Special Offer detail

MORE GOLF, MORE GO
The Volkswagen Golf Plus diesel is a thoroughly modern take on the family hatch. Andy Enright reports

To the untrained eye, Volkswagen’s Golf Plus won’t register as anything exceptional. It shares much of the basic silhouette as the normal Golf, but park the two cars side by side and you’ll realise the Plus is a little taller, the windscreen rising at a sharper angle and the rear end slightly reprofiled. Grafting another 95mm of headroom into the Golf hasn’t created a super-versatile mini-MPV but it does offer another option for Golf buyers who thought they were pushed for space. Buyers with a practical bent will also likely choose one of the three excellent diesel engines offered.

True, the total loading capacity rises to 505 litres, but given that the Golf Plus is no longer or wider than a standard Golf, virtually all of that additional stowage space is nestling against the ceiling, that is in the position which is least often used. So what’s the point? It’s a question many asked on the Golf Plus press event and Volkswagen point to a little extra utility and the Plus’ ability to carry bulky objects. Given that the price differential isn’t that large over a normal Golf, perhaps there is a slot in the market into which this unusual car can fit. Volkswagen have resisted the temptation to jemmy in seven seats and have instead concentrated on making the five seats and luggage bay as practical as possible. The rear seats can be shifted fore and aft by 160mm and folded by means of a new system to Volkswagen which means that they are automatically lowered when folded down. This results in a virtually level load space, making the Golf Plus a very practical option indeed. The seats do the usual 60:40 split and the middle seat can also be folded down to form a drinks table. Additional stowage spaces around the cabin and a double height boot floor are nice touches but once again, the Golf Plus throws up more questions than answers. After all, these features could probably have been integrated into the Golf without too much of a headache.

"Volkswagen are hoping that tall is this season’s look"

Ford faced similar confusion amongst customers when the Fusion was launched – itself a taller, bulkier Fiesta. Volkswagen claim the Golf Plus is likely to attract buyers without families, or possibly with small families, who require more room and flexibility than the traditional hatchback can offer. One benefit of basing the Golf Plus on the Golf Mk V chassis is that it has an excellent start to life, the electro-mechanical steering feel and composed body control being leagues ahead of most of the opposition. It also retains the basic stance of the Golf. The interior keeps the Golf Plus at the top of the family hatch tree. It uses a fascia design reminiscent of the Phaeton luxury saloon although the centre console is lifted from the Touran mini-MPV. Trim levels for diesel buyers run from Luna through SE to Sport. Three TDI turbo diesel engines are on offer. There are two versions of the 1.9-litre unit developing either 90 or 103bhp or a rather ritzier 2.0-litre powerplant that generates a healthier 138bhp. All engines are well worth seeking out, especially after you’ve driven them back to back with the petrol Golf powerplants, the 2.0-litre TDI being especially impressive. This engine will punt the big-boned Golf through 60mph in 9 seconds and on to a top speed of 126mph, making it a brilliant long distance cruiser. The 103bhp unit is no slouch though and will get to 60mph in 11 seconds and top out at 116mph. It’s also likely to prove the bigger seller. Fuel economy of all engines is excellent, the 1.9-litre 103bhp unit averaging 56.4mpg and the 2.0-litre faring almost as well at an impressive 52.2mpg. If you go for the 1.9-litre TDI in 103bhp guise, you can also go for the Golf Plus Dune model, which features a rather handsome selection of SUV-style add-ons. Then there’s the BlueMotion derivative that also uses the 1.9-litre TDI engine but features aerodynamic tweaks and other modifications that maximise fuel economy. The diesels are also both Euro IV-compliant so we can drive around with a warmly sanctimonious air, knowing that we’re doing our bit for the environment. The emissions figures for the 1.9 and 2.0-litre engines are among the class best. The 1.9-litre car is fitted as standard with a five-speed gearbox but the 2.0-litre TDI gets six cogs as standard. Both also get the option of the revolutionary DSG twin-clutch sequential gearbox. Volkswagen have made great strides concerning the refinement of these TDI engines and the effects are palpable as soon as you turn the key. The TDI system was once derided as being far less effective than the new wave of ‘common rail’ diesel engines that have become popular and in terms of refinement, Volkswagen’s solution has lagged behind. No longer: the difference is now virtually negligible. If you're interested in the technicalities, both of these Golf diesel engines work on the basis of so-called direct injection, a system intended to make better use of every drop of diesel. The injectors on all four cylinders are controlled by a single powerful electronic control unit (ECU) which carefully controls the amount and mixture of fuel passing through into each cylinder. For engineers, the obvious next step is for each cylinder to have its own ECU unit; the fuel amount and mixture can then be even more carefully monitored and even greater efficiency achieved. This is the basic concept behind the new 'second generation' of 'common rail' diesels – engines that Volkswagen says it's developing in its own time. The big bonus of Volkswagen’s TDI system is that it’s relatively easy to liberate big power outputs. The Golf Plus diesel range fits a very small but specific niche and is never destined to be a huge seller. Despite its fundamental quality, it’s neither as pretty nor as affordable as the basic Golf hatch and expounding the car’s benefits to a sceptical public is going to be a tough task. Possibly the best way to put customers into a Golf Plus is to park one next to a Touran. All things are relative, you see.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volkswagen Golf Plus TDI range PRICES: £15,150-£18,945 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 7E-13E CO2 EMISSIONS: 122-153g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.0TDI] Max Speed 126mph / 0-60mph 9s FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0TDI] (urban) 37.7mpg / (extra urban) 58.9mpg / (combined) 48.7mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags / ABS / Side airbags / ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4204/2010/1580

