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Volkswagen Golf Plus Bluemotion road test report

Bluemotion

The Golf Plus hasn’t been a huge seller for Volkswagen since its introduction in 2005, mainly because the original Golf is such a competent car. But increasing pressure on manufacturers to lower emissions and up fuel economy has resulted in a car that’s not just practical, but extremely economical, and with the new road tax legislation coming into force in April, the lower the emissions the better.

Road Test Reports Says 4.5 star rating
A front-facing image of the Volkswagen Golf Plus Bluemotion

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JACK SAYS

Performance Performance - 4 stars

Performance and economy seldom go hand in hand, but VW’s 1.9-litre turbocharged DPF engine has bags of torque available from very low revs. All of the 184lb ft is available from just 1,900rpm, and while it might not be the fastest mode of family transport with its 0-62mpgh time of 12.1 seconds, there is plenty of useable grunt, which is, in many ways, more practical than highly strung engines than need to be revved to get the best out of them. The Plus will carry on going until 116mph, so it won’t break any records, but it does well for what it is. The improved aerodynamics reduce drag to a minimum, too.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 4 stars

It’s not the most engaging of drives and the extra height and weight over the standard Golf is obvious, but even so, the Plus doesn’t handle badly. It’s a well mannered, composed ride and the tweaked suspension – developed to manage the extra size – copes well with the additional bulk. The steering is responsive enough and reasonably well weighted, but it could offer more feedback. Take it away from smooth tarmac though, and the Plus is easily unsettled by undulations and rough roads; so it’s no B-road hunter. It is, however, less cumbersome and easier to drive than the larger Touran, so it performs well considering it’s a Golf with baggage.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 4 stars

Being of Volkswagen stock, the Golf Plus is well slapped together. The interior is typical VW – robust, with good quality materials but, inevitably, dull and resembling just about every other modern Volkswagen interior. But the German manufacturer has taken steps to differentiate the Plus from the standard Golf with an abundance of extra storage spaces and a well laid out dash. All the switchgear is familiar to anyone who has ever sat in a VW, but it’s efficient and easy to use. It might not be inspiring, but the Plus is certainly tough and more than up to the job of ferrying families around.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

The Golf Plus hasn’t been officially tested by Euro NCAP because it is so closely related to the Golf, which boats seriously impressive results with an occupant score of five stars, child score of four stars and pedestrian score of three stars. That should be peace of mind enough for most, but should you encounter hazards on the move then there’s always ABS, ESP, front, side and curtain airbags, active front head restraints and Isofix child seat mounting points as standard, to help out should you need them.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 4 stars

It might be loftier than the Golf but the Plus doesn’t benefit from as much extra space as you might think it would have. It’s significantly taller, with an extra 95mm over the standard car, so the view is better thanks to a higher seating position, but the 395 litre boot is only 45 litres larger than that of the hatchback. It does get pretty clever in the back though, as each side of the split-fold rear seats can slide forward 160mm, which ups the space in the boot to a gargantuan 505 litres of load space. The Plus may not be ridiculously large compared to the Golf, but the extra space is flexible enough to adapt to different needs.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 5 stars

With fuel commanding top dollar and the threat of tax hikes next year, the Golf Plus Bluemotion makes more sense than many rivals. It emits just 127g/km of CO2, which means you’ll currently pay £120 a year in road tax – but the really good news is that next year, when many motorists are paying far more to keep their car on the road, your annual bill will drop to £90, which is a huge incentive. Those after a company car also stand to benefit on an even larger scale. Add an average of 58.9mpg to the mix and few cars can match the Golf Plus Bluemotion for financial incentive. VW residuals are always strong, and a car that saves the owner as much money as this will cling to its value better than most. At £16,800, the Bluemotion costs more new than some of the rest of the range (the Plus starts at £13,325 for the 1.4 Luna) but keep it for any length of time and it will soon recoup its value.

Submitted: 12/11/2008 13:25:37

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