VW has made a supersized Golf, the Golf SV.
SV stands for Sports Van and in this case the name is a little misleading. Golf SV is definitely not a car you would want to chuck around a racetrack or even take for a Sunday morning blast in the hills. It is clearly a machine designed to offer flexible motoring. VW is quick to point out that its latest MPV is spacious enough to facilitate all the kit you might need for a sporty lifestyle. Golf SV clearly takes over from where the ‘Golf+’ left off, namely as a niche player in the family car market. To do better than the Golf+ is not a hard task as the ‘Plus’ was limited to the same chassis and wheelbase as the Golf (mk. 5). The SV has the adaptable VW ‘MQB’ platform underneath so VW has been able to lengthen SV’s wheelbase further than the current Golf to make the cabin much bigger and the overall car more substantial. Styling-wise, five-seat MPVs are always tricky to get right. They have to offer enough over the standard hatch to justify putting up with paying extra and they have to compromise on exterior design… but VW has pulled it off! Golf SV is not as interesting as the beautifully styled Citroen C4 Picasso, but it has an elegant appearance. The current Golf is a wonderful machine and while the SV shares the name and lots of components, SV is far more Touran or even Tiguan in its exterior design. SV is tall and wide, yet the proportions for an MPV, aren’t awkward.
Inside, the five-seat cabin is spacious, adaptable (sliding rear seats) and functional too. Up front the dash and instrumentation are all familiar and well placed. There is a full size spare wheel and a decent boot (500-590-litres depending on rear seat position and 1520-litres with the seats down). The adjustable seating position gives a commanding view of the road and this also helps greatly when parking. Ease of access is great in the SV, with much less of a drop down into the seats than in a standard Golf or other rival hatchbacks.
On the road, Golf SV delivers a comfortable and composed driving experience. Our test car was powered by the tried and tested 110hp, 1.6-litre, Tax band A3, TDi (diesel) that delivered excellent fuel consumption. A 90hp 1.6-litre TDi is available too. The front-wheel drive SV had a 5-speed manual gearbox that has quite long gearing – so it was easy to be economical on long runs despite not having a sixth gear.
Golf SV prices start at €23,350 (a little over €3K more than a Golf) for the 85hp 1.2-litre TSi petrol ‘Trendline’ model. The usual VW trim levels are available with the mid level Comfortline expected to be the most popular. Our top spec Highline 1.6 TDi (€30,510) with optional metallic paint brought the price up to €31,095. The most powerful engine in the range is the 150hp, 2-litre, TDI. For lovers of the DSG auto gearbox – it can be had with the 1.2-litre petrol TSI (with a higher 110hp output) or 2-litre TDI. A number of value for money ‘Packs’ are available for a premium e.g. Technology, Sports or Styling pack.
Golf SV is a vast improvement on Golf+ and well worth considering if you need ease of access and more space than a Golf offers.
Michael Sheridan
