Test Drive Volkswagen Golf VII 5 doors since 2012 Hatchback

Test Drive Volkswagen Golf VII: All bye

Volkswagen Golf is a whole class of car class and the best-selling car in Europe. For 38 years of existence, 6 generations were issued, which were separated by almost 30 million pieces!


Releaseing a new golf generation, Volkswagen must do not just do a good car, but a real class leader who will proudly carry the title of ancestor. And if earlier than its competitors, Golf put on the blades in two accounts, now it is becoming increasingly fighting with an increasing crowd of models in the classroom.

In the company, this is perfectly understood and the seventh generation develops with all seriousness and thoroughness, not allowing to stay on the conveyor to the previous generation and five years.


At first glance, changes in the design are minimal. As if the appearance of the VW Golf was only corrected by the new VOLKSWAGEN style. In fact, we have a completely new car built on a new platform and having a single body part with a predecessor.

The Volkswagen Golf VII was based on a completely new MKB modular platform (Modularer QUERBAUKASTEN), which was already used for new Audi A3 and Seat Leon, and in the future almost all mass models of C and D classes of the Volkswagen concern and its units will be built on it.

The use of a new platform has influenced not only on a technical stuffing, but also on the design of the model. Shorter front skes caused by 43 mm forward to the front axle, and the cabin moved back to the silhouette of the hatchback of sports aggression almost like the Volkswagen Scirocco. In the hand, an external appearance was played by 13 mm (up to 1799 mm) width and reduced by 28 mm (up to 1452 mm) height. At the same time, the width of the gauge was increased by 8 in front and 6 mm at the rear. In addition, Golf VII has become 56 mm (4255 mm) longer, and the wheelbase stretched 59 mm (up to 2637 mm).


The new golf added in size, became spacious salon, smart electronic systems were added. Despite this, engineers made a hatchback almost 100 kg easier than the predecessor.

It was not without a diet. During the seventh generation development, engineers conducted serious weight reduction work. 37 kg became easier for the body, another 26 kg managed to win on the chassis, 40 extra kilograms did not take place the aggregates, finally, by 6 kg electrician fleeled. In general, the golf thinned by almost 100 kg, which is a very good result for its sizes.

An increase in the wheelbase is most noticeable in the rear places. The niches for the feet of passengers increased by 15 mm, and the width of the salon at the level of the shoulders became more by 31 mm. Now even a fairly high passenger can accommodately accommodate here, I'm sorry with my 175 cm with a tangible reserve. The equipment gallery has a standard set in the form of armrest and air ducts.


The wheel base increased by 59 mm first of all played back passengers on hand. Now even the ripe people are free here. From the amenities they can only count on the armrest and individual ducts.

If you find fault by the interior of the VW Golf and before it was not so simple, now the new car's salon just breathes quality. Finishing materials almost everywhere are soft, assembly and fitting the details of the jewelry, but small folzvage tricks like a different quality of the front and rear door trims are not going anywhere. Otherwise, beauty. The steering wheel was diversified by a stylish boss, the front panel turned a little to the driver, and a fashionable decoration of a la piano varnish appeared in rich equipment.


You will not adhere to the quality of the interior. The most notable changes - the new steering wheel bevelled and the central console deployed to the driver.

The front armors shifted 20 mm back, which made it possible to land even more sports. Yes, and the seats themselves are simply excellent with a long pillow, a cool profile, well-verified rigidity and developed lateral support. You do not have to drive to the adjustment bands, and the finishing options have become even more, including luxurious brown skin and an unusual combination of fabric with Alcantara.


In addition to the tissue of the cabin, a combination of fabric and alcantara appeared, as well as the luxurious dressing of brown leather. Front chairs are a separate song. This combination of profile and lateral support can envy many sports cars. No wonder the golf seats are approved by the German Orthopedic Association.

