The Beach Buggy Has Been Born - Volkswagen Beetle Dune

When an auto maker adds a sporty twist to a car, you can usually expect a ride height decrease of around 10-15 mm, however the Beetle Dune actually goes up by 10 mm. That's because it has been made to look like a crossover version of the Beetle.

The order books opened on the 5th of April and deliveries will start arriving in June, perfect timing for the summer season.

The Sandstorm Yellow and Dark Bronze metallic paints complement the character of the Beetle Dune really well, however you can also specify it in Deep Black pearlescent or standard black or white non-metallics.

Around the front, a silver-framed air inlet and black honeycomb grille make the Beetle Dune stand out from its siblings, and a large spoiler and LED tail lights further accentuate its playful look around the back.

Inside, a contrasting 'Turmeric' stitching on the sports seats, leather-covered steering wheel and handbrake lever go well with the Sandstorm Yellow paint.

Based on the Beetle Design, the Dune comes as standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, DAB, CD and USB inputs. It also features automatic lights and wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and front and rear parking sensors.

Unfortunately, the whole range of engines isn't carried over to the Beetle Dune. It only gets the 104 bhp 1.2-litre TSI petrol or 148 bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel. The petrol can achieve up to 50 mpg, while the diesel boasts a figure of more than 60 mpg. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard on both, however a DSG automatic can be specified, with 6 gears for the diesel or 7 for the petrol. Both engines feature BlueMotion Technology, which boasts stop/start among other fuel-saving ideas.

Pricing for the Beetle Dune is as follows - figures in brackets are for the DSG models.

• Coupé 1.2 TSI - £21,300 (£22,760)
• Coupé 2.0 TDI - £23,805 (£25,410)
• Cabriolet 1.2 TSI - £24,255 (£25,700)
• Cabriolet 2.0 TDI - £26,875 (£28,235)

That makes the Beetle Dune £2,395 more expensive than the Beetle Design every time.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 Released to Mark Golf's 40th Birthday

The Volkswagen Golf is now 42 years old, and the Golf GTI isn't too far behind. This year it celebrates its 40th birthday, which is why Volkswagen have announced a special Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40.

It shares the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine as the regular Golf hot hatch, although power is upped to 261 bhp making it the most powerful Golf GTI to date. What's more, in 3rd gear or higher, 'overboost' increases power output to a total of 286 bhp. Maximum torque is 350 Nm.

The front-wheel-drive hot hatch can be had with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed DSG automatic, the latter coming as standard with launch control. The lightest GTI 40 weighs in at 1,375 kg.

It will be electronically limited to 155 mph, yet reach 62 mph in 6.3 seconds, whichever body guise or transmission you go for. That's a couple of tenths of a second quicker than the regular GTI. Both models achieve a claimed 40 mpg, with CO2 emissions of 158-162 g/km.

Just like the GTI, the GTI 40 is 15 mm lower than the standard Golf. Also following form, it includes a golf ball gear knob, Alcantara sports seats and black headlining.

A new bumper, sides sills and rear diffuser as well as a roof spoiler all intend to add more downforce for added traction. The 18-inch 'Quaranta' alloys are 3 kg lighter per wheel than conventional alloys and are wrapped in 225/40 tyres. Optionally available are 19-inch 'Brescia' and 'Pretoria' alloys, with 235/35 tyres.

A few paint colours are available, however you can also ask for your GTI 40 to have a black contrasting roof.

As you'd expect, the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 will be a collector's item, with only 1,000 units destined for the UK.

The standard Golf GTI is available for £27,435, however it's an additional £3,440 for the GTI 40, making it £30,875 for the 3-door 6-speed manual variant. Add £655 if you want a set of rear doors and other £1,415 for the 6-speed DSG transmission. So that's another £655 and £1,415 for the 5-door DSG model.

Volkswagen Reintroduces the Tiguan

The latest-generation Tiguan has been completely redesigned - it's not just a facelift with a general nip-and-tuck. It's also the first new SUV by VW to sit on the MQB platform which underpins most of the mid-sized cars in the VW Group including the popular Golf and new SEAT Ateca. Only the Golf and Polo outsell the Tiguan in the UK, so it's no surprise that VW want to give the Tiguan a winning formula.

It's almost as if someone has stepped on the old Tiguan. It's 33 mm shorter, yet 30 mm wider and 60 mm longer. It features a 77 mm longer wheelbase, too. The rear bench can slide up to 180 mm, which is 20 mm more than the previous generation's. The boot capacity has now been increased to 615 litres, which is a mammoth 145-litre inflation.

Eventually, the Tiguan will be available with 3 petrol and 4 diesel options, but for the time being we're only blessed enough to have one of each.

The 2.0 TDI diesel produces 148 bhp. With a 6-speed manual transmission, it can be specified as a front-wheel-drive SUV or with VW's 4MOTION part-time all-wheel-drive. The 7-speed DSG automatic is reserved for the 4MOTION model. It's sufficiently rapid, too, with a 0-62 mph time of 9.3 seconds. It will still achieve almost 60 mpg and emit 125 g/km of CO2.

There will also be a 2.0 TSI petrol from launch, boasting an impressive 178 bhp. This option restricts you to a 7-speed DSG transmission and 4MOTION all-wheel-drive. Its key figures are 7.7 seconds to 62 mph, almost 40 mpg and 170 g/km.

It's no wonder than VW has introduced these two first, as they're expected to make up for 75% of UK purchases, combining power and efficiency. Further entries into the engine lineup will be made in two stages, on the 5th of May and the 2nd of June.

