Volkswagen Golf 2008 review: road test

But for Aussies it could all be about the numbers, as the company prepares to launch its sixth generation Golf in Australia with a range of smaller engines.

That, in the past, hasn't gone down particularly well with us, where bigger is usually regarded as better as evidenced by Polo's poor performance after the switch from a 1.6 to a smaller 1.4-litre engine a few years ago.

The changes have been brought on by Europe's strict tax regime with incentives for manufacturers to build cars with smaller more environmentally friendly engines.

Explore the 2008 Volkswagen Golf range

• Volkswagen Golf 2008 review
• Volkswagen Golf 2008 review: snapshot
• Volkswagen Golf 2008 review: road test

Volkswagen argues the smaller engines are more powerful and more fuel efficient than those they replace, but still we find that number 1.4 cropping up again.

To put this in perspective, the current Golf V opens its card with a 1.6-litre four cylinder petrol engine that produces 75kW of power and 148Nm of torque.

The new Golf VI, however, kicks off with a turbocharged 1.4-litre four that delivers 20 per cent more power and 35 per cent more torque at 90kW and 200Nm, the latter from a low 1500rpm.

And, this time around, there's a seven-speed version of VW's acclaimed robotised manual or “DSG” automatic as it is known, instead of the current six-speed.

That's with the petrol engine anyway.

The transmission can't cope with the higher torque output of the diesel, so it sticks with the six-speed version.

There will be no traditional auto.

Together with the seven-speed DSG, the Golf can sprint from 0-100km/h in 9.5 seconds, instead of a rather leisurely 12.5 seconds with the previous six-speed auto.

It also uses 28 per cent less fuel, just 6.0 litres per 100km instead of the previous 8.3.

With figures like this, you'd think Golf's success would be a no brainer, but we're not convinced.

But as all models are either turbocharged or supercharged in one way or another, it puts the car off the shopping list of young drivers - in NSW at least where P plate drivers are banned from driving V8 or turbocharged vehicles.

At the moment the 1.6-litre model accounts for seven per cent of sales and the DSG gearbox is optioned by 72 per cent of customers.

Volkswagen invited us to drive the new Golf this week in Iceland of all places.

In cold, wet and windy conditions the car performed flawlessly.

We were able to drive the new 90kW 1.4 litre TSI model with the seven-speed DSG as well as the new 103kW 2.0-litre TDI turbo diesel, this one with a six-speed DSG.

There's also a 118kW 1.4-litre twin charged engine with a turbocharger and supercharger that replaces the current 2.0-litre FSI model.

Again it produces more power and torque than before, with 118kW and 240Nm versus 110kW/200Nm - but has been tuned with economy in mind.

The current lineup also includes a 125kW twin charged engine as well as a 1.9-litre turbo diesel and more powerful 125kW version of the 2.0-litre diesel.

Although Golf VI is described as all new it does in fact sit on the same platform as the previous model, with the same external dimensions and wheel base and suspension set up as before.

To look at the car is more conservatively styled and we're told much cheaper to build, even though VW is keen to stress that build quality sets new standards for the segment.

The roof is the only body panel that has been carried over from the previous model.

The big bold front radiator grille has been given the boot, front and rear lights have been changed and other subtle panel changes made to give the car a lower appearance.

The rear window line has also been lowered to make it easier for children to see out of the side windows.

Inside, particular attention has been paid to the finish and choice of materials.

We were a little disappointed to find however that the flashy blue instrumentation for which Golf is renowned has given way to simple white lighting, to give the car a classier feel.

VW claims it's the quietest Golf ever, but it's a claim that is difficult to quantify.

There's no doubt the new 90kW engine that will power the entry level model packs more punch than the 1.6, but as good as it is the seven-speed DSG box is still not as smooth as a conventional auto, occasionally thumping into gear.

But if feels quite sporty and you wouldn't swap it for quids, nor can you argue with the the speed with which it changes gears or the better fuel economy that it delivers.

A six-speed manual is standard while the seven-speed DSG will set you back $2700.

The 2.0-litre TDI engine is a carry over from the previous model, but has been updated from the original engine, with common rail direct injection.

With 103kW of power and 320Nm of torque available from 1750rpm, it delivers smooth, powerful performance and is much quieter than the original.

The dash from 0-100km/h takes 9.3 seconds while fuel economy with the DSG transmission fitted is a claimed 5.4 litres/100km.

Although we found the new model generally quieter inside, the low profile Michelin Primacy tyres fitted to our test car generated quite a bit of road noise on coarse bitumen.

The car feels nice and tight, with no squeaks or rattles and delivers crisp driving dynamics.

Fuel economy for the petrol model ranged between 8.2 and 9.1 litres/100km over two stints behind the wheel, while the diesel returned 8.7 litres/100km after a long very hard drive.

Safety has been upgraded too with the addition of a knee bag bringing the number of airbags to seven and adjustable damping was fitted to a couple of the cars we drove allowing us to switch between sport and comfort settings.

There's plenty of hi-tech options too like satnav, a hard disk-based entertainment system, active cruise control and the automatic parking system that we have already seen with Tiguan. But nothing has been confirmed for our market yet - not even the price.

We're tipping a small increase.

New Golf will arrive some time in the first half of 2009 while the new Golf GTI will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show this week.