Without new-fashioned gadgets, nowhere and golf as a potential class leader simply should follow the trends. Volkswagen decided not to modest and in addition to the chips like a beautiful color screen, five options for the multimedia system were offered in the tidy. The range of arrangements and conservatives for which the tape recorder with a 5-inch black and white screen, and advanced users who enjoy information technologies on the full program are prepared. Screens of all systems, except for the base, are equipped with an approximation sensors that activate a specific menu when the hand is approaching the screen.


To translate the DSG transmission into a sports mode now enough to swing the selector for yourself. All versions of Volkswagen Golf are now equipped with an electronic manual brake. On the right of the gearbox lever, the stabilization system is located and the DYNAMIC CHASSIS CONTROL chassis mode election button.

In the most expensive Multimedia of the Discover Pro golf course, there is the ability to control the scale of the map of navigation with your fingers or rubbing the lists by movement by hand, which will clearly like the owners of apples and android. In addition, she knows how to distribute WiFi, equipped with a hard disk and immediately multiple slots for SD cards. True, like all Volkswagenov, to listen to your favorite music from an ordinary flash drive, you will have to pay extra for a special adapter.


Selecting multimedia systems for Volkswagen Golf VII in truth wide. 5 options, with three different screen sizes, with navigation and without, color and one black and white ... This list can be continued for a long time. The top version of the Discover Pro (in the photo) allows you to flipping pages and scale the image with your fingers as on tablets and touch phones.

But rather behind the wheel. After all, the presentation of the new Volkswagen Golf VII took place on the island of Sardinia, literally permeated by serpentines with a countless amount of solubular turns, descents and lifts.

We were given versions with a new gasoline 140-strong TSI gasoline and 2.0-liter Turbodiesel about 150 forces. The fate of diesel golfs in Russia is still questionable, so we hurried with a colleague to reserve a gasoline machine with a 7-speed preselective DSG transmission.


So far, four gasoline turbo travels are confirmed for Russia. Three of them are already familiar to us: it is 85- and 105-strong versions of the engine 1.2 TSI, as well as 122-strong 1.4 TSI. Another unit of 1.4 TSI with a capacity of 140 hp is new. He has an aluminum cylinder block, a slightly modified cooling system and a new system of turning off half of cylinders. Diesel also promise to bring, but what and when it remains a mystery.

The new gasoline Motor 1.4 TSI in Volkswagen is called due to the appearance of a lightweight aluminum cylinder block, a slightly modified cooling system and the AST Cylinder Half System (Active Cylinder Management). When loading up to 85 nm ACT, the camshafts are shifted, which close the valves of the second and third cylinders. Favor from this system, saving only 0.4 liters per hundred, in Russia is unlikely to be appreciated. Where use ACT for Europe. After all, it not only saves gasoline, but also reduces the amount of CO2 emissions, which affects the amount of tax, for example, in Germany or France.


The principle of operation of the system of active shutdown of the cylinders: with a low or medium load on the engine, two cylinders are disconnected, which reduces fuel consumption estimated by the European ride cycle, by 0.4 l / 100 km. The cylinder shutdown system is activated in the range of 1400 4000 rpm and torque up to 85 nm. Special acurators shift the camshafts in such a way that the valves of the second and third cylinders are closed, stopping the flow of the mixture.

For most Russian drivers, the dynamics and the new golf have everything in order. 8.4 seconds up to 100 km / h Result is very worthy. Due to the fact that the maximum 250 nm is available from 1500 to 3,500 revolutions per minute, Volkswagen willingly pulls almost with idle. After the tachometer arrow passed the range of torque domination, from 4500 to 6000 rpm Becomes the first to the maximum 140 hp. The result is an even stable acceleration in the entire range of revolutions, albeit without bright pickups.


Became more trunk. Its volume rose to 380 liters (+30 liters). In addition, the loading height is now equal to 665 mm (-17 mm), which is the best indicator in the class.