The new Tiguan is also a very safe car. All models are equipped with Front Assist which features City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring, as well as Lane Assist and automatic post-collision braking. Other safety elements include an active bonnet which rises 50 mm within 22 milliseconds of an accident in order to reduce injury to those outside the vehicle, as well as 7 airbags.

Volkswagen plans to offer the Tiguan with 5 trim levels - S, SE, SE Nav, SEL and R-Line. Pricing for the launch models ranges from £25,530 to £35,095.

Volkswagen T-Cross Breeze Previews Polo-Based SUV

Volkswagen intends to introduce an SUV for each segment of the market. The strategy begins in May with the release of the new Tiguan, and will be followed by SUV equivalents of the Golf (based on the T-Roc concept) and the Polo (based on the T-Cross Breeze).

Volkswagen's most recent concept, the T-Cross Breeze, uses a very real engine. No fancy hybrid systems, or unachievable figures. Just a 108 bhp 1.0-litre TSI engine. Its 175 Nm is delivered through a 7-speed super sick dual-clutch DSG transmission. It gets to 62 mph in 10.3 seconds and continues on to 117 mph. Turbocharging, stop/start technology and a weight of 1,250 kg means is emits 115 g/km and returns 56.5 mpg.

At 4,133 mm long, it sits somewhere between the Polo and Golf. So does the 2,565 mm wheelbase.

LED headlights, daytime running lights and rings around the fog lights are complemented by 19-inch aluminium wheels, reminding us that this is a concept car. Its 300-litre boot is larger than the 251-litre boot found in the Range Rover Evoque Convertible.

Volkswagen's vision is a button-free future. The T-Cross Breeze demonstrates where future production cars are aiming in the medium term with touch-sensitive surfaces and very few buttons.

Proximity sensors control the likes of air conditioning and heated seats. One of the only physical controls is located on the centre console. In fact, there are three. The glass scroll wheels control the transmission, electronic parking brake and adaptive chassis control. The engine, damping and steering characteristics can all be altered in correspondence to the terrain.

Two separate displays share functionalities and are laid out similarly to those found in the latest generation Mercedes E-Class. The driver can rearrange the tile-shaped apps on the central, which include interesting statistics like altitude and weather, as well as displaying the last 3 text messages received by the driver and his or her music.

CarPlay and Android Auto ensure top quality smartphone connectivity, whilst BeatsAudio™ provides high-end sound output. The 300 W 8-channel setup includes a subwoofer integrated into the centre console between the two front occupants.

Volkswagen Phideon Destined for China with Thirsty Petrol Engines

The Phaeton of old was forced to leave the USA and the UK due to very poor sales figures. Despite this, the Chinese premium segment continues to grow and the Phaeton sells enough units to survive. Its successor, the Phideon, is a result of the SAIC Volkswagen joint venture.

Developed in Germany on an all-new MLB platform, it will use a range of 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engines. The top-of-the-range 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged petrol unit outputs 296 bhp and 440 Nm, getting its power down to the road through 4MOTION all-wheel-drive. There are even plans to have a plug-in hybrid model although details are scarce.

Its 5.05-metre length puts it on par with the BMW 7 Series and the Porsche Panamera. With a width of 1.87 metres and a 1.48-metre height, a long bonnet and short overhangs, the Phideon undoubtedly carries a prestigious look. These are accentuated by the bolder grille and striking LED headlights.

Inside, electrically adjustable heated and ventilated seats with massage function are not solely reserved for front seat passengers. Rear occupants are treated too. Soft close doors are a mere reminder of its lavishness.

The comfortable ride is thanks to air suspension similar to that of a Bentley. A head-up display and Area View (a combination of four wide-angle cameras) make driving the barge somewhat easier. Other technologies include active cruise control, a camera-based lane departure warning system and automatic headlights. The Phideon is even equipped with a night vision camera that sees through fog as well as darkness, and is able to alert the driver of anything that may be in his or her path. CarPlay and MirrorLink come part of the package offering foolproof smartphone connectivity.

The brand-new Volkswagen Phideon will go on sale in China in the third quarter of 2016 with pricing yet to be confirmed.

Volkswagen's Touran is the Next Model to Get the R-Line Treatment

The German family car is the ninth model in the lineup to get the R-Line treatment, meaning that just about half of the range can now be equipped with the sporty trim.

This top-of-the range 7-seater is available with the high powered 148 bhp 1.4-litre petrol TSI, or two 2.0-litre TDI diesels rated at 148 and 187 bhp. The 148 bhp diesel should get up to 64.2 mpg mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, emitting 116 g/km of CO2. Even the petrol manages a claimed 51.4 mpg and 127 g/km (DSG automatic).

The Touran is easily identified as part of the R-Line range thanks to uprated bumpers and side skirts, a specific grille, 18-inch alloy wheels and of course R-Line badging. Inside, sporty grey inserts, black roof lining and further R-Line badging continue with the theme.

Before options, the Touran R-Line is available from a little under £28,000 and can go above £31,500. The entry-level Touran is to be had from a touch above £22,000. This places it in the same price bracket as the recently refreshed Ford S-Max Titanium Sport and the competitive BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer M Sport.

Volkswagen Golf SV

The Golf SV (known as the Golf Sportsvan across the channel) is a successor to the dismal Golf Plus which was introduced back in 2005. Having been through two generations, Volkswagen decided it was time to do something about it. The SV is based on the latest Golf Mk7, which means it sits on the MQB platform. A scalable weight-reducing construction-facilitating setup that means many of the Volkswagen Group's cars are more closely related than we realise, including the brand-new Audi TT and even the latest-generation Volkswagen Tiguan SUV.

The SV is the length of an iPhone 6s Plus longer than the old Golf Plus, and its wheelbase is almost 5cm longer than that of the Golf Mk7. Add to this the fact that it's over 8cm wider and nearly 13cm taller and it becomes obvious that the key feature here is usability.

