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Volkswagen Golf. It's as simple as that in the final
judgment for Carsguide Car of the Year in 2009.
The Mercedes-Benz E Class is good, the Ford Fiesta is better, but the Golf is
best of all from more than 100 new cars that landed in Australia over the past
year.
After an intensive two-day test program, based in Brisbane and including
everything from freeways and country roads to a hit-out at the Lakeside
racetrack, the VW Golf emerged as the first choice with six of the nine COTY
judges. They assessed the German hatchback and its rivals for everything from
value and safety to fuel economy, ride, handling and quality.
The Golf's final margin, with cars scored 10-1 by each judge, was an 86-78 point
victory over the Fiesta, with the Mercedes-Benz third on 63. Despite its green
credentials, the hybrid Toyota Prius finished last with only 15 points.
The Fiesta might have been runner-up in the Carsguide COTY contest but it also
scooped a win for 2009 when it took the Green Car of the Year award. The Golf
tested for the COTY contest was the 1.4-litre twincharger model with a DSG
manu-matic gearbox. It is priced at $32,990 but the Golf range starts at
$25,990.
"Not too hot, not too cold and, crucially, not too expensive," says Kevin
Hepworth of the Daily Telegraph. But some cars were not rated so highly,
including the super-quick Nissan GT-R that was only placed eighth.
"Sure, it’s an engineering and technological tour-de-force, but it’s impossible
to live with. And you can’t get past the fact that the brute is just plain
ugly," says Karla Pincott of Carsguide.com.au.
The final field for Carsguide COTY 2009 was loaded with affordable, real-world
cars including the popular Mazda3, the mid-sized Subaru Liberty, the Hyundai
i30CW station wagon — sister to the i30 that won COTY in 2007 — and the compact
Holden Cruze that will go into local production in Adelaide next year.
What the judges said
Paul Gover, national motoring editor: The right car won. The V Dub Golf was
voted World Car of the Year when it landed in Europe and now it has claimed the
big prize in Australia. I was surprised by the poor showing of the Prius, but it
was shown up as a car — not a science experiment — in this field.
Kevin Hepworth: Daily Telegraph, Sydney: The E is all class. Outside the
price range of most people but what you get for your money is a taste of the
good life with automotive best practice. Fast, furious and a technological
battleship but … the GT-R would be the hardest of any of the finalists to live
with on a day-to-day basis, even if you managed to keep your license.
Neil Dowling, Sunday Times, Perth: In a world of rapid change, Volkswagen
stood back and reappraised its family hatchback. Changes to the Golf appear
small yet the car is far better built, technologically breathtaking and has
driving characteristics and safety beyond its pricetag. The Prius is a
highly-advanced car that showcases Toyota's ability to bridge technologies of
the past and future. Clever, but too far too fast.
Stuart Martin, Adelaide Advertiser: Volkswagon Golf feels solid and
completes its designated tasks with German efficiency and even a little bit of
flair. While it didn’t end up in the top spot on my votes, Godzilla proved to be
greater than the sum of its parts, both on the track (where it is king) and on
the road.
Keith Didham, Hobart Mercury: At the end of the day, it's the Mercedes
Benz E250 I would be happy owning. It won't appeal to all and it has its
shortcomings in what's offered as standard equipment, but it's so sweet to
drive, has the solid quality and safety you expect from this brand and is
superbly comfortable. As much as I love the raw grunt and seat of your pants
handling, the GT-R doesn't cut it for me. Great concept but poor execution."
Mark Hinchliffe, Courier Mail, Brisbane: The Fiesta is a surprise
package. Splendid handling, cutesy looks and an accommodating interior. I'd own
one. Who would have thought a Daewoo-sourced Holden would make it to our top 10?
A couple of suspension, steering and brake tweaks and the Cruze could be a more
serious contender.
Neil McDonald, Herald Sun, Melbourne: The GT-R has sensational power and
handling but this Japanese supercar is better on the track than the road. My
favourite is the Fiesta, which has inherently good dynamics, impressive
packaging and contemporary styling to give it a distinct edge over the
competition.
Karla Pincott, Carsguide.com.au: The VW Golf is pricier than other cars
its size, but for that money it offers a lot of more of everything, and it’s
simply more fun to be with. If you weigh up value for money and then add bang
for the buck, this is a clear stand-out. The E Class is a beautifully-built
package, well thought-out, safe, solid and smooth to drive. But you go cold once
you look at the price tag – and how the tag grows once you start adding options
that should be standard.
