/supercharged engine, the 1.4 litre in this model is turbo only.
While slightly down on power over the twincharger arrangement, the 250 nm of torque from the 1.4 turbo arrives earlier, giving effortless, almost diesel- like thrust and a shove in the back that tells you you're really going somewhere in a hurry, especially if the DSG is in Sport setting!
Average fuel consumption is just over 5 litres per 100 kilometres.(4.7 on the highway, 6.3 in the burbs) A range of well over 1000 kilometres from 50 litres.
If you think a small engine hasn't enough get up and go to satisfy you,a brief road test of a Golf will have you hooked, and amazed at just how good they are.
VW thankfully provides a single gas strut to hold up the bonnet. Why many others (including some larger luxury cars) don't have this as standard baffles me. They are not expensive and much better than grappling with a manual rod bonnet stay.
Smart details abound in the Golf 7's interior, including a central 5.8 cm dashboard screen displaying satnav, reversing camera, audio controls, Bluetooth connection, car status and more.
There's a thumping eight speaker sound system with clarity that would satisfy any music buff.
On this Highline model, the, steering wheel (adjustable for reach and rake) and central fascia are clad in the ubiquitous piano black finish, with silver highlights.
Ambient lighting overhead, and in the doors and footwells is another nice touch.
The handbrake is an electronic affair with the switch next to the 7 speed DSG shifter.
Safety is well taken care of with numerous features including side, and curtain airbags as well as a knee airbag for the driver.
The Golf 7 maintains the familiar Golf shape, but is wider and longer than its predecessor, and the extra elbow and leg room is obvious.
The seats are welcoming, well bolstered and extremely comfy.. great for long or short hauls.
There are some very,very good, small cars on the market, but for sheer refinement, driver enjoyment, class and finesse, none compare to the benchmark Golf.
It is definitely a car that can be all things to all people, and one of the few cars I would be happy to own.
I look forward to testing later this year the new Mercedes A class hatch to see how it shapes up against the Golf,
The Merc will have to be good.
The Golf has been voted World Car of the Year for 2013.
Peter Sellen
How do you improve on a classic? Well, VW has managed successfully to bring one of its most iconic cars into the 21st century with its "new" New Beetle.
Those who owned the previous model will see a considerable change to the shape of the car. It's no longer an egg shaped device but tougher and more purposeful in its on road stance, with a much lower roofline. It's longer and wider as well.
From the front, the new headlights and bonnet shape have almost morphed the Bug ( I repeat almost) into a Porsche 911 lookalike.
The previous Beetle was really just a two plus two, the rear seats for children only. Anyone taller had their heads jammed into the rear window.( a sticker warned people in the back seat to duck when the hatch was being closed. )
In the front seats it was a different story
If you wanted to wear a top hat, you could do so without difficulty..there was enormous headroom.
The other quirk was the driving position. You sat squarely in the middle of the car with the windscreen miles away and the bonnet even further.
That weirdly disconcerting packaging took some getting used to.
(Compared to the original rear engine Beetles of yesteryear, where the windscreen was almost in your face.)
VW has vastly improved the interior layout. From the driver's seat the windscreen is a more conventional distance, and you can even see most of the bonnet before it slopes down to the bumper. You couldn't on the previous model.
The flower vase (found on all Beetles from the 1950s onwards) has finally disappeared from the fascia, which is pretty much the same as you'd find in a Golf, except for a body coloured panel and a double glovebox. There's just one interior light above the rear view mirror, so at night rear seat occupants are kept in the dark.
The next pleasant surprise was rear seat headroom. I am 6'3" or 183 cm tall, and after folding myself through the wide door opening, into the back seat, lo and behold I fitted!
My hair just brushed the headlining.
So now the Beetle is a true 4 seater for adults once again, and not before time.
The cloth trimmed front seats are generously proportioned and very comfortable. The rear pews are smaller and just a tad firmer. Leg room in the back is tight, especially if front seat occupants are tall..then it diminishes to zero.
Boot size has increased, it's still not huge, but a suitcase or two will fit better than before.
Strong wide elastic straps on both doors proved ideal for holding bottles etc.
VW has reverted to a torsion bar suspension system on the Beetle, which some testers have said is not as good as the multi link setup on Golfs and other VW vehicles.
I didn't mind the change, there's nothing wrong with it, except it's not quite as supple as the others. I daresay most people who'd buy a Beetle, wouldn't know or care about what's underneath the car as long as it drives well, and it does.
Torsion bars are certainly firmer ( and cheaper) than the other arrangement, but VW has only gone back to its roots in this department.
All Beetles from the 1940s, up until the rear engine configuration was dropped decades later, had torsion bar suspension.
VW advertising during those years, in fact praised the benefits of torsion bars over other suspension systems.
(There were issues then however with the dreaded "swing arm" rear suspension that caught out many early Beetle drivers. If they suddenly braked or lifted off the accelerator in corners at speed, it tucked the rear wheels under, with alarming loss of control. But that's long gone.)
The latest Beetle sits on Golf underpinnings. Front engined, front wheel drive.
The test car here is fitted with a 1.4 litre TSI petrol engine, and it's a real cracker despite its small capacity.