The Golf SV boasts a 500-litre boot, although this can be extended to 590 litres when you move the rear bench forward by 180mm. Fold down the 60:40 split folding rear seats and you have a loading space that exceeds 1,500 litres.

It's certainly adequately-sized for a family of five, but what about safety? An automatic post-collision braking system is standard across the range and helps prevent the vehicle from being involved in a second collision. Mid-spec SE models and above have seatbelt pre-tensioners, Adaptive Cruise Control, Dynamic Light Assist and a camera-assisted Lane Assist system. It has 7 airbags and 2 ISOFIX fittings in the rear. Bear in mind that the Renault Scénic has 3 ISOFIX fittings as standard, as well as keyless entry and automatic lights and wipers.

Volkswagen does have one trick up its sleeve though, in the form of the BlueMotion trim. Based on entry-level S, its 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine produces an average 108 bhp and 250 Nm, yet VW claims it can average up to 74.3 mpg, emitting 98 g/km of CO2.. What isn't offered is a hybrid, like the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 225xe which can get up to 141.2 mpg from a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol-electric setup. All models from that range come with alloy wheels, front fog lights and rear parking sensors. Another car worth mentioning is the Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive, which has a claimed 124-mile range. All B-Classes have a reversing camera as standard. Both of these cars also have four-wheel-drive guises (BMW xDrive and Mercedes 4MATIC) whereas Volkswagen lacks this.

We've talked about what other cars' features are, but what about the VW Golf SV? Well if it's alloy wheels you're looking for, you're going to have to bypass entry-level S and opt for SE. Same goes if you want automatic lights and wipers and a 3.5-inch multifunction computer for the driver, although all models come as standard with air conditioning and a 6.5-inch touchscreen, dubbed the Composition Media system. All but one, the GT. That one has a 6.5-inch Discover Navigation system with 2D and 3D mapping. It's top-of-the-range GT that you have to go for if you want front and rear parking sensors and front fog lights, things that creep up on many entry-level rivals.

Moving on to engines, there are 4 petrol and 3 diesel options, ranging from 1.2-litre to 2.0-litre outputs. Statistics for the lowest of all, the 1.2 TSI petrol, are 84 bhp and 160 Nm. That's with a 5-speed manual and a 0-62 mph time of 13.2s. The high-performance 1.4 TSI petrol is rather impressive though - 148 bhp and 250 Nm, 50 mpg and 8.8s to 62 mph.

Diesel power is Britain's main seller though, and there's a 1.6 TDI or 2.0 TDI on offer, with outputs of 108 bhp and 250 Nm, or 148 bhp and 340 Nm respectively. The 1.6 TDI, whether you buy it as a BlueMotion unit or not, is capable of more than 70 mpg, either being free to tax or falling into the first bracket of £20 a year. If you don't opt for the BlueMotion engines, you're lucky enough that every variant employs BlueMotion Technology, which features stop/start, brake energy recuperation, turbocharging and low rolling resistance tyres.

So to sum up the Golf SV, it's a practical, safe 5-seat family MPV with an enticing range of engines. But it doesn't quite live up to the fight with other German premium brands such as BMW or Mercedes. It struggles, in fact, to compete with some lower-end competition like that of Renault, despite having a starting price of £19,205 (January 2016). I therefore strongly advise you to shop around and do your homework before committing to a Golf SV, unless you're a particular Volkswagen aficionado, in which case, try to seek out a good deal at the end of a quarter, or even better, around Christmas and New Year.

That's not to say that I dislike VW's Golf SV, of course. We all know Volkswagen as an affordable premium brand whose qualities exceed many of its rivals, and whose driving experiences are often very engaging. It's just a shame that there's no real performance engine available for those who want to have a bit of fun whilst the kids are at football, like the BMW 225i xDrive.

Nevertheless, here's the way I would spec a Golf SV with a reasonable budget:

VW Golf SV Configuration

Updates to Volkswagen's 2016 Range

There are 3 cars that are receiving an injection of value in VW's range this year.

Look up!

Firstly, the entry point to the German brand, the up!, is getting a brand-new trim. It's based on the second trim, Move up!, which already consists of air conditioning and electric front windows. You're stuck with the 59 bhp 1.0-litre engine, a 5-speed manual transmission and 3 doors. That means a 0-62 mph time of 14.4s. But with what Volkswagen claims as over £1,000 of added extras for the cost of £70, you can't go wrong! Its 15-inch Fortaleza alloys and black mirror housing are particularly appealing on a city car such as the up!, and it's available from £9,995.

CC Black Editions

New features include an electric tilting sunroof and a black front grille. The first of the two, the CC GT Black Edition, gets 18-inch Lakeville alloys, whereas the second, the CC R-Line Black Edition, gets 18-inch Talladega alloy wheels. Personally, I prefer the Lakevilles.

Inside, you get Carbon Nappa leather upholstery and carbon fibre-style and piano black inserts. All of this is additional to the GT's standard spec of bi-xenon headlights, heated front seats and front and rear parking sensors. The cost? £29,150 for the GT Black Edition and £29,800 for the R-Line Black Edition. They're both a £575 increase on the models on which they're based.

Scirocco GTS

Lastly, and probably most importantly, is the addition of the GTS to the Scirocco range. It sits just below the Scirocco R, the holy grail. It has a 2.0 TSI petrol engine that kicks out 217 bhp and 350 Nm which forms the base of its 152 mph (DSG) / 153 mph (manual) top speed. Both can get to 62 mph in 6.5 s, that's a second slower than the R, and the same as the Golf GTI!

