Volkswagen Golf convertible TSI DSG 2012 review

Although convertibles and cabriolets with hardtop roofs have become common in recent years, there is still plenty of demand for traditional soft-top convertibles.

Purists of open-top cars have no interest in driving something that looks like a closed coupe when the roof is up, so will find the new Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet most attractive.

DESIGN AND EQUIPMENT

Explore the 2012 Volkswagen Golf range

• Volkswagen Golf 2012 review
• Volkswagen Golf convertible TSI DSG 2012 review
• Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet 2012 review
• Volkswagen Golf Mark 7 2012 review

Volkswagen’s Golf Cabriolet combines the best of the traditional soft-top, with modern folding-roof thinking. The roof is ultra fast and you can put it up and down three times in 60 seconds. The easy-to-use one-button function lets you get it up and down at the lights with time to spare.

When the top is down there is no separate cover for the folded roof, rather the upper surface of the front roof bow becomes the top of the roof stowage are. Because the folded roof sits on top of the boot rather than inside it there’s good luggage space of 250 litres.

However, the boot lid is small and low down and loading/unloading is not easy. The rear seatbacks in the Cabriolet can be folded flat to significantly expand carrying space. Previous models only had a small ski hatch. We found the Golf Cabriolet’s windscreen angle ideal, providing protection from the wind without interfering with the open air feel. Purists will rejoice.

Interior space in the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet is good with plenty of leg and headroom for the front seat occupants and reasonable space for adults in the back. The front seats are supportive and comfortable, the back seats less so, but for heavens sake this is a car designed for two and who cares about those in the back.

The interior is pleasingly quiet with the roof in place thanks to a special insulating filler layer. Bluetooth connectivity for both phone and audio, USB and Auxiliary sockets and Media Interface unit all make it easier to entertain and communicate while on the road.

SAFETY

Standard safety features include five airbags, ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, electronic stability control, hill start assist. All previous Golf convertibles have used a fixed roll bar to provide protection in the unfortunate event of a rollover.

While the Golf may have a traditional roof, the new model has a modern electronic system of looking after its occupants. Two recessed bars triggered by the car’s airbag controller spring upwards in about a quarter of a second if an impending rollover is detected. The front windscreen frame is reinforced to also act as a roll-bar.

However, the chances of rollovers are minimal thanks to the installation of various electronic systems able to sense when a car is starting to slide sideways and do everything possible to bring the errant Golf back on course.

DRIVING

Despite the absence of a fixed roof, clever body design means the car is rigid and we found almost no evidence of the scuttle-shake that used to affect convertibles. Purists may have liked that aspect of convertibles, but we must admit that a solid ride suits us better. And the lack of body movement gives the suspension a nice platform to work from.

There’s good feedback through the steering wheel and handling is sharp and positive. It’s no sports machine but it comes close and it’s most enjoyable to drive. Our road test Golf Cabriolet had Volkswagen’s clever 1.4-litre TSI twincharger engine mated to a seven-speed double-clutch DSG transmission.

Double-clutch transmission can be notoriously temperamental at very low speeds and this one proved no exception. Having said that, we did a fair bit of heavy-duty commuting with our review car and the automatic changes were much appreciated. The model designation of Golf 118TSI refers to the engine’s peak power of 118 kW, at 5800 rpm, while the maximum torque of 240 Nm runs through an excellent spread that goes all the way from 1500 to 4000 revs.

Fuel consumption is typically in the seven to nine litres per hundred kilometres range around town, dropping into the low sixes on a trip. This is pretty good for a petrol engine with the sort of performance provided.

VERDICT

New Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet’s attractive looks, lithe performance and very competitive pricing could well see a swing away from folding hardtop convertibles back towards the soft-top era.