Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet 2011 Review - International

Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet

About our ratings

The last Golf Cabriolet to be sold in Australia, a Mark 3-derived variant, was marketed concurrently with the Golf Mark 4 hatch -- albeit fitted with the later generation's frontal styling and other visual details – before it too was replaced after a brief convertible hiatus by newcomer Eos in 2006.

A replacement Golf Cabriolet, however, was not too far away. Finally debuting at the 2011 Geneva International Motor Show, the new 'Cabbie' inherits much of the winning formula of its predecessors while maintaining the current hatch model's high quality fit-and-finish, up-to-the-minute technology and amiable body styling.

Indeed, with many design cues borrowed directly from its hatch siblings, Golf Cabriolet is distinguished simply by its cloth folding roof and squared-off boot, though trainspotters will recognise bespoke alloy wheels, seemingly obligatory Daytime Running Lights, a chrome-trimmed grille, and smoked L-shaped LED tail lamps familiar to those found on hi-po Golf R.

The Cabriolet also harbours a lower profile roof line and more severely raked windscreen to lend the model "a high degree of independence" says VW.

Volkswagen says the shape of Cabriolet's folding top is designed to closely mimic the look of the three-door hatch, though its all-new rear section, with "invisible C-pillar", brings a more compact look with "crisp lines" that are said to pay homage to bygone models.

Underneath, the new model essentially shares foundations with its hatch derivative, but employs additional bracing to support those areas usually reinforced by the roof and pillars. Engine options, suspension and ancillary mechanical items are again familiar to that of the hard top donor, but more on this later (see MECHANICAL).

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

Design & Style Package (cost: 910 Euros): sports seats, three-spoke steering wheel, stainless steel faced pedals, leather park brake grip, leather gearshift grip, chrome trim highlights, black decorative inserts, seat storage pockets and lumbar support.

Performance Package (cost: 3295 Euros): leather upholstery, seat heaters, lumbar support, rain sensor, electrochromatic rear-view mirror, stainless steel faced pedals, additional exterior chrome details, automatic bi-xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lamps, dynamic and static cornering lamps, front fog lamps and upgraded audio package.

Comfort Package (cost: 455 Euros): wind deflector, centre armrest, 12-volt accessory outlet, rear seat storage compartment, second 12-volt accessory outlet in boot and cruise control.

Technology Package (cost: 65 Euros): rain sensor, electrochromatic rear-view mirror, footwell lamps, highbeam assist, automatic running light switch, coming/leaving home lights, multi-function display upgrade (55 Euros more) and park pilot (540 Euros more).

Light & Sight Package (cost: 175 Euros): rain sensor, electrochromatic rear-view mirror, footwell lamps, automatic running light switch and coming/leaving home lights.

Mirror Package (price not specified): folding door mirrors, passenger mirror lowers when reverse selected and 'surroundings' illumination.

Winter Package (cost 415 Euros): heated windscreen washer nozzles, headlight cleaning system, heated front seats and warning lamp for low washer fluid reservoir.

All packages are extended by a choice of nine paint finishes, nine seat upholstery styles and up to 50 individual accessory options -- including five alloy wheel designs with diameters ranging from 16 to 18-inches. Many components are also available individually (and at cost).

At the time of the launch, one soft top colour (black) is offered, though this may be extended in the not too distant future to include brown, blue and red.

As standard, Golf Cabriolet arrives with power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, air conditioning, a single-CD tuner and the aforementioned automatic retractable soft top. Several model-dependent audio packages are also available, some including USB connectivity, auxiliary audio input (3.5mm socket), satellite navigation, remote steering controls, voice activation and Bluetooth telephony.

Australian specifications and pricing are still quite a way from being finalised, though Volkswagen says the current hatch line-up is probably a good guide as to what we can expect -- with at least one petrol and one diesel engine common to both hatch and convertible models to be offered. Both will arrive with the option of manual and automatic transmissions.

The new Golf Cabriolet will arrive Down Under to coincide with the start of summer. At launch, entry-level Golf Cabriolet's European pricing begins at 23,625 Euros (approx $32,000).

Further, Volkswagen's energy-saving BlueMotion technology is available on one petrol and both diesel mills, delivering fuel consumption averages as low as 4.4L/100km and CO2 emissions from 117g/km on the 1.6 TDI variant. BlueMotion equipped models include an idle stop/start system and brake energy recovery system.

At this point in time the engine line-up for the Australian market has not been confirmed, though it's fairly safe to assume those engines found in Golf hatch models already on sale will be likely inclusions in the future Cabriolet range.

Golf Cabriolet rides on MacPherson-type front suspension with optimised anti-roll bars and multi-link rear arrangement familiar to hatch models. There's been slight tweaking to compensate for the soft top's additional weight -- the added kilograms coming from structural modifications needed to reinforce Cabriolet's galvanised body and include additional underbody, side panel, sill, back panel and door braces. 

