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  The Golf doesn’t exactly blow you away but the combination of sprightly engines and superb handling and driver comfort, means the new model will find many happy owners. The Golf 7 ticks all the right boxes and is everything we expected and more. Now about those prices...
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  Unsurprisingly VW have aimed for evolutionary over revolutionary design. To the undiscerning eye it might appear that not much has changed – and you would be right as design changes are subtle in most areas. As one Wheels24 reader put it “it’s a VW with Audi headlights and front end”.
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  Judging from our launch preview, there has been quite a bit of grumbling about the Golf’s price. Yes it could be perceived as being expensive compared to rivals. The fact is you’re receiving more kit, new tech and a refined vehicle for marginal less than the outgoing model.
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  Like the outgoing model and the one before it, bar pricing it’s very difficult fault the new Golf. It handles superbly well, the engines are great, DSG box seamless and it feels like a premium vehicle. The golf takes German rival BMW 1 Series, Audi A3, Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra and i30. Another alternative to consider would be Volvo’s V40.
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  Volkswagen is so confident that you’ll love its Golf 7 that it ad campaign reads: “Is this the one?” and asks customers, “If you could drive one car for the rest of your life what would it be?”
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  Standard kit includes aircon, 12.7cm touchscreen, electronic parking brake (with hill-holder), tyre pressure monitor, front power windows with power side mirrors, multifunction leather steering wheel, seven airbags and 15” alloy rims.
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  Since its launch in 1974 over 29 million models have been sold globally and in South Africa, the Golf proves its popularity with 323100 sold since its local introduction in 1978. The seventh generation Golf, first debuted at the Paris motor show in 2012, finally arrives on our shores in January 2013.

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