Volkswagen Golf 103TSI Highline 2014 Long-term review - 2

So it’s farewell to the motoring.com.au Volkswagen Golf 7, which has proved itself a car of many virtues and few flaws.

Read back through the various updates from those who spent time with it and it’s obvious the overwhelming sentiment is positive.

My first experience was a 1783km return trip from Melbourne to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and it passed that test with flying colours.

This time though, the motoring.com.au Golf Highline 103TSI was very much the homebody. So that meant lots of short trips down the street, loading the kids up for the school run, heading to the airport for business trips and so on.

It was a couple of weeks more typical of what a Golf can expect after it is driven from the showroom into the real world by proud new owners.

There were many positives, not least the 6.7L/100km fuel consumption average the combination of 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine and seven-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) delivered. That’s truly impressive stuff.

The 7’s near-90mm wheelbase extension compared to its predecessor also meant the release of more interior space. Carrying two adults up-front and two teenagers (not basketballers admittedly) in the back was no challenge at all.

Added boot space – albeit at 380 litres still not class leading – meant more easily fitting a week’s worth of groceries.

Inside, this car exudes quality. There is no doubt the materials used and the way they feel to the touch gives the Golf 7 an upmarket aura its rivals struggle to match.

While it’s a pretty conservative presentation, perhaps incongruously there is an electric park brake but an orthodox ignition key start, that’s hardly a negative. Volkswagen has worked on the ergonomics of the controls, so things like the radio are easier to operate than in the Mark 6. Storage capacity is also generous and varied.

The driving experience of the 7 is also a step forward from the 6, which itself was a of high standard. There’s a more direct sense of connection which comes with a slightly edgier ride – at least on the 225/45 17-inch rubber our car was rolling on.

The Golf feels like it’s capable of dealing with most challenges and just to make sure I took it on my ride and handling test loop. It passed, comfortably, marred only the occasional shudder or thump on severe sharp edges.

Dirt roads showed up its stability and the fundamental grip of the MQB chassis, while the anti-lock braking tune was excellent on gravel – this is sometimes a problem for imports.

This hilly course also showed up the quality of the drivtrain’s performance. The engine delivers strong torque and smooth response. It is also quiet. Once underway the DSG changes sweetly in auto mode, or responds with alacrity when shifted via the lever (no paddles dangit).

Now though, comes the ‘but’.

There are two issues for me that persist with the Golf that a couple of weeks playing home duties showed up a lot more obviously than the Bathurst outing.

The less annoying was tyre noise. VW has made progress in this area but still, as per many European cars, the roar on coarse chip surfaces penetrating the cabin is obvious and unwelcomed.

The more annoying issue is the low-speed operation of the DSG. As noted already, once you are at speed it is classy and sorted. But the operation of the dual clutch transmission – anticipating throttle moments and pre-selecting gears – gets a bit ornery at throttle tip-in.

You can be at an intersection, press the throttle and a) accelerate smoothly b) accelerate smoothly and then hesitate c) sit there doing nothing for a while and then go d) light up the front tyres in a squealing getaway.

Only slight changes in throttle movement can procure these diverse responses. I am sure the more familiar you become with the DSG the better it gets and there is no doubt it is more refined than earlier iterations. But there is no doubt a torque converter auto does the launch-job better.

For me, the DSG is not a deal breaker. But it is definitely something Volkswagen needs to work on for Golf 8… I am looking forward to a drive already.

Volkswagen Golf Long-Term Update 1

Volkswagen Golf Long-Term Update 2

Volkswagen Golf Long-Term Update 3

Volkswagen Golf Long-Term Video