The Volkswagen Golf SV in South Africa 2015
Volkswagen Golf SV 2015 driven in South Africa
What is it?
Let’s start by saying what it is not. The 2015 Golf SV is not an SUV and with no body armor or scuff plates it makes no attempt to leave signposted tarmac. Nor is the Golf SV a van, despite it being labeled as one in other markets. In fact, it bears no unique model identification because the term van, even Sportsvan, carries the same sexiness as describing a car as ‘fleet’ or ‘rental.’ The Golf SV melds the practicality of an estate with the nimbleness and efficiency of a hatchback and is the first product that demonstrates the multiple configurations offered by the company’s modular MQB platform.
What’s it like?
Predictably the Golf SV shares many fundamentals with its sibling, but there is a focused effort to position it into MPV territory – which is a segment that has suddenly been injected with premium offerings. The design objective was to create a roomier car; the Golf SV is 83mm longer, 126mm higher and 23mm wider. These are not insignificant gains and result in 120 litres of additional luggage room and 25mm more rear legroom. Rear headroom is less than expected given the car’s taller stance and although front legroom is less, the raised seating position adequately offsets this.
Inside there are more clever ideas that are well-suited to the challenges of family life. Besides reclining, rear seats can be slid a total of 18cm fore and aft or can fold flat to create a level storage space. Trying to find somewhere to leave the parcel shelf is no longer a bugbear since it can now be stored in the spare wheel well. Other storage nooks have grown to accomodate larger bottles and trays under the front seats provide a secure place to store valuables.
In an effort to create more natural light, the designers have maximized the glasshouse area. The windscreen is wider and the C-pillar has been divided into a third window. But outward visibility is still no match for a high-riding SUV.
With other carmakers bringing Active Park, Bind Spot Assist and Lane Departure warning, the Golf SV can come across a rather dull on the technology scale. More outlets for USB devices, to go with the tray tables fixed to the rear seats, would strengthen its case as an MPV. Dual climate control is another feature we would have expected to see as standard on the higher trim and engine models.
A slab more weight and resurfaced aerodynamic shape has no effect on the range of small capacity turbo petrol engines. We spent most time in the 92kW 1.4 TSI engine in both manual and DSG – although we’d probably buy the DSG, the Golf SV was more urgent with the manual. Flanking either side of this engine is a 1.2TSI with 81kW (manual only) and a 2.0-litre TDI version. Road holding is unsurpassed and again that extra bulk fails to make any impression on the steering precision or body lean. The Golf SV is far less compromised in handling faculties compared to an SUV or the industrial aloofness of a van. One might not notice any difference between it and the traditional Golf shape.
Should I buy one?
Not if you are included in the 40 per cent of Golf owners who bought the GTi - although that option will likely arrive – and while we can imagine people making the transition from hatchback into Golf SV, we can’t foresee SUV owners being all that eager to reverse the trend. To us the Golf SV appears to be a valid European solution plunged into a South African context. Regular road tyres and no quantifiable height advantage leave one just as vulnerable as in a regular Golf and as the estate segment has found, the Golf SV might struggle to gain popularity for those same reasons. However we love estates, therefore Golf SV gets our minority vote.
Retail Prices Volkswagen SV
1.2 TSI with BlueMotion Technlogy Trendline (81 kW) 6-speed Manual R292 500
1.4 TSI with BlueMotion Technlogy Comfortline (92 kW) 6-speed Manual R325 200
1.4 TSI with BlueMotion Technlogy Comfortline (92 kW) 7-speed DSG R340 700
2.0 TDI Comfortline (81 kW) 5-speed Manual R343 700
2.0 TDI Comfortline (81 kW) 7-speed DSG R359 200
The Golf SV model range comes standard with a 5 year/90 000km Service Plan, 3 year/120 000km warranty and a 12 year anti-corrosion warranty. Service Interval is 15 000km.