It builds on the R-Line's exterior styling with GTS badging and colour-coordinated decal go-faster stripes. It's £28,195 for the manual, with the DSG coming in at an extra £1,500.

Volkswagen Jetta

Now in its 6th generation, the Jetta is still going strong thanks to minor updates here and there. Despite North America being one of the Jetta's most important markets year after year, Volkswagen continues to offer the Jetta in Europe with minor alterations to suit our roads.

The angular front bumper and prominent 'tornado' line along the sides of the Jetta keep it looking very 21st century without being too exaggerated, bold and in-your-face. The indicators integrated into the door mirrors, silver-framed driver instruments and high-quality materials all try to persuade us that it's unnecessary to spend our money on the Passat when quality can be much more affordable.



Standard safety kit includes 6 airbags and an array or acronyms. All that's important is that the Jetta performed well in its Euro NCAP testings achieving the highest possible 5-star rating. The 3 year mechanical warranty is not alone in reassuring you that your money is well-spent. It's joined by a 12 year anti-perforation guarantee, a 3 year paint warranty and an extendable 1 year membership of Volkswagen Assistance.

When it comes to choosing engines, you're not spoilt for choice. There are two EU6-compliant engines, both with two different power outputs. The 1.4 TSI petrol engine can be had with 123 and 148 bhp outputs. Both come standard with a 6-speed manual 'box although you can have the higher output petrol with a 7-speed DSG automatic. Both cars get to 62 mph in less than 10 seconds and are said to achieve over 50 mpg. CO2 figures range from 117-125 g/km making them cost £30-£110 a year to tax.

You could, however, opt for diesel power. The 2.0 TDI is to be had with 108 and 148 bhp outputs. The lesser powered unit can be mated to a 5-speed manual 'box or a 7-speed DSG. With the manual it's capable of 70.6 mpg, emitting 105 g/km of CO2. The top-of-the-range diesel comes with 6 gears, whether it be manual or DSG automatic. It's just 0.3 of a second off the quickest 1.4 TSI to 62 mph, at 8.9 seconds. Efficiency figures vary a bit with this engine, but mated to the 6-speed manual the 148bhp 2.0 TDI should get 67.3 mpg and emit 109 g/km. All diesels cost £20-£30 a year to tax. The engine range doesn't quite compete with that of the Škoda Octavia which has emissions starting from 90 g/km for the 108 bhp 1.6 TDI.



Unlike some rivals, for example the Octavia and the Audi A3 Saloon, the Jetta cannot be specified with a high-power output to give it some oomph. The former has a vRS variant which can be had with 2.0-litre TDI and TSI engines with power ranging from 181 to 227 bhp. The latter can be bought with a crazy 296 bhp 2.0 TFSI (petrol) engine and quattro all-wheel-drive.

To go with the shortage of engines is the shortage of trim levels. With three trim levels to choose from, it can instantly be cut down to two. Although the S has air conditioning and a simple touchscreen radio system, it lacks alloy wheels which means it's a trim to disregard. SE adds 16-inch alloys, cruise control and a more sophisticated radio system with Bluetooth and DAB digital radio at a £1,330 premium. Make that a GT for another £1,570 to add luxuries such as 17-inch alloys, front fog lights and automatic wipers.



The Volkswagen is a strict saloon, unlike the Octavia and Peugeot 508 which are also available with a more practical estate guise. The Peugeot 508 can alternatively be specified as an RXH which adds four-wheel-drive and off-road rugged looks and functionality. The Peugeot uses conventional combustion engines as well as offering a HYbrid4 - the all-wheel-drive hybrid that emits 95 g/km and achieves 70.6 mpg on certain models.



If I were in the market for a car like the Jetta, after having considered carefully the other options, I would spec my car like this:

Volkswagen Jetta Configuration

What's the deal with VW? What do I do?

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (VAG) has already set aside €6.5 billion in order to deal with the major dieselgate uproar and its 11 million affected cars, but what does this mean for both VAG and us, the consumer?

The Bosch-developed defeat device was used in the EA 189 EU5-compliant diesel engines. This means the gadget activates under test conditions and temporarily cuts fuel emission figures so they do not reflect those of the real world - this explains how it has not been picked up in MOT tests.

Cars fitted with the software are perfectly safe to drive and do not cause any reason for concern, therefore they can continue to be driven. Despite this, it is thought that in the long run VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat could recall affected vehicles for an engine re-map or a software update.

Audi has a Germany-only website where owners can input their car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to check whether the engine implies the manipulative apparatus. It’ll be a worldwide feature in the coming weeks. Good news (well, let’s step back and look at the situation, it’s not great news!) if you own a Volkswagen, their VIN checker is up and running here.

It’s important to note that V6 and V8 TDI engines are not part of the scandal, and as a result VAG-owned Porsche has come out unscathed. The recent EU6-compliant engines are free from cheating devices too.

Over the pond, VW USA has removed most TDI (diesel) engines from its website hinting that the repair time could be a lot longer than anticipated.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), PSA (Peugeot and Citroën), BMW, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz and Smart), Ford, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Renault-Nissan have all stated that their engines comply with regulations, and FCA even proudly announced that it fully supports the EU’s efforts and works along side it so that its figures more accurately reflect real-world figures.

For VAG on the other hand, Australia could fine the German automobile empire millions of dollars after the chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) claimed that the device is prohibited and that environmental claims such as CO2 emissions affect consumers and on that account can mislead buyers.

Authorities in Switzerland have also placed a ban on select diesel cars from the VW group which utilise the 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0 TDI engines.

Credit Suisse estimates that it could cost the company up to €78 billion, although more conservative estimates place it at around €23 billion.

