By Ian Strachan.
My mental picture of a Volkswagen Golf used to be of a fairly small car. Not anymore. I’ve just tested the new Golf Estate and it’s surprisingly big, with more space than ever before in a Golf.
Its wheelbase is 66 mm longer than previous models, resulting in a cavernous boot space of 1642 litres with the seats folded. You also get more legroom for rear passengers.
The Golf Estate is also more sporty-looking than its predecessors, with a powerfully sharp front end with a narrow grille and a shooting brake style sloping rear window.
Something approaching 40 million Golfs have been built since launch, with each iteration getting better. The latest Golf Estate is an excellent car, which is roomy and versatile.
I tested the Golf Estate Life version, powered by a surprisingly nippy three cylinder 1.0 litre, 110 bhp turbocharged petrol engine. It has more than enough lower end power and plenty of mid-range pull. Linked to a smooth six-speed manual gearbox you can expect to get up to 51 miles to the gallon despite the Golf’s sporty power delivery.
To look at, the Golf Estate is still as understated as Golf’s ever were, though its features are more sharply defined. It has clean lines and a purposeful stance, but is still unmistakably a Golf.
Inside you get simplicity, attention to detail and high quality materials. The seats are supportive and supremely comfortable. The small steering wheel is nicely sculpted to allow a good grip. Controls are dominated by VW’s new “Innovision” digital cockpit with a 10-inch central display and a touchscreen for the vehicle’s infotainment functions.
Handling is sports car-like, thanks to stiffened suspension and nicely-rated speed-sensitive power steering. Steering is always solid and predictable, with good feedback through the steering wheel.
Standard equipment on this Golf Estate is impressive and includes 16 inch alloy wheels (although my test car was fitted with smart 17 inch wheels at £615 extra), adaptive cruise control with emergency braking and distance monitor, remote central locking with alarm and immobiliser, electronic air conditioning, a navigation system with pre-loaded European navigation data, six speaker DAB radio with Apple CarPlay and smartphone connectivity, automatic lights and rain sensing wipers, all-round electric windows and mirrors and front fog lights and front and rear parking sensors. You also get automatic stop/start, , LED self-levelling headlights, 60-40 split folding rear seats, rear roof spoiler, and space-saver spare wheel.
Options on my car included a rear view camera (£345), head-up display (£625), a winter pack including heated front seats, steering wheel and headlight washers (£550) and metallic paint (£635)
The Golf Estate Life 1.0 litre TSI which I test drove comes in at £24,580 on the road, which isn’t cheap for a car of this size, but you are buying into the Golf legend and resale values are good.
