Volkswagen Reviews
| Fox I Polo I Golf I Scirocco I Eos I Beetle I Jetta I Passat I Phaeton I Tiguan I Touareg |
Who hasn’t seen VW’s latest ad campaign for the Golf ‘Just like a Golf’, well Volkswagen have now taken the campaign one step further, by releasing the new Polo, which looks…..just like a Golf.
So much bigger that the outgoing Polo, and so similar to the Golf on the outside is the new Polo, that from a quick glance, you’d be hard pushed to tell it apart from its now marginally bigger brother the Golf. It is a great looking car, but then the Golf is, so the Polo was bound to be. The styling, by Walter de Silva (Head of Design, Volkswagen Group), is a master stroke, its current, beefy; it’s neither masculine nor feminine and will lend nicely to sports versions without looking like VW have stuck an ironing board on the roof. More importantly everybody loves the Golf, so now they’ll all be able to love the Polo just as much! To say the Polo looks twice the size it used to, would be an understatement, from the outside this latest generation Polo looks huge. It is bigger than ever before, its 56mm longer and 32mm wider than the outgoing model, it’s like it’s been living in the gym and eating steroids for breakfast. However its not only got bigger its also got sleeker, VW have lowered the body height by 13mm, we all know what happens when you make something longer, wider and lower, it looks sportier, very nice touch VW. So is the Polo even a small hatch anymore? Not really, it’s more a slightly smaller and slightly cheaper way of buying the Golf, and trust me, that’s no bad thing!
So it’s bigger than before on the outside, how about inside…. head, leg and shoulder room have all be massively increased, it has bucket loads more room that its predecessor, but its not as cavernous as you’d expect. The boot space is also huge in comparison to the outgoing model, 952L of it with the rear seats folded down! I do have one small gripe though, the drivers seating position was overly high in the model I tested, even after I’d lowered it as far as it would go, I felt like I was looking over the car rather than being inside and part of the car. The build quality and quality of materials inside is both, as always with Volkswagen, outstanding and faultless. There’s now plenty of ways of kitting up the inside of your Polo, from integrated touch screen sat nav, Dynaudio (VW’s premium kick-arse sound system) to iPod connectivity and dual zone climate control, the Polo may have grown up, but its still a trendy little motor. Front and rear legroom isn’t massive but is more than adequate and there’s plenty of storage space, with a good sized boot.
However driving the new Polo is where any similarity with the old Polo ends. It’s…… well it’s just like driving a Golf lol. Handling is great and so much sportier and engaging than before, it holds corners well, feels balanced in bends and just flows beautifully on twisting country roads. The suspension and ride quality are pure brilliance, it’s so comfortable and just soaks up the bumps and bad road surfaces. Thanks to its all new stiffer body the new Polo is also one of the safest in its class (5 stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests), VW have also made as standard on all models, 4 airbags, ABS with VW new HBA system (Hydraulic Brake Assist, Which works in conjunction with the other elements of the braking system, this system recognises from the speed at which the brake pedal is depressed whether it is a ‘normal’ braking situation or an emergency stop. In the event of an emergency stop, HBA automatically increases braking pressure, activating ABS and ensuring the level of braking meets the needs of the conditions. The application of brake assist makes it possible even for unskilled drivers to reduce braking distances by around 25 per cent) , ESP and Hill Hold control (for those of you that just cant pull away on a slope without rolling backwards!) so no need to bother stressing about finding the biting point anymore. The ABS and ESP mean that even under more adventurous driving or bad road conditions the Polo stays firmly on the road (well unless you’re driving like an absolute moron, in which case you probably deserve to hit the tree!).
Now here’s the really interesting stuff though, the new Polo is 7.5% lighter than the outgoing Polo, so although its much bigger its actually up to 20% more fuel efficient than the old one. Performance from the 90bhp 1.6 TDI CR Diesel and the 85bhp 1.4 Petrol I tested was, great on the 1.6 and good in the 1.4. Due to the weight loss over the old model, the new Polo is quicker than before, the 1.6 TDI CR will do 0-62 in 11.5 seconds and return a better than average 62mpg on the combined cycle. The 1.4 is unsurprising slightly slower with 0-62 taking 11.9 seconds, its also a lot thirstier on fuel only achieving around 47mpg, which is fairly standard for most small cars.
Standard spec levels are amazing from the entry level S right up to the top-of-the-range SEL model. VW have also added a brand new spec level aimed at younger and sportier drivers… The Moda. Available with the 1.2L engine (both the 60bhp and 70bhp versions) the ‘Moda’ comes as standard with so pretty cool kit, amongst the list are: alloys, tinted windows, iPod and USB connection to an upgraded stereo, chrome inserts both in the interior and on the exterior radiator grille, it also comes with front fog lights and plenty of other kit.
So overall I do like the new Polo, it’s a slightly smaller Golf, it drives well, its safer than ever and its finally a modern, trendy motor that I think will appeal to everyone from teenagers to pensioners.