To further complicate matters, VAG recently announced that it’s unsure whether European-spec cars even used the defeat device in the first place!

Nevertheless, if you own any of the following cars, it’s worth doing some investigating.

Volkswagen

• Beetle
• CC
• Eos
• Golf
• Jetta
• Passat
• Scirocco
• Sharan
• Tiguan
• Touran

Audi

• A1
• A3
• A4
• A5
• A6
• Q3
• Q5
• TT

Škoda

• Octavia
• Superb
• Yeti

SEAT

• Alhambra
• Altea
• Exeo
• Leon

Volkswagen C Coupé GTE Concept

Revealed in Auto Shanghai 2015, the Chinese market-aimed C Coupé GTE is a four-door, four-seat luxury coupé-style saloon. As the name suggests, the GTE uses a plug-in hybrid system. This comprises of a 210 PS 4-cylinder TSI petrol engine and a 124 PS electric unit. Together they produce 245 PS and 500 Nm. Power is delivered through an 8-speed automatic transmission. The lithium-ion battery provides up to 31 miles of electric-only driving at speeds of up to 81 mph. With the whole hybrid system working in harmony, you should theoretically be able to travel up to 497 miles between charges and fills. It takes 8.6 seconds to reach 62 mph and continues to a top speed of 144 mph. It is said to use 2.3 l/100km (roughly 123 mpg), emitting just 55 g/km of CO2. Here's an interesting fact: it is more than 5 metres in length! 

Volkswagen Golf

What is it?

You've obviously been living under a rock for a few decades if you've never heard of it! Thirty-eight years after the original, the 7th generation Golf made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in September 2012. After having sold more than 30 units, I'm more than confident in saying that it's a hugely successful small family car available in 3- and 5-door guises. It's even available as a larger 5-seat MPV, cabriolet, estate and electric only version as well as some performance Golfs.

What specs are offered?

Originally offered with just S, SE and GT trims, today the offerings are S, Match, BlueMotion, GT and R-Line.

Go on then, what do I get?

Even entry-level S models get Bluetooth®, a front armrest, DAB, manual air conditioning, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, a cooled glovebox and VW's Composition Media System (CMS). Only the front windows are electric, and you're stuck with steel wheels which require 15-inch wheel trims. No alloys here.

Match brings you 16-inch alloys, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), front fog lights, front and rear parking sensors, a rear armrest and halogen headlights with LED daytime running lights. On top of that, you get electric rear windows and a roof spoiler.

Economy-orientated BlueMotion models have 15-inch alloys amongst other minor changes.

GT and R-Line trims have 17-inch alloys, and R-Line Golfs have R-Line bodystyling.

All Golfs have 60:40 split folding rear seats, front sports seats with height and lumbar adjustment, Discover Navigation System (DNS) and even an electric parking brake - something I'm very fond of.

Which trim's the best?

They're all very good, but if you can, avoid the Golf S.

What engines are there?

A lot! Which I suppose is to be expected from such a popular car.

Petrol engines are 1.2-litre and 1.4-liter TSI units with various outputs of between 85 and 150 PS. The quickest is the 1.4-litre TSI which produces 150 PS and gets to 62 mph in 8.2 seconds, and continues to 134 mph.

Diesel engines are the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre TDI ones, producing between 90 and 150 PS. The most efficient here is the 1.6-litre TDI achieving 74.3 mpg and emitting 98 and 99 g/km of CO2 for the 90 PS and 105 PS respectively.

You've also got the 88.3 mpg, 85 g/km, 110 PS 1.6-litre TDI BlueMotion.

Manual transmissions come in the forms of 5- and 6-speeds, whilst automatics are the 6- and 7-speed DSG.

For all the information on each engine, click here.

What options are there?

The Discover Pro infotainment system is a £1,765 option. It's a bit pricey, yes, but it's a pack which includes an 8-inch colour touchscreen, voice control, sat nav, CD, DVD and radio functionality. There are 2 SD card readers, 3D navigation and a 64 GB SSD hard drive.

Bi-xenon dipped and main beam headlights come at a cost of £805.

Keyless entry is only £360 and comes with a start/stop button as you'd expect.

Even cheaper is the £150 Park Assist which helps with both parallel and bay parking. For £15 more, the rear-view camera is a cool feature.

Tw-zone climate control is £210, but there's not much point in this car. It's not as if it's a big estate.

A panoramic sunroof is £920. Yes, it's expensive, but it's what you'll be expected to pay for most manufacturers these days.

What rivals are there?

The Golf's main rivals are the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and Seat Leon, although its German competitors offer the premium A-Class (Mercedes-Benz), A3 (Audi) and 1 Series (BMW).

There's a Focus ST, Astra GTC, Leon Cupra, A45 AMG, S3 and RS 3 and M135i. What does the Golf have to offer?

Quite a lot. As well as the standard Golf, the familiar GTI remains available. Newer offerings include the GTD and GTE. There's also a Golf R. These are all offered as 3- and 5-door models, with the exception of the 5-door GTE.

The petrol GTI uses a 2.0-litre TSI engine producing 220 PS. With the 6-speed manual, it can reach 153 mph yet still achieve 47.1 mpg and emit 139 g/km of CO2. With the 6-speed DSG, it's less efficient - 44.1 mpg and 148 g/km. It also has a top speed of 152 mph. Both get to 62 mph in 6.5 seconds.

The diesel GTD, with a 2.0-litre TDI engine, gets to 62 mph in 7.5 seconds. The 185 PS engine pushes it to 143 and 142 mph for the 6-speed manual and 6-speed DSG respectively. Both are claimed to get more than 60 mpg and emit 109-122 g/km.

