What is it?
Big brands. If it’s a smartphone, it’s Apple; if it’s a burger, it’s McDonalds; and if it’s a car for the people, then it’s the people’s car: the Volkswagen Golf. And while VW’s been in a process of damage limitation ever since it meddled with its own exhaust fumes, the Volkswagen Golf remains an iconic and hugely important car – a point proved by one finding a home every 40 seconds since 1974, equating to 33 million sold around the world.
When you have an icon on your hands, you don’t do radical things with it; hence why a Big Mac still looks and tastes like it did in 1967, and your iPhone 7 would feel familiar to anyone with a 2007 original. So the evolution of the Golf has been intentionally glacial, and you have to look very hard to spot the changes on this new Mk7.5. In fact, the MQB platform underpinning it hasn’t been touched at all, but on the outside there are slightly different bumpers, new front wings, new LED tail-lights and new halogen headlights, with LED units now available, too.
Two things have changed noticeably, though: the extensively upgraded infotainment systems, which include the option of gesture control for the first time in this class, and the price, which has gone down. Now there’s a rare and very welcome treat.
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Just rented one
Review is correct but it minimises the problem where it bogs down on hill starts requiring lots of revs and clutch slipping. Like all VWs I have driven it baulks into second gear what I mean by that is slightly stiff long travel lever into that makes for lost momentum. Big fingers cause radio station to change when adjusting volume. Boot fits 2 medium suitcases only just.. Plastics and join where dash meets lower centre console cheep. But lots of good stuff as well that gets mentioned but why no critique of the bad?
VW Group 1.0TSI real-world economy
Can't speak for other 1.0 3 cylinder turbos when it comes to economy but I'm certainly glad I didn't pay EXTRA for the awfully chuggy 1.6TDI unit.
I reckon the 1.4 tsi (7 year
winniethewoo wrote:
As a point of reference, we currently have a Ateca with the same engine, it's currently averaging 41 mpg, with only 700 miles on it.