VW Golf Revelation- A Review of the MK7 Golf 1.8 TSI Manual

Now before we get started here, a little context is necessary. First off, I’ve grown up my whole life with Honda Civics. In fact, one of the family cars right now is a 2013 Honda Civic EX (manual, so joy of joys). While we have owned several cars (1990 Toyota Camry, 1996 Honda Civic LX, 2003 Toyota Rav4, 2010 Toyota Rav4 V6 Sport, just to name a few), they have all been Japanese. Secondly, coming from Canada, brands like Volkswagen are associated with premium luxury and, rather unfortunately, poor reliability. The general consensus is “why own a VW when you can get the same features from another car at a lower price?” As far as I’m aware, this contrasts the European viewpoint of VW being synonymous with reliability and practicality (except for the mid 2000s where things got a bit…. weird). Owning a Volkswagen just seemed like a chore that is taxing on both your patience and your wallet.

Given these premonitions, I was rather reluctant when my father suddenly suggested that we test drive a golf. Nonetheless, I went along with him since I’m not one to pass on a fun drive. Upon reaching the surprisingly empty dealership (it was a Saturday…. looks like the diesel scandal hit them hard), we were greeted by a sales rep who quickly got us seated in a fully loaded (Highline in Canada) 5 door VW Golf TSI manual. The styling of the car is really quite hard to judge for me. The gentle creases and lines that run down the body hint at a stylish car, while the boxy proportions play to its practicality and versatility. The pure white colour gleamed in the sun, providing it with a upscale look. The 17 inch Geneva alloy wheels complemented the proportions nicely. The car seemed wide and low, making it look sportier than previous generations.

Stepping (easily) into the car, I was greeted by very comfortable seats and a simple instrument cluster. The centre console was narrow and provided lots of space for my legs. Although the Shetland (white essentially) interior is not be my personal preference (the Titan Black interior is far better in my opinion but still can’t beat the plaid seats in the GTI), it complemented the exterior paint rather nicely and once again provided an upscale feel. Everything inside looked well put together. The fit and finish was very nice and all the materials were soft and pleasant, regardless of whether it was a common touch point or not. The infotainment system is packed with nice features and is simple to use. The test car did not have the optional Fender audio system on it, but still sounded pretty nice nonetheless.

The trunk was cavernous and the foldable seats added versatility unrivaled by most sedans. The pedals were nicely spaced out and feel substantial. The clutch pedal felt light and easy - not as light as the clutch in a Honda Civic but no one is going to be doing leg day while driving a Golf. Oddly enough, I actually prefer the feel of the clutch in the Golf rather than the Civic. Lightly revving the engine (I was told not to worry about breaking in and warming up the engine), the 1.8L TSI engine sounds thick and meaty. It was not the loudest engine but this is no racecar after all.

Pulling away from the dealership, I instantly stall. Whoops. After an awkward pause and a sincere apology, I press the push start button on the centre console (near to shifter) and the engine thrums back to life. “Don’t be afraid to drive quickly,” says the sales rep. Alrighty then. The route taken during the test passed through an industrial area with mixed road conditions and minimal amount of cars. Perfect. The engine was lively and had a surprising amount of pull. I suppose that’s what 185 lb-ft of torque (and 170 hp) feels like in a car that is about as heavy as a feather (there may be some of you who say Aha, it has 200 lb-ft of torque but the car is advertised as having 185 lb-ft of torque on Regular Unleaded Gasoline in Canada. Perhaps premium fuel makes a difference?) The engine never pushes you to go faster but does not complain when driven aggressively. It felt like a willing dance partner when you want it, and a quiet companion when you need it. Many people will complain saying that this type of engine is devoid of emotion, soulless even. However, there is something addicting about revving the 1.8 TSI in the Golf- it feels effortless, easy even.

The power was instant and did not suffer from any noticeable turbo lag. You can really feel all of the power down low in the power band, which really contrasts the power delivery of Honda engines (VTEC bruh). The suspension was excellent: tight enough to suggest that there is potential for tuning but supple enough that your spine doesn’t shatter as you drive over a bump. It really was a great balance between comfort and sportiness (for its class). It really complemented the stiff MQB platform nicely and was able to tackle high (as high as I could go but higher than is allowed, I assure you) speed corners calmly. It was really well-behaved, regardless of what I threw at it. It felt neutral through the corners with the right amount of push as the car reached towards its upper limits and minimal body roll. The shifter was sublime. The throws were not too long and the lever shifted into the gates with a satisfying snick. Paired with this engine, I felt that I was really able to access the power easily and instantly. The brakes felt progressive and smooth. All-in-all, it was very smooth and easy driving experience.

The car was not without fault, however. There was more wind noise that I would have liked, although this may have been due to my expectations of this car rather than the car itself. However, coming from someone who spent a lot of time in a Honda Civic, this may be a little concerning. Despite the cavernous trunk space, rear seat space was lacking. Being 5 ft 10in., I had lots of head room but barely enough leg room (sitting behind myself). While the infotainment was easy to use, the graphics and interface felt a little dated. Given that the rest of the car feels meticulously planned out, this problem is accentuated. I wish Volkswagen put more time into making the system as good as the rest of the car.

All-in-all, I walked away blown away by the overall package that is presented by the Golf. Is it the fastest car on the street? Nope. Will it satisfy all of your racecar dreams? Nope. Is it the cheapest car you can buy? Definitely not. But that’s not why you buy it. The Golf represents the (near) perfect balance between comfort, sportiness, practicality, versatility and affordability. You buy a Golf because it seems to be the Jack of all trades, your constant companion no matter what hardships you encounter. You buy a Golf because at the end of the day, it is willing to do whatever you want to do without complaint (I say this loosely as the cost of long term ownership can be high… but that’s a debate for another time with people more qualified than me to discuss it).

People often slate the Golf as being dull and soulless, and that offerings from other manufacturers provide far more driving satisfaction. In my opinion, the Golf is something you have to experience firsthand before dismissing it. It truly is a great car; good enough that I can now say that despited being a Honda fan, I love the Golf (and all its variants) and would love to own one in the future.

Note: Pictures are not mine. Unfortunately, I was unable to take my own pictures… Google Images is a wonderful place. Also this is my first Blog/Review and I hope to make more in future. I would really appreciate feedback. Thanks guys