Then there's the GTE. It's a plug-in (PHEV) which manages 166 mpg and emits 35 g/km. Despite its highly economical engine, it's only 0.1 of a second slower than the GTD. It has a combined output of 204 PS.

Another 2.0-litre TSI engine is used in the Golf R producing 300 PS. It uses 4MOTION four-wheel-drive. Surprise, surprise, it uses 6-speed manual and DSG transmissions with the DSG getting the best statistics (4.9 seconds vs. 5.1 seconds and 40.9 mpg vs. 39.8 mpg).

There's even an all-electric e-Golf. VW claims the 115 PS, 270 Nm  battery pack will let it travel for 118 miles, taking just over 10 seconds to get to 62 mph.

How much do they cost?

The GTD is the cheapest, but the GTI closely follows. Both have £26k price tags. The R has a £30k price tag, and the GTE comes in at £33k.

Which would you get?

Out of the performance ones? The sensible GTD.

What about the standard Golf?

Why don't I just show you how I'd spec it?

I chose a lower spec Match and then added what I wanted to the vehicle. It came in at just under £29k.

Have you got any pictures of the normal Golf, then? 

Volkswagen Sport Coupé Concept GTE

Here's Volkswagen's Sport Coupé Concept GTE, a PHEV that uses a TSI engine in conjunction with 2 electric motors.

Does this hint at what we can expect to see in a new CC?

Volkswagen Passat (Saloon and Estate)

Volkswagen is keen to promote the following:

• The new 8th generation Passat is up to 85kg lighter than its predecessor
• All the engines are new to the range, and are up to 20% more efficient
• A plug-in hybrid Passat will be offered
• As mentioned, this is the 8th generation Passat, in its 41st year since 1973
• Since then, Volkswagen has sold over 22 million Passats in all variants, 1.1 million of those were sold in 2013 alone!
• The Passat is the number one seller for Volkswagen
• Every aspect of the new generation is new

Volkswagen believe that it’s “created saloon and estate cars that bridge over to a higher class – a transition car between the mid- and premium classes”. Is that true? I believe they’re on to something, but we’ll visit that later in this article.

Engines

Eventually, it’ll be available with 10 engine variants, but not all will be available from launch. They will all come with stop-start systems and regenerative braking modes. I actually quite like this, as fuel economy is really big these days and little things that don’t interfere too much with our driving like these are useful to combat the pollution problems.

Volkswagen’s dual clutch (DSG) gearbox will be an option for all engines in its 6- or 7-speed forms depending on your engine choice, as will a 6-speed manual gearbox. For the R-Line 2.0 BiTDI SCR 240 PS engine, you’re stuck with the 7-speed DSG ‘box – no manual here.

The diesel engines (which will be seen on launch) will have power outputs of:

• 148 bhp 2.0 litre TDI
• 187 bhp 2.0 litre TDI
• 237 bhp 2.0 litre BiTDI with 4MOTION all-wheel drive

As regards the petrol engines, these won’t be out on launch, but they include:

• 123 bhp
• 148 bhp
• 178 bhp
• 217 bhp
• 276 bhp

The plug-in hybrid will be equipped with a 1.4 litre TSI (petrol) engine producing 154 bhp and an electric motor producing 107 bhp. For stupid reasons though, you can’t just add the two to get 261 bhp. The actual combined power output is 208 bhp – still very respectable! This hybrid will travel for up to 31 miles on electric power alone according to Volkswagen, though I imagine you’d have to be very easy on the throttle! No official statistics have been released although VW says it’s be similarly efficient to the plug-in hybrid Golf GTE which gets 188 mpg and emits just 35 g/km of CO2.

In June we can expect to see a BlueMotion 1.6 litre engine with 118 bhp, yet emits just 95g/km of CO2 and manages 78mpg if you haven’t got a lead foot.

Tech Specs

The saloon Passat is going to be 4767mm long, just 2mm shorter than the previous model. Despite this, the wheelbase extends by 79mm, making it 2791mm. To manage this, they’ve reduced the overhangs by 67mm at the front and 13mm at the rear. It’s 12mm wider (at 1456mm) and 14mm lower (1832mm) – that’s the height, not the suspension.

Pricing

Here’s some sort of an idea of pricing, keeping in mind that there’s a saloon and estate version of the Passat in 5 trim levels – S, SE, SE Business, GT and R-Line.

(The following prices are for the cheapest of the stated trim level.)

Saloon:

• £22,215 – S
• £23,310 – SE
• £24,010 – SE Business
• £25,305 – GT
• £27,425 – R-Line

Estate:

• £23,745 – S
• £24,840 – SE
• £25,540 – SE Business
• £26,835 – GT
• £28,955 – R-Line

Take whatever spec you like, and the difference between the cost of the saloon and the cost of the estate will always be £1,530. Nice to see continuity, after all, you couldn’t really justify different differences (are you keeping up?) if the standard kit is the same!

Again, continuity shows in the differences between trim levels. From S to SE, pay an additional £1,095. From SE to SE Business, that’ll be £700. SE Business to GT is £1,295 and finally GT to R-Line is £2,120. That’s in saloon or estate guise.

The cheapest option is the 1.6 TDI 120 PS 6-speed manual which costs £22,215 and £23,745 in the saloon and estate respectively. The most expensive is the 2.0 BiTDI SCR 240 PS 7-speed DSG which will come in at £35,505 and £37,035 respectively.

Late Arrival

Due in July is an Alltrack version – a rugged, more off-road take on the Passat estate.