Starting from £10,035 OTR for the entry level 1.2 S, the ‘Moda’ would be my choice at £12,595 for the 1.2L 70BHP with A/C, however that’s pricey when put against other manufacturers small hatchbacks, however those don’t look and drive like a Golf….
Bluemotion
Eco-motoring hmmm, yes I'm concerned with the plight of the planet and yes I care about the damage vehicles are dong to the environment, however I wont be forced to drive some ridiculously small cramped electric suicide death-trap (seen the unofficial crash tests on a G-Wiz?). So when VW called me up to ask if I'd like to test out their new 'Eco Golf' I agreed, mainly as it's a standard Golf 1.9 TDI, or so I thought….
Well
I decided that if I were to test an 'Eco' car I would utilise the
BlueMotion Golf's 'suggested gear' system, which basically tells you
the gear you should be in to get the best economy.
I would drive like I do normally, just to see how good this car actually was…
With a 55 litre fuel tank it costs around £62.50 to fill it up at today's prices, from that full tank I got… 700, yes that's right SEVEN HUNDRED MILES from a single tank!!! I actually think I got better mpg than the 62.8mpg VW claim the car can do.
The Golf Blue Motion drives like a normal Golf and handles like a normal Golf, the only thing it doesn't seem to do like a normal Golf is need filling up every 400 miles. The 'Match' trim level I tested came with a great spec level as standard, including an iPod connection port in the armrest.
The BlueMotion's fantastic fuel economy is down to some seriously clever filters in the engine, a modified gearbox and modifications to; front and rear spoilers, air intakes and wing mirror design, all reducing drag on the car as its moving, combined with the low rolling resistance wheels and tyres, this all creates one of the most 'eco' cars I've ever driven. On a personal level, VW sent me a silver Golf with a grey interior, which unfortunately was about as exciting as a coma, so do make sure if your looking to purchase the Golf BlueMotion you do it in a slightly more exciting colour scheme lol.
The Golf BlueMotion Match (Top of Range) costs £16,700 OTR and is available now, and if you're thinking that's a bit pricey for a golf, think of the money you'll save on fuel, its also only £35 a year for Road Tax because of its low emissions and its exempt from the congestion charge as well, overall you'll save a fortune. I Love this car
R32 4MOTION
Volkswagen has always produced great hot hatches, but over the years the Golf GTI got watered down, it got fat and lazy and although still a good car is far from the hot hatch front runner it used to be. So GTI move over and clear the road for the Golf R32. With the biggest engine of all the hot hatches, having a mighty 3.2L V6 unit under the bonnet you'd think it would be the quickest. But you'd be wrong, 0-62mph is taken care of in 6.8 seconds, which makes it the second slowest after the Brera diesel. It does however look great, it's butcher than a leather queen in a darkroom and next to the Renaultsport 225 has one of the best sounds pumping out from its twin exhausts. The thing I love most about the R32 - it feels so solid and stable, no matter how much you throw it round or however insanely you push it, it just sticks to the road. It has the best handling and interior build quality out of all the hot hatches featured. Driving the R32 makes you feel like you're behind the wheel of a very quick very loud tank. So why didn't it come first in my Hot Hatch Review? The exterior styling although great is not that out there in the hot hatch stakes and the interior - it's a tad of the bland side compared to the Renault or the Alfa Romeo. I do love the R32 and with the DSG gearbox it's outstanding, but I just love the Renaultsport's package and the Brera's styling more.
Even after all my years as a motoring journalist, I'm still surprised every now and then. This month Volkswagen have just blown me away with the 2L TSI version of its super sexy Scirocco coupe. Having been a fan of the original Scirocco I was chuffed to bits when they revived the classic, the new cars styling is beautiful, muscular and very distinctive. Equipment levels are superb across the range and now VW have pulled off the biggest coo of all, adding a 158bhp 1.4L TSI petrol engine to the range as well, meaning that even younger drivers will be able to afford to drive and ensure this little beast and still have great performance into the bargain.
Coming
back to the 2L version I tested… Faster than a Soho rent boy turns
tricks, 0-60mph takes just 7 sec, standard spec gadgets include
touch-screen six-disc CD audio system (which absolutely rocks!), iPod
connection, electric everything and a safety features list as long as
your arm means the £20,499 OTR price seems somewhat of a bargain.
Handling wise it's a dream to drive, the 6sp gearbox is pure pleasure,
however the DSG auto would be my choice, and performance is there in
every gear. Couple all that with a killer exhaust system that makes
the GT sounds like an absolute monster and it's a winning combination.
So good is the Scirocco GT that Top Gayer are naming it 'Top Gayer Car
of the Year'
When it comes to convertibles the Eos has always been a distinctive car for the market, offering a hard top coupe to a stylish convertible in just 25 seconds. As many of you know the Eos won Top Gayer's Car of the Year 07 and I still stick to it and testing the 1.4l petrol has only reinforced my high regard for this truly beautiful creation.
