The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf has just arrived in South Africa with the aim of shifting the benchmark in its class a notch further.
Its design might have taken a far-from-revolutionary path, but it is packed with technology and it's made an admirable engineering stride with overall weight having been cut by up to 100kg, depending on the model.
We'll bring you the full story, along with driving impressions, on Monday but until then we’ll leave you to stew on the prices and basic specs.
PRICES:
1.2 TSI Trendline (77 kW) - R233 800
1.4 TSI Trendline (90 kW) - R246 700
1.4 TSI Comfortline (90 kW) - R264 900
1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG (90 kW) - R279 400
2.0 TDI Comfortline (81kW) - R282 300
1.4 TSI Highline (103 kW) - R293 600
2.0 TDI Highline DSG (110 kW) - R334 800
FUEL-SAVING ENGINES
The weight savings, along with new 'Bluemotion' engine technology, make the new Golf up to 23 percent more efficient.
We also see a completely turbocharged range for the first time, with the previous 1.6-litre normally aspirated petrol engine being replaced by VW's 1.2-litre TSI turbopetrol, which is worth 77kW and 175Nm.
The 1.4 TSI with 90kW and 200Nm soldiers on as the middle-mannetjie of the range, and a 103kW/250Nm twin-charged version of this engine replaces the previous 118kW TSI.
As for the oil-burners, an 81kW/250Nm 2.0 TDI replaces the previous 1.6 TDI and a new 110kW/320Nm 2.0 TDI tops the diesel range. All petrol and diesel engines, barring the 81kW TDI, have a fuel-saving idle-stop system and battery regeneration mode.
THREE LEVELS
It all starts with the Trendline, which has a higher level of equipment than before. Standard fare includes aircon, five-inch TFT touchscreen interface, audio system, electronic parking brake with hill-holder, tyre pressure monitor, front electric windows, electric mirrors, multifunction leather steering wheel, seven airbags and 15-inch alloy wheels.
Comfortline adds nice-to-haves like cruise control, under-seat trays, automatic headlight activation and 16-inch alloy wheels. Highline throws in ambient lighting, sport seats (heated up front), 5.8-inch touchscreen, 8-speaker audio system, cornering lights, heated windscreen and 17-inch alloys.
As you'd expect, there's a whole glut of optional features, including park assist with rear camera, panoramic sunroof, Xenon headlights, navigation and Vienna leather seats.
Some of its innovative features are fitted as standard, such as VW's multi-collision brake system and the XDS electronic differential lock.