Standard Kit

Standard kit on the S trim is:

• Composition Media + DAB (Gen 2) – If it makes you feel any better, I don’t know what that means either! But basically it’s a radio system with a fancy name
• Lumbar support
• Knee airbags
• Rear side airbags
• Post collision braking system
• Mis-fuelling prevention – sounds better than having a sticker next to your filler cap saying “DIESEL”
• Driver Alert System – this monitors the driver “closely” and notes any differences in driving, letting you know it’s time for a break
• 16″ alloy wheels
• MDI iPod connectivity
• Bluetooth
• Leather multi-function steering wheel

SE models include:

• Front assist – it monitors the traffic ahead and tells you that you need to slow down, and can even apply the brakes for you
• Adaptive cruise control
• Pre-Crash – quite clever actually, it closes the windows and panoramic sunroof (if fitted) and tensions the seat belts to prepare the car and its occupants for a collision
• Driver Profile Selection – change things like the car’s performance and quickly come back to that at the touch of a button if someone messes with your car
• Ergo Comfort seats
• 17″ alloy wheels
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Dusk and rain sensors

SE Business models add:

• Discover Navigation with Car Net “Guide and Inform” – a fancy name for a sat nav
• Front fog lights
• Tinted rear glass
• Electronically folding wing mirrors

Go for GT and get:

• 3Zone Climate Control
• Heated Alcantara® seats with leather bolsters
• 18″ alloy wheels
• Ambient lighting
• Colour multi-functional display

And the R-Line trim undoubtedly gets the:

• R-Line body kit
• R-Line seats with logos and contrast stitching
• Stainless steel pedals
• Trapezoid exhausts

Options List

Obviously there’s no point listing every option with its description and price, so I’ve just listed a couple of my favourites, or at least ones worth noting.

MirrorLink™ will allow you to mirror your smartphone, annoyingly it’s by a USB cable and not wirelessly, onto the touchscreen display fitted in the car. It allows you to use certain certified apps whilst driving, so I’d imagine these things would be telephone and contacts access and sat nav, probably not Facebook, Twitter, or texts. I highly doubt they’ll certify games too… Anyway, this is yours for £160. Oh, and I almost forgot to say, it’s only available on Android. So I’m guessing that’s ruling out most of us iPhone users then! Thanks for that VW!

Voice Activation for £20 more at £180 lets you use spoken commands for telephone access and navigation.

An electric boot lid is yours for £235. It may be a bit pricey, but I would certainly go for it. Why? Easier access, trouble-free boot loading? No, it just gives you bragging rights to be completely honest with you. You can get this on all of the trim levels bar S. And no, it’s not standard on even the higher-end models.

It’s already on GT and R-Line, and not available on S, so this is only useful if you’re considering purchasing an SE or SE Business trim, but the 3Zone Climate Control is pricey at £590, but if you plan on using your Passat for ferrying the kids around, it’ll certainly decrease the amount of moaning coming from the back seats.

Another thing that gives you a right to brag is the keyless entry system with start/stop button on the centre console for £395 (again, not available on S). But I wouldn’t settle for that! Oh no! Add the hands free boot opening feature on top of the keyless entry and start/stop button and pay £510, only £115 over the standard keyless entry option. But the £510 option isn’t available on the R-Line, or the S for that matter).

What’s that? You want a panoramic sunroof with an electric glass sliding and tilting feature with the integrated roller blind? It’s available on all models – yes, even the S! Go on, treat yourself at £80 short of a grand. Yep, that definitely means £920 to most people.

Ninety pounds will get you a 230V plug socket in the centre console up front. Numerous times have I been in the car wanting to use my laptop (I was in the back seats, don’t worry), but with a 4-hour battery life at the best of times, it hasn’t lasted those long journeys in the holiday season. I would’ve loved one of these to keep my laptop on charge! Well, I still would.

Area View uses front, rear and side cameras to give you a 360° view to help you park. It depends how long you’ve been driving to warrant spending £755 on these. If you’re experienced, don’t bother. Go for the panoramic sunroof. Guess what, it’s not available on the S trim.

Or, for a lot less, and to me, something worth a lot more, the Park Assist. Somehow it’s only £200, and this does the steering for you in parallel and bay parking situations, and if the car parks itself, then you don’t need the Area View to help you park, do you? Oh, sorry, not available on S.

My final favourite is Trailer Assist. Use a little joystick when a trailer is attached to the tow bar to say in which direction you’d like the trailer to go, and it’ll do the awkward, horrible steering for you. A great piece of kit for beginners and experienced trailer-towers, if there is such a thing. Surely there is? Again, not an option on the S, it’ll cost you £465.

So we’ve basically learned that there’s quite a lot of cool boxes to tick on the new Passat’s option list, and to stay clear of the S trim level!

Comparisons

As mentioned earlier, and it’s something that I did promise that I’d return to, VW’s modest claim to stepping up from the 3 Series territory to the 5 Series territory. Or as they put it, a “bridge over to a higher class”. Yeah, whatever Volkswagen!

So if they’re leaving the compact executive market and trying to be part of the real executive car market, let’s make some comparisons.