It has a supercharger and turbo to move things along.
I experienced this engine years ago in the first Golf GT, and it remains a technical marvel.
The supercharger handles initial takeoffs up to about 3000rpm, then the turbo takes over, to give more than ample shove off the line and beyond.
In Sport setting on the 7 speed DSG auto transmission, the little four pot has a marvellous snarl about it from beneath the bonnet, and a respectable 0 to 100 time of about 8 seconds.
Fuel economy is excellent.. expect a range of more than 700 kilometres from its 55 litre tank.
The Beetle powered through corners without fuss, and noise levels were low(except when winding up that gem of an engine.)
Buyers are expected to be mainly female.
Up to July 2013, VW sold 408 of the new model in Australia.
If you want to be seen in something different, then this could be the car for you.
Now much more practical in many respects, the Beetle remains a niche vehicle for VW but an important one.
Give one a test run, You'll enjoy the attention!
Peter Sellen
After a significant swing by the car buying public away from station wagons to more high riding SUVs, the sedan based wagon seems to be on the road to a comeback.
Those wanting the load carrying space without sacrificing a "car like" feel to the vehicle, have a multitude of choices from almost all manufacturers, across most segments.
The first thing I noticed when I picked up the 320i,Touring(Sportline) was how low slung it is.
Even though it's a wagon, the car has a truly sporting stance, with wheel arches hugging the large 225/45/18 inch wheels and tyres. (The standard fitment is 17s.)
And while the Touring is a utilitarian vehicle, its styling is supremely elegant.
It feels very solid on the road, and as you'd expect from BMW's meticulous build quality, wind and road noise are kept to a minimum.
When BMW began fitting its cars with stiff sidewalled "run flat" tyres across its range a few years ago, it raised the ire of many owners, who complained the tyres gave their car a harsh ride, (even on the 7 series.)
Happily the new generation of those tyres feels much more compliant, so much so you'd swear they were "regular "rubber. There is no spare tyre.
Helping to alleviate any lingering comfort concerns the 320i has electronically adjustable suspension. Sport stiffens everything up. and changes the engine mapping, ready for spirited driving. Select comfort, and that's just what you get.. a controlled, absorbing ride..
The eight speed transmission is a beaut. Shifts go by smoothly and unnoticed. The selector doesn't move much through its range, the lever returning to a central position each time drive/reverse is selected.
Push it sideways to the left, and you have sport automatic or manual shift.. the choice is yours, with steering wheel paddles as yet another shift option.
When stationary, Park is selected by pushing a button atop the shift lever. The handbrake is a traditional manual lever, not (as is becoming more common,) an electric park device.
The i Drive selector system for car information, navigation and audio, is much more user friendly than when first introduced. The clarity of the sound system is well above average.
The steering is very direct, but not nervously so, the leather wrapped wheel has a good heft and feel about it, and the rim is just the right thickness for good control.
BMWs hallmark rear wheel drive, can be much appreciated when having fun on a winding road. The Touring handles enthusiastically, and sticks to corners with remarkable grip.
Feedback through the steering and chassis is exceptional.
BMW is renowned for its superb engines and this one is yet another example.
The Touring's marvellous 2 litre four cylinder turbo produces 135 Kw and a very acceptable 270 Nm of torque, more powerful than previous models.
The Touring is also fitted with fuel saving idle stop technology, turning the engine off when the car is stopped and restarting it automatically when the brake is released.
BMW has somehow magically given this engine (to my critical ear,)the exhaust note of a six cylinder! A nice mellow purr under acceleration, that adds to the car's overall sophistication.
The Touring is no slouch off the line , reaching 100 from a standstill in seven and a half seconds.. more than acceptable for this type of vehicle. Fuel consumption around town, 9 litres per 100k.. the city/ highway average is said to be 6.2 litres.
At night the BMW is an illuminated showstopper.
There are downlights on each door handle and dazzlingly bright puddle lights beaming from every lower door sill.
Inside, the display continues with footwell lights front and rear, and numerous overhead lamps.
While I have said in the past that I am not fond of red instrument lighting, the night time dials on this car were much clearer and easy to read than some.
The leather clad seats are firm, but not uncomfortably so, and they hold you in place well during tight cornering.
There's plenty of room in the rear cargo area, and more cubby holes for items beneath the rear floor. The Touring also has a flexible cargo barrier that emerges from the security blind roller, secured to hard points in the roof.
The car on test had the optional glass sun roof, which covers two thirds of the turret.
The front part opens, the rear is fixed.
That said, it does intrude into head space for taller occupants, especially in the rear.
The Touring has an electronically operated power tailgate, but there is no below the bumper remote sensor activation. (like the Ford Kuga, and Volvo V40 for example. )
Unlike many other vehicles across all price ranges which now have remote entry and locking via touch sensors on the door handles, on this car the key fob buttons need to be pressed to open and lock the car. But the ignition is push button.
While the market is for now skewed towards SUVs, there is still a place for a refined sedan based wagon like the BMW Touring.
This is one you should try. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, and at around 63K is great prestige value as well.
Peter Sellen
