VW have again redesigned the Golf and changed it sufficiently that it still obviously a Golf but in reality made significant changes. The car is lower at the front and the wheels have been moved towards the front to make the car look smaller.
It is built on the new MQB chassis platform that will be used in the VW group for the Audi A3, the Seat Leon and the VW Tiguan. It has already been used for the Skoda Yeti and the upcoming new Octavia
The new Golf is actually 6cm longer than the outgoing model, 1cm wider but 3cm lower. Its wheelbase has been increased by 6cm. Impressively, VW have managed to make the new Golf 100 kg lighter than the previous one. In addition to being lighter, VW have given it the newly developed engines that they have been working on in anticipation of new CO2 targets and changes to BIK taxes across Europe. The new engines averagely produce 14% less CO2.
Being lighter, more aerodynamic and new more efficient engines, it comes as no surprise that the new Golf is more economical, and aimed squarely at the car leasing companies and lease car deals. Starting with 84bhp petrol that achieves 58mpg, twinned with 1.4 petrol at 138bhp that uses cylinder deactivation to achieve 59 mpg. Diesels start with a 103bhp 1.6 that does 74 mpg and emits just 99 g/km CO2. A Bluemotion version of this engine emits just 88 g/km CO2 and does 88mpg. An all new 148 bhp diesel is said to average 69mpg.
Inside, the cabin is larger and 1.5cm increase legroom in the rear is really obvious. The boot has increased from 350 litres to 380 and is right up with the best in class. The dashboard is clear, high quality and logical, VW switchgear has for years been among the very best and is bettered by no-one. Electronic parking brake is now standard across the new golf range, something which is you have a car on lease is really handy to have a facility that applies the brake automatically for you.
The 2013 Golf has a fantastic range of useful and sophisticated safety and luxury kit. Bluetooth is standard, Carlease.uk is big believers in Bluetooth for lease vehicle, for someone who leases and does high mileage, its absolutely essential. Sat Nav is available on most models and even a hard drive to load CD’s onto. VW have incorporated their new fatigue detection and lane keeping assists as well. Traffic sign detection will feature on much of the range.