DUNE & DUSTED
We’ve seen a Dune-themed Polo before and weren’t too sure of the concept but the idea seems better suited to the Volkswagen Golf Plus. Andy Enright reports

There will be those that sniff at a front-wheel drive vehicle that wears such rugged body armour but Volkswagen Golf Plus Dune owners probably don’t take themselves too seriously. Handsome, economical and very practical, take the Dune with a shovelful of salt and you’ll probably warm to it.

From a logical perspective, the Volkswagen Golf Plus Dune model is faultless. Customers like the raised ride height, ample space and butch looks of a 4x4 but rarely if ever use the all-wheel drive to venture off road and tend not to care for the sorry fuel consumption and emissions that the drivetrain losses of four-wheel drive bring about. Surely the recipe for beefy styling but a pragmatic front-wheel drive layout would be a winner? That’s what Volkswagen is hoping, its Golf Plus Dune following the same theme set by the smaller Polo Dune supermini-sized model that’s been around for some time. The barrier will be the credibility issue that some have laid before the Polo Dune model. Certainly, the charge that the Dune models are imposters that are all mouth and no trousers is, on the face of it, tough to refute. Still, better a wannabe than a wastrel. At least the former demonstrates ambition. The 1.9-litre engine that powers the Golf Plus Dune is neither the first nor last word in refinement. It develops 104bhp, which means that performance isn’t searing. In fact, the engine is probably the weakest point of this vehicle. Torque, as you’d expect from a turbodiesel, is plump enough at 249Nm but the power delivery is peaky, the engine having the elastic bog and surge characteristics of an old fashioned turbodiesel unit. Stay on top of the relatively pleasant gearchange and you’ll manage 0-60mph in 11.8 seconds and eke a top speed of 121mph out of the car which is by no means slow but ragging this engine hard isn’t enjoyable. Better to surge from gear to gear, shortshifting and enjoying the rather busy swell of torque. One benefit of basing the Golf Plus on the Golf Mk V chassis is that it has an excellent start to life, the electro-mechanical steering feel and composed body control being leagues ahead of most of the opposition. It’s not quite as sharp as a standard Golf thanks to a ride height that goes up by 20mm, the revised springs and dampers focused on ironing out ruts and city potholes rather than the ability to carve a pure trajectory around a 70mph corner.

