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Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet 2011 road test report

Cabriolet 2011

The Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet is back and it’s as stylish as ever. Offering four-seat comfort and practicality, the new Golf Cabriolet is based on the Audi A3 drop-top, so build quality is a given, even if it’s not the sharpest drive in its sector. However, the Golf Cabriolet is well equipped and comes with a fabric roof that takes just 9.5 seconds to be raised or lowered at the touch of a button.

Road Test Reports Says 4 star rating
A front-facing image of the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet 2011

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ALISDAIR SUTTIE SAYS

Performance Performance - 4 stars

There will be six engine choices in total for the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet and only the 208bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol borrowed from the Golf GTI is likely to blow your skirt up as effectively as the soft-top blows your hair. This engine helps the Cabrio from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds to be hot hatch fast and the six-speed DSG double-clutch gearbox suits it well. However, this engine will account for a fraction of Golf Cabriolet sales and most buyers are expected to head for the three less potent petrols in 104bhp 1.2-litre and 121- and 158bhp 1.4-litre forms. Of these, the 158bhp motor is the most tempting as it offers 0-62mph in a decent 8.4 seconds and feels peppy at all times, as well as smooth and using less fuel than the GTI motor. The 158bhp 1.4-litre engine and the other less powerful petrols suit the Golf Cabrio’s cruising nature, so better to sit back, relax and enjoy the journey. A pair of turbodiesels is also on offer in the shape of a 104bhp 1.6-litre and VW’s usual 138bhp 2.0-litre. These engines are aimed more at company buyers but offer strong, flexible performance with decent refinement.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 3 stars

The new Golf Cabriolet is, under the skin, a previous generation Golf as this is what the Audi A3 Cabriolet is based on. Still, it’s not a problem and VW has made a good job of removing the roof without making the car wobble like a jelly at a child’s party. There is some shimmy noticeable from the body as the suspension deals with sharper bumps and more cratered roads. However, the Golf Cabrio manages to retain sufficient levels of comfort and handling poise to still be worthy of its place in the Golf range. More importantly than outright handling ability, the Golf Cabriolet is comfortable in town and quiet when the roof is raised. Although not a glass and steel roof like so many others in this sector, the fabric roof of the Golf seals out wind and traffic noise very well to leave the cabin tranquil. With the roof down, there’s minimal buffeting for the front seat passengers and with the wind deflector in place and the windows up, it’s more than possible to travel at motorway speeds in comfort while continuing a conversation. Rear seat passengers will find they are more affected by the breeze slapping them around the head at higher speeds.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 5 stars

Volkswagen may not have completely eliminated body shake from the Golf Cabriolet, but there’s no doubting the integrity of this car’s construction. It has all the high values of the Golf hatch and the fit and finish of the fabric hood is excellent. Also, the way the hood is incorporated into the rear deck is flawless, while the roof’s action is swift and smooth. As for the rest of the car, it’s all up to the same standards as the rest of the Golf range, putting the Cabriolet at the head of its field in this respect. As for reliability, all of the engines, transmissions and mechanical parts have been proven in the rest of the Golf line-up. The Cabriolet’s hood is thick and well insulated and we see no reason why it won’t last a very long time before a replacement is needed.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 4 stars

A single star is lost for the Golf Cabriolet only because it is impossible for this type of car to come with side curtain airbags due the design of soft-tops. However, the Golf Cabriolet goes to the top of its class for having twin front and side airbags, as well as a driver’s knee airbag. On top of this, there’s ABS anti-lock brakes, ESP traction and stability control and a rollover protection system should the worst happen. The rollover system works in 0.25 seconds if the car senses it is tipping too far. If it does, roll hoops spring up from behind the rear seat’s headrests and stay fixed in the raised position. This system means there’s no need for an ungainly hoop in the middle of the Golf Cabriolet as there was in its predecessors.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 3 stars

Anyone buying a convertible is probably not putting practicality at the very top of their list of desires. With the Golf Cabriolet, customers will have to sacrifice some of the hatch model’s ease of use. The Cabriolet’s boot is smaller and offers 250-litres of space with the roof up or down. It’s accessed through a narrow boot aperture, so slotting in larger suitcases will be a challenge. However, the front cabin of the Cabriolet is every bit as comfortable and spacious as the hatch’s, and the driving position is just as easy to tailor to all sorts of driver. Rear seat space is at more of a premium due to the hood’s well taking up some space, but kids will fit happily into the rear seats. The simple fabric roof of the Golf Cabriolet works in just 9.5 seconds from fully up to completely down, or vice versa, and for the first time on a Volkswagen it can be operated on the move. At speeds of up to 18mph, the Cabrio’s roof can be worked, so no need to pull over when the sun comes out or the rain taps are turned on.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

There’s no doubt the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet is a desirable car and one that will hold its value well, as history has shown with its predecessors. Its mix of reasonable practicality, decent drive and the appeal of the VW badge ensure it will depreciate slowly. Helping with this for the latest Golf Cabriolet is a range of frugal engines that offer average economy of up to 64.1mpg with the 1.6 TDI Bluemotion turbodiesel, and even the 2.0-litre petrol turbo manages 37.6mpg. The most powerful petrol engine emits 175g/km of carbon dioxide, so limits its appeal to private and business users, but the rest of the engine are all comfortably under the 160g/km mark. The 1.6 TDI Bluemotion diesel comes in at 117g/km to make it an ideal choice for company drivers looking for some fresh air fun. Three trims levels are available in VW’s usual S, SE and GT specs. All have alloy wheels, air conditioning, digital radio and CD stereo, Bluetooth connection and the electric hood operation.

Submitted: 24/05/2011 09:45:37

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