A 7-speed DSG gearbox, which is very accurate and rapidly determined by the choice of the desired stage, has a significant help of the motor, which avoids the power break and fail at switching. Cons, like all DSG dance when attacking, to which you have to adapt. Swinging the selector box on itself, the sport mode is turned on, the DSG increases turns and the car becomes more sharp and dynamic. Now the golf is actively responded to the gas pedal, which, by the way, is now suspended, and not outdoor, who fell victim to the features of the MQB platform.


A brilliant eye in the center of the front bumper grille indicates the presence of ACC active cruise control. It can operate in a speed range from 30 to 160 km / h on cars with MCPP and from 0 to 160 km / h on cars with DSG. In addition, in the list of options for the new Golf VII there is an emergency braking function at low speeds City Emergency Braking; Warning system of output from the Lane Assist strip; Driver's fatigue detection system; The recognition feature of road signs and the last generation of the Parkassist system with the OPS circular review feature (360 degrees), as well as an automated Light Assist lighting system and the dynamic light of Dynamic Light Assist. Almost all of them are tied to a special chamber located on the windshield behind the rearview mirror. Which ones will be available in Russia are not yet known.

Hatchback habits on the road are very similar to the sixth generation, but the difference is also noticeable. The car has become clearly comfortable and quieter in the cabin. At the same time, the golf is still assembled and to the measure of cutting, although the reactions to small irregularities softened, turning out of nervous shocking into solid deaf baubles, devoid of vertical oscillations. It is impossible not to note the improved smoothness, which, in its velvety, has already closely approached the German premium.

Not least, the exact and collected handling is obliged to be a well-tuned electric powerful. The steering wheel is easy in the parking lot and is poured as a juicy effort with a growing speed just enough so that literally the tips of the fingers feel, to which angle the front wheels are rotated.


Volkswagen Golf with a gasoline engine capacity of 140 hp And the DSG box is well pulling in the entire turn range. Those who will seem to have such a dynamics will not have to wait for the powerful version of the GTI.

And the Volkswagen Golf VII is good regardless of the DCC adaptive chassis mode (Dynamic Chassis Control) second generation, first used on cars of the largest European concern. From now on, the system has as many as five modes: Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport and IndiVidual. If you catch the difference between Normal and Comfort is almost impossible, then in sports, the character of the hatchback changes more noticeably increasing the effort on the steering wheel, duby shock absorbers. Now Golf will rone truly and ready to go fast even on the complex tracks of Sardinia, creating a competition of local desperate drives, who knows the island's catches as their five fingers.


Ruling the new Volkswagen Golf canceled. It allows you to enjoy both a direct track and on winding serpentines. Especially liked the well-tuned steering.

In addition to the 140-strong version on the Russian market, the seventh Volkswagen Golf will be available with 1.2 TSI motor with a capacity of 85 and 105 hp, and the engine is 1.4 TSI 122 hp Budget variants with a 1.6 liter atmospheric motor will most likely no longer. Promise to bring and diesel, but what and when, not yet clear.


The new model (left) is wider and below the sixth generation car. Golf VII sales in Russia will begin in the spring of next year. Closer to this time will be information about prices and available options.

Prices are known only European. In Germany, the car almost has risen in price. For the basic version with the engine 1.2 TSI and the MCPP, 16,975 euros are asked, and the price per 140-strong option begins with a mark of 22,525 euros. It is clear that we have, where in the golf class, the main price value ratio, and handling and technologies remain on the second plan, the seventh golf is unlikely to lead sales ratings. But the fact that Volkswagen created a real leader of its class is not subject to question.


Golfs for Russia will be equipped with a package for bad roads. It is possible that this may be slightly pouched by the accurate handling of the hatchback, but the fact that the accuracy and collaboration of Volkswagen will remain at the level, can not be doubted.

A win-win design, high-quality and convenient salon, modern engines and excellent Volkswagen Golf handling once again acts as a standalone to which non-dormant competitors will be equal. In addition, Volkswagen himself has special species on a new model. After all, golf as no one else helps the Volkswagen already in 2018 to become the largest automaker in the world. And in the fact that this is forces, it seems, no one doubts.

A source: Carclub.ru.