"I’d rather have a Golf Plus Dune than most sub £20k small 4x4s…."

The Golf Plus shape works really well with the Dune styling accessories. Whereas the Polo looks a bit odd all beefed up, the Golf Plus Dune wears its macho apparel with far less self consciousness. In fact, I’d go as far as to say this is how the Golf Plus should always have looked. No longer is it the rather apologetic looking thing that struggled to make a case for itself. The Dune treatment gives it some much needed identity. Aside from the raised ride height, there are matt black wheel arch extensions and similar textured plastic framing the front air dam and the rear valance. Silver roof rails and black side rubbing strips are also standard, as are the front fog lights that sit in a deep front air dam. Only three colours are offered, Ice Silver and Steel Grey metallics and a pearl effect Blue Graphite. The Golf Plus body is a little taller than a normal Golf, the windscreen rising at a sharper angle and the rear end slightly reprofiled. Grafting another 95mm of headroom into the Golf hasn’t created a super-versatile mini-MPV but it does offer another option for Golf buyers who thought they were pushed for space. Total loading capacity rises to 505 litres. The Golf Plus Dune range isn’t to hard to get your head around. There are no confusing trim levels, equipment variations or different engine and body combinations to factor in. One engine, one body style, one trim level is the extent of the deal, and one price of £18,690 on the road. Volkswagen has made it tricky to compare directly with the standard Golf Plus range by altering the list of standard equipment, so it’s hard to say exactly what the Dune gear is costing you, but given that a Golf Plus 1.9TDI SE retails at £17,045, it’s not an inconsiderable sum. Unique interior trim is some recompense as is a leather-trimmed steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake. Climatic semi automatic air conditioning is fitted alongside automatic driving lights and rain sensing wipers, electric windows all round, a trip computer, and an eight-speaker CD stereo. Like all Golf Plus variants, there are six airbags, ABS brakes and ESP stability control. The 17-inch BBS alloy wheels alone would cost most of the difference. Fuel economy of this 1.9-litre engine is predictably good, the combined economy figure of 50.4mpg being comparatively resistant to a heavy right boot. Even driven quite hard, you’ll easily see more than 30mpg. The emission figure of 148g/km isn’t bad either for a vehicle of this size and weight. Depreciation is likely to be modest as family-friendly vehicles that are economical and well built always do well and those carrying a Volkswagen badge on the nose especially so. Likewise insurance is affordable, the Golf Plus Dune hardly being the weapon of choice for the Max Power brigade. Figure on paying Group 7 or 8 premiums and you’ll have some idea of how it fits in against rivals. There’s no doubt that vehicles like the Volkswagen Golf Plus Dune divide opinion. Some just can’t get past the fact that it’s styled like a 4x4 but has front-wheel drive and little to no off-road ability. Others won’t care and will enjoy the styling and be comfortable with the fact that all-wheel drive would, for them, be an unnecessary complication and expense. Neither camp is willing to accept the other’s point of view and the sneerers and the shruggers are destined never to see eye to eye. With a 2.0-litre TDI engine and the DSG sequential gearbox, the Golf Plus Dune would be a very satisfying piece of kit but the rather outdated powerplant and five-speed ‘box rather count against it. The target market probably isn’t overly interested in the oily bits though. I think the Dune is a smart piece of marketing and deserves to do well. Casual cynicism is easy but I’d rather have a Golf Plus Dune than most sub £20k small 4x4s.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volkswagen Golf Plus Dune PRICE: £18,690 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 7 CO2 EMISSIONS: 148g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 11.8s / Max Speed 121mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: 50.4 mpg (combined) STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Six airbags / ABS / ESP / rain sensing wipers / dusk sensing headlights WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4204/2010/1580

GOLF AT A HIGHER LEVEL
The Volkswagen Golf Plus offers existing Golf buyers that little bit more space and practicality. Andy Enright reports

One suspects the Volkswagen Golf Plus will cause a certain amount of confusion on first acquaintance with some buyers. Sitting on the same wheelbase as the Volkswagen Golf five-door hatch, it’s no longer, no wider and is quite tricky to differentiate at first glance. Put the two cars side by side however, and the 95mm extra grafted into the height of the Golf Plus becomes apparent. Still, as someone who stands well over six feet tall and yet who has never found cause for complaint regarding Golf Mk V headroom, I initially wondered what the point was.