Braking duties are again performed by the same four-wheel disc setup found beneath hatch brethren while Cabbie is steered by an on-demand electromechanical system.

With the roof in place, Golf Cabriolet measures 4246mm in length, 1780mm across the bow and 1420mm tall.

PACKAGING
>> We are all in a Golf, but some of us are looking at the stars
Volkswagen tells us that, as near as possible, Golf Cabriolet's interior package is a 1:1 match with its hatch counterpart. Ergo, the dashboard, console, door skins and upholstery are not unfamiliar. What does catch the eye is a dedicated four-seat layout which offers 'easy entry' rear seat access and, Volkswagen claims, the most passenger space in its class -- with an effective rear legroom measurement of 833mm. 

Depending on the model grade, interior decor is highlighted with accents in matt chrome or black, the usual high quality material selection and precise fit-and-finish obvious throughout.

Golf Cabriolet's insulated fabric roof uses a similar electro-hydraulic mechanism to that operating the roof of New Beetle Cabriolet and is retracted or deployed at the push of a button (located on the centre console). Operation takes nine seconds to open and 11 to close and can be operated at speeds of up to 30km/h.

In addition to its acoustically insulated roof, new window and door seals help make Golf Cabriolet quieter than many of its competitors. Similarly, the roof is well protected against 'ballooning' at highway speeds bringing the added benefit of improved aerodynamics.

When the roof is stowed, its front section forms the top surface of the storage area, eliminating the need for a separate cover. The rear window is heated and of glass construction.

In spite of its folding retractable roof, cargo space is maintained at 250-litres in top-up or top-down mode, the frame-and-fabric design consuming substantially less space than comparable retracting metal examples. For the same reason, Golf Cabriolet can utilise its 50:50 split fold rear seats to carry larger loads even when driving topless.

SAFETY
>> Cabriolet-specific safety
As well as the usual crumple zones, three-point inertia reel seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters, plus a raft of electronic driver aids (including stability control, hill start assist and counter-steering support), Golf Cabriolet also includes a lightning-quick automatic rollover protection system.

The compact rollover protection system deploys behind the rear headrest within 0.25 seconds of the vehicle exceeding predefined limits to keep occupants safe should the car become inverted in the event of an accident. Further to this, Golf Cabriolet's windscreen frame is reinforced with ultra-high tensile steel.

'Cabriolet-specific' airbags in the doors offer thorax and head protection in the event of a side impact and are complemented by two-stage dual front airbags and a driver's knee bag.

A EuroNCAP star rating was not available at the time of publication.

Locally, Volkswagen's newest drop top will rival countrymen including: the Audi A3 from $49,990; BMW 1 Series from $53,200; and niche specialist MINI Cooper Cabrio from $40,350. In addition, French players Peugeot 308CC from $51,990 and Renault Megane CC from $45,990 make it the open-air segment a crowded space.

Pricing and equipment levels will determine how keen the interest in Golf Cabriolet becomes when the car arrives in local showrooms at the end of the year.

ON THE ROAD
>> Cool, calm, collected Cabbie
Unlike many of its direct competitors, Golf Cabriolet feels remarkably settled at highway speeds and is equally impressive through winding country back roads. There's no scuttle shake to speak of nor rack rattle.

Steering feel is well weighted and quite direct, the front end offering feel akin to that of many premium makes – a pleasant surprise considering Cabriolet uses an electomechanical arrangement. Elsewhere, the soft top model is 100 per cent Golf. The braking ability and pedal response reflect the hatchback model identically, as does every other facet of the car's amenity.

With the roof on Cabbie is indeed quiet, something many manufacturers claim but seldom deliver. Roof off and the front part of the cabin is relatively draft free at lower road speeds, though rear seat passengers will find the breeze at cruising speeds somewhat stiff.

Driving each of the available powerplants briefly, and spending more time with those we're likely to receive locally, it's fair to say the Cabriolet model feels no different to its hatchback counterparts, though low output models feel noticeably heavy when tackling precipitous terrain.

In diesel models, the idle stop-start system (where fitted) eliminates what little 'chatter' there is at idle and with ample torque on hand, combined with a slick-shifting DSG transmission, the oil burning models are capable cruisers delivering effortless performance, especially the 320Nm 2.0 TDI variant.

Perhaps the only other surprise package is the 155kW GTI-sourced petrol which is understandably brisk, but refined by the same token. Having recently driven the same powerplant in Eos, it's refreshing to note how the stiffer chassis of Golf Cabriolet manages to get power to the front wheels more smoothly here, no axle tramp and with little evidence of torque steer.

A well rounded and thoroughly considered package, Cabriolet is certain to only add to the already successful sales of the Golf range. European deliveries begin in June.

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