Bruce McMahon, Courier Mail, Brisbane: The little Fiesta is a charmer,
cheap and cheerful with a great chassis. Sure there are some edges a little
unrefined and maybe the style lines won’t last forever but the baby Ford is one
safe and sure package full of character. Toyota's Prius may be a step in the
right direction but there are many more steps to take. It is expensive, fuel
consumption can be matched by Euro-diesels and it is out of its depth on roads
beyond city streets and freeways.
The final count
1. Volkswagen Golf — 86 points
2. Ford Fiesta — 78 points
3. Mercedes-Benz E Class — 73 points
4. Subaru Liberty — 63 points
5. Mazda3 — 49 points
6. Volvo XC60 — 38 points
7. Hyundai i30 CW — 36 points
8. Nissan GT-R — 30 points
9. Holden Cruze — 27 points
10. Toyota Prius — 15 points
The Golf Range
Golf 90TSI Trendline
Discover a fresh interpretation of the instantly-recognisable classic Golf. With
sleek lines and high quality finishes the new Golf is engineered for your
driving pleasure. With a fuel efficient yet powerful 90TSI engine, getting
around town or on the open road has never been more enjoyable. Boasting a range
of standard features combined with the highest level of safety with a maximum 5
star ANCAP^ safety rating, the new Golf is a drive less ordinary.
New Golf 77TDI Trendline
Enjoy the superb German engineering of our most economical Golf model. Its 1.6
litre turbo diesel engine delivers impressive fuel economy at 4.9 L/100km* or
5.1L/100km* with a DSG transmission. Offering a comprehensive list of standard
features including a maximum 5 star ANCAP^ safety rating and optional features
such as electric glass sunroof; the new Golf 77TDI Trendline combines quality,
safety and value. Which no doubht helped to contribute to the new Golf being
honored as the 2009 World Car of the Year.
New Golf 118TSI Comfortline
Savour a more sophisticated new Golf. Stylish 16” Cleveland alloy wheels combine
with chrome inserts on the black radiator grille to give the Golf Comfortline a
clearly defined and sophisticated design, while a 118TSI twin-charged petrol
engine offers the performance yet remarkable efficiency to match. High quality
finishes and a maximum 5 star ANCAP^ safety rating ensure the new Golf
Comfortline is a drive less ordinary.
New Golf 103TDI Comfortline
Enjoy the performance yet efficiency of a diesel engine in the new Golf. Notice
the quiet and unmistakable thrust of this common rail turbo diesel engine, with
diesel particulate filter. Harness the impressive 103kW with 320Nm of torque
with your choice of either 6-speed manual, or 6-speed DSG transmission combined
with high quality finishes. To help keep you safe you will have peace of mind
knowing that the new Golf was awarded a maximum 5 star ANCAP^ safety rating.
Find out more about the new Golf 103TDI
Convenient Comfort
Discover the car that’s perfect for you. A superb range of optional extras means
you can tailor your new Golf to your own driving needs. Opt for enhanced
performance with adaptive chassis control. Slip into tighter city spaces using
Park Assist with Optical Parking System (OPS)** , or the Rear View Camera#.
Enjoy premium entertainment en route with the Media Device Interface (MDI) or
Dynaudio Excite 300W premium audio system.
New Golf GTI
Introducing the new Golf GTI. Sharper and more agile than ever before, the new
Golf GTI exceeds its iconic reputation. Lying patiently behind the black
honeycomb grille is a new 155kW turbocharged 2.0-litre TSI engine, ready to
excite. And with improved traction from the new Extended Electronic Differential
Lock (XDL), which reduces the tendency to understeer for sportier, more accurate
cornering, the new Golf GTI does not disappoint.
Recommended Price Guide*
Edition V $25,990*
90TSI Trendline VI MY10 $28,490*
77TDI Trendline VI MY10 $28,690*
Pacific V $30,490*
77TDI Trendline VI MY10 $31,190*
103TDI Comfortline VI $35,690*
GTi V $42,990*
R32 V $55,490*
* Guide for information purposes only. Always confirm the price with Golf
Dealers or go to website at www.volkswagen.com.au
Related Topics
vw parts, vw gti, diesel car, vw r32, new vw, watercooled,
service vw, car, parts, vw, vw gt, v dub, gti, engine, vw coolant, r32, tdi,
bora,
vw golfs, diesel, vwgolf, cabriolet, rabbit, vw act, gt, performance, vr,
phaeton, tsi twincharger, Jetta, Caddy
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