So let’s look a little closer at the thinking behind this car. Statistics show that we’re close behind the Dutch as the second tallest nation on earth. We’re bigger than all the Scandinavians and the Germans. The Americans are growing out rather than up, but at current estimates, we’d still need at least a century or so before the average British male’s head started to brush the plush head lining of the Volkswagen Golf Plus. Even given Volkswagen’s build integrity, it’s tough to see too many Golf Pluses plying the roads in the early 22nd century. Where is the benefit in having all this extra height? It increases the frontal area of the car and is rarely beneficial when loading. Volkswagen have a ready answer to this, pointing to the fact that overall load space does go up to 505 litres, but how often have you loaded your hatch brim full to the ceiling? It will doubtless be beneficial for awkwardly sized items like bicycles but the additional carrying capacity of the Golf Plus should be taken with a pinch of salt. Where it does score real practicality benefits is in terms of its seating arrangement. Thankfully Volkswagen haven’t tried to squeeze seven seats into this vehicle, positioning it (as its name suggests) between Golf and Touran but a good deal closer to Golf. The rear seats can be shifted fore and aft by 160mm and folded by means of a new system to Volkswagen which means that they are automatically lowered when folded down. This results in a virtually level load space, making the Golf Plus a very practical option indeed. The seats do the usual 60:40 split and the middle seat can also be folded down to form a drinks table. Additional stowage spaces around the cabin and a double height boot floor are nice touches but once again, the Golf Plus throws up more questions than answers. All of these features could easily have been engineered into the standard Golf.

"Volkswagen are hoping that tall is this season’s look"

In many respects Volkswagen is now running into the same sort of customer resistance Ford faced when launching the Fusion, a car that sat on Fiesta underpinnings but was a little taller, uglier, noisier and less adept in its handling. Volkswagen claim the Golf Plus is likely to attract buyers without families, or possibly with small families, who require more room and flexibility than the traditional hatchback can offer. Time will tell. One benefit of basing the Golf Plus on the Golf Mk V chassis is that it has an excellent start to life, the electro-mechanical steering feel and composed body control being leagues ahead of most of the opposition. It also retains the basic stance of the Golf. The interior keeps the Golf Plus at the top of the family hatch tree. It uses a fascia design reminiscent of the Phaeton luxury saloon although the centre console is lifted from the Touran mini-MPV. With the possible exception of its pricier Volkswagen Group cousin, the Audi A3, the cabin has the beating of anything out there as regards ambience. The interior features soft-feel slush-moulded plastics, high-quality switches, subtle use of chrome, fabric-covered A-pillars plus blue instrument backlighting with red needles, a signature of the fourth generation model. The Golf Plus also features 2Zone climate control and four-way lumbar support within the line-up. In addition, ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme), no fewer than six airbags as well as anti-lock brakes will be fitted as standard throughout the range. Big car features such as automatic activation of headlamps and wipers are built into the car’s electronics. The engine line runs as follows: The range opens with a 80bhp 1.4-litre petrol unit and sitting directly above that is the more advanced turbocharged 122bhp 1.4-litre TSI unit before you get to the 140bhp 1.4-litre supercharged and turbocharged TSI. The diesel options amount to 90 or 105bhp versions of the 1.9TDI engine or a more modern 140bhp 2.0-litre TDI. There are three trim levels (Luna, SE and Sport) and prices start at £13,290. If you go for the 1.9-litre TDI in 103bhp guise, you can also go for the BlueMotion derivative that features aerodynamic tweaks and other modifications that maximise fuel economy. Many buyers will opt to go the turbo diesel route and both engines are well worth seeking out, the 2.0-litre TDI being especially impressive. This engine will punt the big-boned Golf Plus to 60mph in just over 9 seconds and on to a top speed of just over 120mph, making it a brilliant long distance cruiser. The 103bhp unit is no slouch though and will get to 60mph in around 11.5 seconds and top out at over 110mph. It’s also likely to prove the bigger seller. Fuel economy of both engines is excellent with each capable of eking over 50mpg from a gallon of heavy oil. In the BlueMotion derivative, the 1.9TDI gets close to 60mpg. The diesels are also both Euro IV-compliant so we can drive around with a warmly sanctimonious air, knowing that we’re doing our bit for the environment. The emissions figures for the 1.9 and 2.0-litre engines are among the class best. The 1.9-litre car is fitted as standard with a five-speed gearbox but the 2.0-litre TDI gets six cogs as standard. Both also get the option of the revolutionary DSG twin-clutch sequential gearbox. There are different ways of looking at the Golf Plus but if your perspective is that it offers a useful amount of extra versatility for not a huge amount more money, you can get Volkswagen’s point quite easily. All things are relative, you see.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volkswagen Golf Plus range PRICES: £13,300-£18,955 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 4E-13E CO2 EMISSIONS: 127-171g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.0TDI] Max Speed 127mph / 0-60mph 9.7s FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0TDI] (urban) 37.7mpg / (extra urban) 58.9mpg / (combined) 48.7mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags / ABS / Side airbags / ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4204/2010/1580

