Volkswagen Golf 77TSI 2011 Review

There's a saying around here (well, someone has to start these things): "If you have less than $30K to spend on a hatch, get a Mazda 3. If you have more, get a Golf."

Within an hour of clambering out of an entry level Mazda3 Neo last week, we were into the new starting point for VW's perennial five door, one with an asking price that's barely above a Polo. Indeed, the 77TSI (the numeral indicating output in kilowatts) is donated from the 2010 Carsguide Car of the Year winner.

So can this Golf change the order of things?

VALUE

Looks good on the lid, eh?

A new Golf has never played at this price level. As recently as 2005 the then-new entry level Mark V (which substantially is this Mark VI) ran a weak, old 1.6 naturally aspirated auto petrol four with a five speed manual and rejoiced in a $27K asking price plus on roads.

This entrant $22,990 for the six-speed manual, $24,490 for the seven-speed DSG twin clutch auto, either of which are  married to an above its capacity punching 1.2-litre turbo petrol four.

The Golf is appreciably bigger, a few hundred kegs heavier, but only a second slower and a few hundred bucks dearer than the little wonder. Our test car, with DSG ($2500) and metallic paint ($500) was $24,990. Cool.

Now let's peel back the lid.

While the Golf provides a sense of prestige German quality at a fraction of the cost, its servicing and parts are very much in keeping with those of a premium badge. In this respect, VW take the piss. An example? A new battery can cost twice as much as one fitted by your auto club.

And even if the inside of the fuel cap reads 95 RON, VW's excellent direct injection/turbo-charged engines prefer and return their best economy and emission figures with nothing less than 98. Almost all its rivals are happy enough on basic unleaded.

TECHNOLOGY

Unlike its Asian rivals, each $3000-$4000 increment you spend on a Golf brings not only more bling, but an upgraded four cylinder turbo charged engine with direct injection. The now-previously entry level runs a 1.4-litre 90kW/200Nm jobbie. The next one up has the clever 1.4 supercharged and turbo charged unit with 118kW/240Nm. Then you're into GTI and R terrain.

On paper this one's 77kW/175Nm and 1.2-litre capacity looks almost as weedy as that of a Barina Spark, arguably the lamest car on sale today. But by virtue of the aforementioned low pressure blowing and the squirting of high octane juice directly into the combustion chambers, the 77TSI easily outperforms that old 1.6 auto.

A 0-100km/h time of 10.6 seconds (or so it's claimed) is unspectacular, but with all the torque on tap from as low as 1550rpm, the mid-range shove is like that of diesel. Capable of running on 6.2 litres per 100km while emitting 144 grams of Co2 per klick, you might wonder if the clatter and drone of a diesel donk is worthwhile.

DESIGN

Let others flirt with groovy visual gambits, a Golf is always a Golf. Inter generational changes are always evolutionary rather than revolutionary, as car companies say when they're on a good thing and are too smart to stuff it about.

The wagen is what it is and der volk keep buying it.

While even in GTI's interior is hardly festive this one is crushingly grey and depressing, with every appearance of being consciously stripped back in order to encourage up-optioning, or better still, up-modelling to a 90TSI.

It's a dead zone, especially next to the innards of a Mazda3 Neo which looks a lot more handsome from behind the wheel than is suggested by its $23K sticker. It's been a long time since I saw a new car steering wheel without so much as a volume control on the steering wheel. This Golf's was nude. Both cars, however, ride on squeaky 15-inch wheels.

SAFETY

As good as it gets at this size: five star NCAP crash rating, all the active safety acronyms you've ever heard of and several you likely haven't, plus seven airbags, including one for the driver's knees. Moreover, there's that Golf sense of door thunking solidity and the planted on road stance of a bigger car.

DRIVING

DSG settings continue to defy logic. No sooner have you driven a VW Group car in which the twin clutch auto can hardly be distinguished from a smoother, older style torque converter automatic, than you encounter one that makes you look like a prat.

This 77 TSI's (I say "this" because you can bet another one will be different) wasn't quite that bad, but the need poke it off the mark made for a touch too much tyre chirping. It's all very well banging on about DSG returning fuel and emission figures comparable to a manual's without the "irritation" of changing gears, but the Mazda3's five speed old school auto works better in the heavy traffic where we sent most of our Golf time.

Otherwise? Yeah, fine. A slightly lesser Golf that feels more than adequate especially if you're just now able to get into one. Which works as a metaphor for the 77TSI actually ...

VERDICT

Only if you absolutely must have a Golf.