When it comes to style, the Eos definitely has it, you could argue that a lot of new cars, including the new Scirocco, are a bit more edgy and odd looking, but there is a class to VW's styling that shouts classic, that giant chrome grill with the rounded headlights surrounding it, the sleek hood pinching in at the waist and the pert bottom, with its LED lights winking as it pulls into the outside lane to jet off, with a blip of that fantastic 1.4 engine. Truly a celebrity of the car world, the Eos is as handsome as Mark Wahlberg with all the reliability of Mark Foster getting his kit off on TV.
Moving on from looks and aesthetics, what about the handling? Often or not convertibles are a little here and there when it comes to throwing it round some swooping country lanes or flying between mountainous rolling hills, this is because the extra weight of the hood in the boot changes how active the back end can be. But it seems that Volkswagen are perfectionists and have thought of it all, there is no doubting that this convertible is planted and clings to the road effortlessly, making driving this car more pleasurable than a night in with Chad Michael Murray.
I'm at a little bit of an advantage having tested the Eos in most of the engines available, and I must say comparing this to the 3.2 V6 would be unfair, but a very impressive 158bhp from a 1.4 just goes to show how suited the entry level Eos fits perfectly into the whole ethos of driving an Eos. Comparing it to other mid sized convertibles, the Eos definitely has the looks, but what puts this bundle of fun above the rest is that all important TSI engine that we all know and love from the Golf.
Fitted with a pretty nice basic interior as standard, the Eos has an array of optional extras, including sat nav, leather in a spectrum from black to luxurious deep red, bi-xenon headlights, steering wheel mounted controls, 7 more colours, right down to the 18" rims. You could have an absolute field day configuring your very own Eos, however this may come at quite a price, starting at a rather sexy £19,030 right through to a staggering £34,428 for the top of the range with all the trimmings.
Volkswagen had a tough icon to follow the Golf Cabriolet and they have certainly done well to create another icon, boasting class, sophistication and a touch of fun.Passat CC
When it comes to building solid motors VW knows its stuff, whichever market they are aiming at, rarely do they get it wrong. We also should forgive Volkswagen for the stupid names they've decided to give the SUV models in the range. The name Tiguan was actually chosen by the public and is a combination of the German words Tiger ("tiger") and Leguan ("iguana"). So there you have it, other than an odd name that few can correct pronounce, is the Tiguan any good?
No it's not good, it's great. Its right up there with its sister the Q5 in terms of overall greatness. It's rock solid ability on and off road means you can have a lot of fun throwing it round, up and down dale etc. It also comes with a raft of gadgets and gizmo's to keep this fun safe and everyone involved uninjured. As standard the Tiguan SE comes equipped with ESP (Electronic Stabilization Programme), EDL (Electronic Differential Lock) and ASR (Traction Control) as well as the superb four wheel drive - 4MOTION and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System).
Performance is none to shabby either with 0-62mph being done in just under 9 seconds, making it the 2nd fastest out of all our group test cars. It also feels very safe and stable at speed. The handling is more carlike than SUV, handling bends and sweeping roads in its stride.
As far as the rest of the toys you get make your mates jealous with, a rather lovely touch-screen to control the stereo with (AUX port is also standard for you iPodders out there) a 6 stack CD auto-changer, electric everything and if you want to pay a little bit extra you can get the bewildering, strange and brilliant 'self-park' system. I've tried it and although it freaks me out totally, I take my hat off to VW for coming up with it. For those of you that have been living under a rock for the last year and have missed the TV ad's, this system basically parallel parks the car for you, after it's found the perfect spot. It is so good it actually parked me in a space that you couldn't fit a Gnat's hair between the cars in front and behind. So although I love the system I have to say I actually prefer to have the control of parking my own car.
Price wise the 170bhp 2.0L TDI SE I tested came in at a tad over 23k, which I think is superb value for money, especially for a motor build like a brick shed, its all singing all dancing and its great on and off road.
Volkswagen's very capable and under appreciated SUV shouldn't be ignored, it's a great car, spacious and well equipped whilst still retaining style and character. It's not the prettiest of the SUV's but it isn't the ugliest, it's not the quickest nor is it the slowest and it's not the most expensive or the cheapest. That's the problem with the Touareg, nothing makes it stand out either as the best or as the worst, it's the SUV equivalent of a bi-sexual it's never one or the other and it's never going to make it's mind up. New, I probably wouldn't buy one, but used is a very different matter, due to the fact they don't hold their value as well as most of the VW line-up, you can find a year / 2yr old Touareg with low mileage and plenty of extras at an absolute bargain price on the forecourt. Tint the windows, put some nice big rims on and hey presto you just turned the bi-sexual of the SUV world into a out and proud screaming poof!