LUNA TICKS THE RIGHT BOXES
If you like the Volkswagen Golf but need a shade more space for a shade less money, the Golf Plus Luna models could have been designed just for you. Steve Walker reports…

Volkswagen’s opening gambit for the Golf Plus was that; "it’s a Golf, just a little bit bigger" and that just about said it all. It’s not the sort of tag line that’s likely to provoke a mad stampede of prospective buyers in the direction of the nearest VW dealership but maybe Volkswagen saw this car as more of a slow burner. The Golf Plus offers the impressive qualities of the standard Golf with more space, improved access and without going the whole hog to becoming a mini-MPV. It isn’t the most inspiring concept but it’s Fpractical and in entry-level Luna form, there’s also a powerful value proposition.

The Luna models form the base of the Golf Plus range but they feel a good deal plusher than some other entry-level Volkswagens we could mention. Climatic semi-automatic air-conditioning and a radio CD player are standard, while 15" Misano alloy wheels, body-coloured bumper strips and body-coloured door handles smarten-up the exterior. You’d only bother with a Golf Plus if you valued the extra practicality it offers over the Golf – itself a reasonably capacious family hatchback – so the Luna models play up to this market with a number of functional features. The clever double-height boot floor is equipped with a cargo net and there’s an extended roof console for additional storage. A front centre armrest features, along with a multi-function storage box for rear seat passengers to get their teeth into. Then there’s the convenience pack which endows the car with automatic headlights that stay on after you’ve locked the car, guiding you to your door. You also get an auto-dimming rear view mirror, rain sensing wipers and footwell illumination so owners can verify that their Jimmy Choos remain in tiptop condition, even in the dead of night. The rear seats can be shifted fore and aft by 160mm and folded by means of a system which means that they are automatically lowered when folded down. This results in a virtually level load space with a 1,450-litre volume, making the Golf Plus a very practical option indeed. The seats do the usual 60:40 split and the middle seat can also be folded down to form a drinks table. Numerous additional stowage spaces around the cabin will prove useful but for many, the Golf Plus will still throw up more questions than answers. All of the above features could, after all, easily have been engineered into the standard Golf.

"A standard Golf with more space and improved access that doesn’t need to consider itself a mini-MPV…."