• Volvo S60, Volvo S80
• Lexus IS, Lexus GS
• Audi A4 Saloon, Audi A6 Saloon
• Audi A4 Avant, Audi A6 Avant
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate
• BMW 3 Series Saloon, BMW 5 Series Saloon
• BMW 3 Series Touring, BMW 5 Series Touring

Price wise, well, take a look for yourself. The prices quoted are the cheapest that I found in my personal research on the 03/03/2015:

• Volvo S60 Saloon – £20,675 (T3 Business Edition)
• Volkswagen Passat Saloon – £22,215 (1.6 TDI 120 PS)
• BMW 3 Series Saloon – £23,180 (316i ES)
• Volkswagen Passat Estate – £23,745 (1.6 TDI 120 PS)
• Audi A4 Saloon – £25,685 (1.8 TFSI SE Technik)
• Lexus IS Saloon – £26,495 (IS250 SE)
• BMW 3 Series Touring – £26,510 (316d ES)
• Audi A4 Avant – £26,985 (1.8 TFSI SE Technik)
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon – £27,270 (C200 SE)
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate – £28,470 (C200 SE)
• BMW 5 Series Saloon – £30,430 (520d SE)
• Volvo S80 Saloon – £30,720 (D2 Powershift SE Nav)
• Lexus GS Saloon – £31,495 (GS300h SE with fabric upholstery)
• Audi A6 Saloon – £31,955 (2.0 TDI Ultra)
• BMW 5 Series Estate – £32,955 (520d SE)
• Audi A6 Avant – £33,310 (2.0 TDI Ultra)
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon – £34,270 (E220 BlueTEC SE)
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate – £36,060 (E220 BlueTEC SE)

So if you go by price alone, both Passats suggest that they belong to the compact executive car market. What about engine choices – can you get hybrid power in other brands in the same market, or is that a USP for VW?

• As regards BMW, the 3 Series saloon has the ActiveHybrid3 option, but none for the estate, same for the 5 Series but in the form of the ActiveHybrid5
• C-Class has hybrid engines available for its saloon and estate models – the C300 BlueTEC Hybrid, the E-Class also has E300 BlueTEC Hybrid options for the saloon and estate
• Lexus gives us the IS300h, and two options for the GS – the GS300h and GS450h, there are no solely petrol- or diesel-powered engines in the GS range!
• Volvo doesn’t use hybrid technology in the S60 or S80
• Neither does Audi at the moment, but it is releasing the A3 e-tron shortly so will hopefully have it onboard soon

So VW, although it’s late, has taken the right step to remain competitive in the market.

How does the Passat fare in terms of practicality, like the boot’s size? Let’s take a look. Volume is measured in litres. Cars are placed in descending order of boot space with rear seats in situ.

Saloons:

• VW Passat: 586
• Lexus GS: 451-465
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class: 540
• Audi A6: 530
• BMW 5 Series: 520
• Volvo S80: 422

Estates:

• Mercedes-Benz E-Class: 695
• VW Passat: 650
• Audi A6: 565
• BMW 5 Series: 560

What we can take from that is that the Passat has one of the biggest boots in class, whichever class it’s in!

So I suppose, there’s not much more to compare really, apart from standard kit, which is pretty much the same across the class. Some cars have stuff that others don’t, and vice versa.

Maybe it’s just down to one’s opinion. So after demolishing facts provided by the car manufacturers, the only thing left to do is talk a bit about what I think about the new 8th generation Volkswagen Passat.

My Opinion

I do agree with VW in saying that it has created a bridge between the classes. At first, I thought it was a load of rubbish. An attempt to make it seem better than it actually it. A way to entice buyers with its unique selling point.

But it’s all true. It’s the size of an executive car, with the practicality to go with it and space in abundance. But it keeps a low, encouraging price and the comforts of a compact exec without making you feel like you’re floating around in a sea of technology within your own car.

Some of the options are a bit pricey, but then for the price of the car and the fact that you’re getting what you’d get on a full-sized executive car, I can accept VW.

Here’s a couple of things that I like about the new Passat:

• The trim levels, even S, give you loads of standard kit. The mid-spec Passat 2.0 TDI ‘Comfortline’ was tested in the Euro NCAP safety tests (this is a trim level that has been renamed for other European countries, but is about an SE-GT level) and got a full 5-star rating. And if that’s not enough, it comes with so many driver assists to prevent accidents, take control in the event of an accident, and generally make manoeuvring easier. It’s a winner for me.
• As regards design, I adore the new LED headlights available on higher-end models but I really love the lines and creases along the body. From the front it looks wider than it is in reality which gives it more road presence and helps fulfil VW’s claim of stepping up a class, partly helped by the grille flowing into the headlights.
• The Audi TT-esque instrument cluster is another great feature. The way that the centre part changes depending on what you’d like (trip information, sat nav) is ingenious. I think it’s going to become a popular feature in cars in the near feature and VW has joined the game early.

What I don’t like. There’s not much to be perfectly honest.

• Passengers sit lower to the ground than in the 7th generation, this would probably lead to unhappy back seat passengers complaining about lack of forward visibility, but the space in the back more than makes up for that.
• My major concern is despite having a great price, other German rivals are also very popular, which makes you wonder why the Passat isn’t as popular as the likes of the 3 Series, A4 and C-Class.

My Car

If I were to specify the new 8th gen Passat on a sensible budget without going madly overboard, this is how it’d be, complete with prices:

• Passat SE Business – £24,010
• BlueMotion Technology 1.6 TDI 120PS 7 Speed DSG Diesel – £25,610
• 18″ Marseille alloy wheels – £26,275
• Indium Grey Metallic paint – £26,815
• Leather ‘Vienna’ St Tropez upholstery – £28,430
• 230V Socket – £28,520
• Air Conditioning – 3-Zone Automatic Climate Control – £29,110
• Dynamic Light Assist (which causes a needed upgrade to the LED headlights) – £30,650
• Electric Boot Lid – £30,885
• Exterior Badge Deletion – £30,885
• Heated Front & Rear Seats – £31,320
• Keyless Entry – £31,715
• Multifunction Multi-Colour Display – £31,850
• Panoramic Sunroof – £32,770
• Park Assist Including Sensors – £32,970
• Rear View Camera – £33,280

From a base price of £22,215 to a fully-kitted car costing £33,280 isn’t too bad considering I did get a little too excited upon seeing the options list!