It may not be the flashiest load lugger on the road – but there is not a lot wrong with the latest Volkswagen Golf Estate.
In fact since it was launched globally last summer it’s been winning praise from various quarters including What Car? magazine, which recently voted it Best Estate Car in its annual awards.
This, the seventh generation Golf estate, went on sale in the UK in July with the first buyers taking delivery in October.
Wider, longer yet lower than its predecessor the new estate is vastly superior when it comes to its carrying capacity, with 605 litres of luggage space compared to 505 litres on the outgoing model.
To put that into perspective the Golf hatchback – which is £745 cheaper – can only accommodate 380 litres, so if it’s a Golf you want but need plenty of space it has to be the estate.
If you lower the backrests in the estate the carrying capacity jumps to a hefty 1,620 litres, allowing you to pack everything including the kitchen sink.
But this estate hasn’t just been winning awards because of its space, important though that is in this category of car.
It’s impressed because, just like the hatchback, it offers a class-leading ride and superior handling whether fully loaded or not.
In fact when you are behind the wheel you completely forget that you are driving the estate rather than hatchback version of this best selling car, a claim that would have been impossible to make a few years ago.
But what’s also winning this latest estate friends among the buying public is its low fuel consumption. VW says the car I tried will average more than 72 miles per gallon, and on a run will achieve more than 85mpg, helped by the stop-start system and the fact that this new generation model is 100 kg lighter than the Mk VI version.
And while my average couldn’t match that claimed, I did manage to average 63mpg when I put my mind to it.
The 1.6-litre TDI 105 bhp estate is designed more for economy than performance – if it’s performance you want opt for the 150bhp TDI version – but nevertheless proved to be responsive and surprisingly agile, hitting 62 miles per hour in a very creditable 11.2 seconds.
The speed-sensitive power assisted steering is well balanced and positive and the gearbox impressively smooth, although I would have preferred a six rather than five gears.
All models come with roof rails as standard and inside there are a number of nice touches including a chunky, multi-function steering wheel, touch screen for all on-board features – including the DAB radio – and plenty of storage spaces, including under-seat draws and a deep armrest box.
It’s certainly well equipped on the safety front, coming with features like Automatic Distance Control which uses radar sensors to control how close you are to other vehicles and Post Collision Braking System, which recognises when you have collided with something and brakes the car to stop it being propelled into the oncoming traffic.
Not something you want to try out, but it’s comforting to know it’s on board.
Fast Facts
Model: Volkswagen Golf Estate SE 1.6-litre
Price: £21,735
Mechanical: 1598cc, 4 cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox.
Max speed: 120 mph
0-62mph: 11.2 secs
Combined mpg: 72.4
CO2 emissions: 102 g/km
Warranty: Three years/60,000miles