The interior keeps the Golf Plus at the top of the family hatch tree. It uses a fascia design reminiscent of the Phaeton luxury saloon, although the centre console is lifted from the Touran mini-MPV. With the possible exception of its pricier Volkswagen Group cousin, the Audi A3, the cabin has the beating of anything in the sector as regards ambience. The interior features soft-feel slush-moulded plastics, high-quality switches, subtle use of chrome, fabric-covered A-pillars plus blue instrument backlighting with red needles, a signature of the fourth generation model. In addition, ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme), no fewer than six airbags and anti-lock brakes are fitted as standard, even on these Luna models. Golf Plus Luna buyers get to choose between four engine options, two of which are petrol. The diesel option is the 1.9-litre TDI unit that has popped up in numerous Volkswagen Group products down the years. It is some way off the pace set by the latest oil-burning engines when it comes to refinement but performance and economy are hard to fault. Buyers can specify the unit in 90PS or 105PS form with the former costing from £15,150 and the later commanding a premium of just over £1,000. Buyers can expect something in the region of 50mpg from both units but the 105PS model is a bit quicker. It can do the 0-60mph sprint in 11.9s compared to the 90PS engine’s 13.5. Top speeds are 107 and 114mph respectively. Pick a petrol and it’ll either be a standard 1.4 or the turbocharged 1.4-litre TSI. The entry-level 80PS 1.4-litre unit costs from £13,290, can average 38mpg and sprint to 60mph in a lethargic 16s. The 1.4-litre TSI is the most powerful engine available with Luna trim. Packing 122PS, it has a healthy turn of pace. Prices start at £15,440 and it’s also available with a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox. The Golf Plus is 100kg heavier than an equivalent Golf model, largely because of the extra metal involved in its raised roofline, and this has an impact on performance. The main purpose of the entry-level 1.4-litre unit is to deliver an eye-catching low starting price for the vehicle and this engine should be avoided by all those who can afford to. The 1.6-litre is a comfortable and refined cruiser but if you can put up with the extra noise, the torquey, economical diesels seem to make most sense in a car like this. The Luna models are softly sprung and more comfortable than sportier derivatives from further up the range while all the Golf Plus models handle adeptly, despite a slight increase in body roll caused by the increased height. Most family buyers have just about got their heads around the concept of family hatchbacks like the Golf and mini-MPVs like the Touran but the very existence of the Golf Plus suggests that Volkswagen sees a further niche for vehicles that offer a compromise between the two. The Golf Plus does give a little extra over a standard Golf but it’s patently not as family-friendly as a proper mini-MPV. This blend of qualities will undoubtedly be exactly what some people are looking for but it’s hard to imagine the car becoming a monster sales success. The Luna trim level makes plenty of sense as, despite it not giving access to the cream of the Golf Plus engine range, it provides a strong package of equipment and good fuel economy at an attractive price. Which, of course, is exactly what many family buyers are looking for.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volkswagen Golf Plus Luna range PRICES: £13,290-£16,165 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 5E-12E CO2 EMISSIONS: 144-169g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.4] 0-60mph – 13.9s / Max Speed – 104mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4] (combined) 41mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags / ABS / Side airbags / ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4204/2010/1580

PLUS ONE POINT FOURS
Does the entry-level Golf Plus have enough In its locker to make an impact? Steve Ghosley checks out the 1.4-litre Luna

The Golf Plus may, at first glance, appear to be a strange choice of vehicle for Volkswagen to market. After all, they have one of the most successful hatchbacks ever produced in the Golf, so why create a taller version? Volkswagen believe that they can attract buyers for the Golf Plus from those that would normally look to buy family-oriented vehicles like MPVs but would prefer a little more style than offered by the current crop of people carriers.

The entry level model in the Golf Plus range is the 1.4-litre Luna variant that we look at here. It’s powered by Volkswagen’s older 80PS petrol engine, a unit that delivers 38.2mpg on the combined cycle. In overall speed terms, this Golf will stroll to 62mph in a leisurely 16.2 seconds before topping out at 100mph and producing 175g/km of CO2. The price is £13,290. The car is fitted with a slick five-speed gearbox to enable you to row it along fairly briskly. The extra 95mm of height over a standard Golf might lead you to worry about an increase in body roll but you needn’t. Volkswagen have increased the standard hatch’s spring rates to cope and added a thicker rear anti-roll bar: as a result, there’s virtually no discernable difference between the two cars from a driving perspective.

