KEY POINTS:
I wasn't about to be fooled for a second into thinking about how a 1.4-litre engine can develop close to 100kW. Many months ago I had driven the Golf TSI GT that opened my eyes to what a 1400cc engine is capable of when there's a supercharger and a turbo charger bolted to it.
The entry level Golf TSI I drove this time only had a turbocharger fitted but still pumped out 90kW of power. More than enough to get you into trouble on New Zealand roads.
The 1.4-litre turbo-charged Golf TSI replaces the 2-litre normally aspirated model, but the smaller engine gives better fuel economy. The car is responsive and sure-footed and carries on the manufacturer's reputation for building good cars that handle well straight out of the box.
The car feels faster than it is - in part put down to the seven-speed DSG gearbox, coupled with the 200Nm of torque, which makes the VW feel as if it's being pushed strongly and steadily from a mere 1500rpm through to the red line. It helps the torque curve isn't really a curve, more a steep climb to a flat, uninterrupted line that stays that way until the power drops again.
The TSI comes with dual climate control, an automatically dimming rear-view mirror, air-conditioned glove box, heated wing mirrors and rain-sensing wipers. Safety features include ABS, ESP (electronic stability protection) and EDL (electronic diff lock).
Although not pretending to be at the luxury end of the market, the TSI is well-balanced, handles precisely enough, develops good power and has a good interior.
It almost feels like VW have under-sold what the car has and can do. What Volkswagen has done is marry up two pieces of existing engineering and make them work better in tandem. Turbo-charging is not new and neither is the internal combustion engine, but if you get the two to work together harmoniously, it's a winner. It is possible to get good performance out of a small power plant as well as good fuel consumption.
For those whose abiding role in life is to save the planet, the TSI could be an option. A 2-litre Golf GTI emits 194g/km of carbon dioxide and is only marginally quicker. The 1.4 TSI pumps out just 175g/km, making it a far more attractive choice for company car-users and anyone who looks at the world through green-tinted glasses.
This car is good news for those who don't want to be emotionally blackmailed into buying a hybrid or electric car to save fuel. The TSI is a viable option that doesn't mean having to sell your children to run many of the other choices. And you can still hold your head high among environmentalists at work.
The Golf 1.4 TSI earned a 5-star Euro NCAP rating for passenger safety and it's easy to understand why; front and side airbags, ABS, comfort brake assist, ESP and safety-optimised head restraints that react almost instantaneously.
KITTED OUT
Safety equipment
* Three-point automatic seat belts with height adjustment and seat-belt tensioners.
* ABS braking system with Brake Assist, ASR (anti-spin regulation) and EDL (electronic diff lock).
* Active front head restraints.
* Driver and front passenger airbags with front side and curtain airbags.
* Electromechanical steering with safety steering column (height and reach adjustable).
* Front passenger airbag deactivation.
* Electrically-adjustable and heated outer rear-view mirrors.
Functional equipment
* Climatic air-conditioning.
* Cooling for glove compartment.
* Electric windows front and rear.
* Multi-function indicator.
* RCD 300 single CD/tuner and eight loudspeakers, MP3 CD compatible.
* Remote central locking with vehicle immobiliser, tilt sensor and interior monitoring.
* Split-folding rear seat backrest.
* Storage trays under front seats.