"One benefit of basing the Golf Plus on the Golf Mk V chassis is that it has an excellent start to life.., "

So what do you get for the extra £1,000 over an equivalent standard Golf? Well, for a start, the additional outlay gets you 20mm of extra interior headroom, enabling you to sit much higher than in a standard Golf. That means more legroom for passengers too, even before they start playing with the sliding rear seats. Volkswagen have resisted the temptation to jemmy in seven seats and have instead concentrated on making the five seats and luggage bay as practical as possible. The rear seats can be shifted fore and aft by 160mm and folded by means of a new system to Volkswagen which means that they are automatically lowered when folded down. This results in a virtually level load space, making the Golf Plus a very practical option indeed. The seats do the usual 60:40 split and the middle seat can also be folded down to form a drinks table. Additional stowage spaces around the cabin and a double height boot floor are nice touches but once again, the Golf Plus throws up more questions than answers. After all, these features could probably have been integrated into the Golf without too much of a headache. One benefit of basing the Golf Plus on the Golf Mk V chassis is that it has an excellent start to life, the electro-mechanical steering feel and composed body control being leagues ahead of most of the opposition. It also retains the basic stance of the Golf. The interior keeps the Golf Plus at the top of the family hatch tree. It uses a fascia design reminiscent of the Phaeton luxury saloon although the centre console is lifted from the Touran mini-MPV. With the possible exception of its pricier Volkswagen Group cousin, the Audi A3, the cabin has the beating of anything out there as regards ambience. The interior features soft-feel slush-moulded plastics, high-quality switches, subtle use of chrome, fabric-covered A-pillars plus blue instrument backlighting with red needles - a signature of the fourth generation model. In addition, ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme), no fewer than six airbags and anti-lock brakes are fitted as standard throughout the range. Big car features such as automatic activation of headlamps and wipers are built into the car’s electronics. What you do need to ask if you think you might be in the market for this car is whether £13,290 is too much to pay for a five-seat Family Hatchback with great build quality and a dash of extra versatility. After all, you can get a fully-fledged mini-MPV from a rival manufacturer for less (or a Volkswagen Touran for only a couple of hundred more). Overall, the Golf Plus Luna 1.4 should find a ready market with those whose priorities are centred on comfort, carrying capacity and economy.

 Facts At A Glance CAR: Volkswagen Golf Plus Luna 1.4 PRICES: £13,290 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 4 CO2 EMISSIONS: 169g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph – 13.9s / Max Speed – 104mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 41mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, anti-lock brakes WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4204/2010/1580 WHO TO SEE:

ACCUMULATING PLUS POINTS
Does Volkswagen’s more versatile Golf Plus really make sense? Jonathan Crouch checks out the latest 1.4-litre TSI petrol variant…

There are two ways of looking at Volkswagen’s Golf Plus. One camp says it offers little that you don’t get in a standard Golf hatch and costs more. On the other side of the argument, they’re saying, ‘yes, but only around £500 more and for that, you get a car offering more versatility without any significant drawbacks. Why would you buy a Golf hatch’?

Since you’re likely to sit solidly on one side of the argument or the other if you’re in the market to buy a car of this kind, no amount of expostulating by me on the merits – or otherwise – of the 1.4-litre petrol TSI model featured here is likely to sway you one way or the other. Even in this office, opinion is divided, with Road Test Editor Andy Enright taking the ‘why have Volkswagen bothered’ perspective on developing the Plus. For what it’s worth, I’m in the other camp. Going for a Golf Plus over a standard Golf seems to get you an awful lot for not much more money as far as I can see. For a start, it gets you 20mm more of interior headroom, enabling you to sit much higher than in a standard Golf. That means more legroom for passengers too, even before they start playing with the sliding rear seats. These can be shifted fore and aft by 160mm and folded by means of a new system to Volkswagen which means that they are automatically lowered when folded down. This results in a virtually level load space, making the Golf Plus a very practical option indeed. The seats do the usual 60:40 split and the middle seat can also be folded down to form a drinks table. Additional stowage spaces around the cabin and a double height boot floor are nice touches too. The 122PS 1.4-litre TSI version we’re looking at here ought to be the most popular petrol variant (though the majority of sales of this car will probably be to diesel customers). In the petrol engine’s favour is the fact that it’s a very willing unit with plenty of torque and a slick six-speed gearbox to enable you to row it along quickly (with the option of an advanced seven-speed DSG transmission if you want an automatic). Based on the original award-winning 1.4-litre TSI engine which combines a supercharger and a turbocharger to produce an impressive level of power from a small capacity engine, the 122PS unit we’re looking at here uses simply a sophisticated turbocharger. The result is an output 7PS higher than that of the 1.6-litre FSI engine it replaces. Torque is also increased substantially by nearly 30 per cent from 155Nm to 200Nm. This engine also brings fuel saving benefits: the combined consumption on this Golf hatch, for example, has increased from 42.2 mpg for the old 1.6-litre FSI to 44.8 mpg for this 1.4-litre TSI. Carbon dioxide emissions are also reduced from 161 g/km to 149 g/km (or 139 if you go for the DSG auto option).

"Going for a Golf Plus over a standard Golf seems to get you an awful lot for not much more money as far as I can see"

The extra 95mm of height over a standard Golf might lead you to worry about an increase in body roll but you needn’t. Volkswagen have increased the standard hatch’s spring rates to cope and added a thicker rear anti-roll bar: as a result, there’s virtually no discernable difference between the two cars from behind the wheel. But not in the carpark. Volkswagen has had to redesign every one of the Golf’s body panels in other to accommodate the extra height and as a result, the Plus’ waistline is higher and the base of the windscreen further forwards. Just like an MPV in fact. Or is it? After all, despite the changes, this car is still no longer or wider than a standard Golf. Which means that the slight increase in luggage space (to 505 litres) that you get with the Plus’ modifications is to be found nestling against the ceiling. My colleague Mr Enright points out that this is in the position which is least often used. I would counter that it might be very useful when it comes to bulky objects. But here we are arguing again. Where I can’t fault his logic is in the fact that all these improvements could have been incorporated into the ordinary MK5 generation Golf at the design stage without too much trouble. Why do the Plus version in the first place, particularly as Volkswagen already have a very capable (Golf-based) mini-MPV in the shape of the Touran? Probably, customers shouldn’t trouble themselves too deeply about such questions of internal Volkswagen Group politics. It’s like asking why the company’s budget Skoda brand needs an Executive-sized saloon but doesn’t have an entry-level Citycar. Just don’t go there. What you do need to ask if you think you might be in the market for this car is whether £15,440 is too much to pay for a five-seat Family Hatchback with great build quality, a delightful engine and a dash of extra versatility. After all, you can get a fully-fledged mini-MPV from a rival manufacturer for less (or a Volkswagen Touran for only a couple of hundred more). If a Golf Plus is really what you want, you could pay less (£13,290 for the rather under-powered entry-level 1.4-litre variant) but I wouldn’t if I were you. Should you go for the diesel option? Well, it’s around £1,000 more for which you get an ageing 1.9-litre TDI unit that isn’t as nice as this 1.4 and won’t pay its way unless you do a decently high mileage. Volkswagen dealers acknowledge that they’ve got a sales job on their hands to shift metal with this one. But listen to their arguments and, like me, you may well end up coming away rather convinced.  

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volkswagen Golf Plus 1.4 TSI PRICE: £15,440-£17,630 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 4 CO2 EMISSIONS: 149-157g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 14.0s / Max Speed 114mph [est] FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 44.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, anti-lock brakes WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4204/2010/1580 WHO TO SEE: