Volkswagen PASSAT SPORT TDI 140 For Sale

if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object(); window.yzq_d['Ua_UP1f4eEk-']='&U=12c2etlcd%2fN%3dUa_UP1f4eEk-%2fC%3d-1%2fD%3dHEAD%2fB%3d-1%2fV%3d0'; if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object(); window.yzq_d['Uq_UP1f4eEk-']='&U=13l89s17a%2fN%3dUq_UP1f4eEk-%2fC%3d200101456.201965577.203250011.200060250%2fD%3dN%2fB%3d200784459%2fV%3d1'; HomeNews/ReviewsFeaturesPhotosBuySellForumVideosGreen CentreBologna 2007 if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object(); window.yzq_d['U6_UP1f4eEk-']='&U=12ak2ueep%2fN%3dU6_UP1f4eEk-%2fC%3d-1%2fD%3dMH%2fB%3d-1%2fV%3d0'; NewsReviewsPreviewsTwin TestsWomen´s ReviewsVan Reviews Cars > News and Reviews > Volkswagen Driving the Volkswagen Golf GT Sport TDI 140 Click to enlarge In the world of mid-sized hatchbacks Volkswagen's Golf reeks of respectability. Its smart looks are inoffensive and timeless, the Golf having an air of solidity and class that few rivals can match. Which does mean that the Golf can be a little dull. GTI and R32 flagships aside VW's Golf isn't going to set your heart racing like some of its competitors, especially in diesel form. However, Volkswagen has been quietly boosting the output of its 1.9 and 2.0-litre diesel engines to the point where they offer pretty heady power figures. Up to 170bhp is currently available, in a package that gives the turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol GTI a serious back road challenge. Leave that to the racers though, as the same 2.0-litre TDI engine is offered with 30bhp less. And it's actually a nicer all-round proposition. Sadly (and like its 170bhp relative) it's not the sweetest sounding engine. Gruff when starting, and fairly gravely sounding until hushed by passing road and wind noise, it's not the last word in refinement. You'll forgive it this though as it's a willing performer, at least it is once you get it into its sweet spot. Its maximum torque is produced from 1,750-2,500rpm and to get it moving along convincingly you need to ensure the rev-counter needle is bang in the middle. Pull away on lower revs and the response is sluggish, something you quickly have to adapt your driving style for. Learn to keep the turbo spinning and the engine delivering its best and the GT Sport does a reasonable job in providing a sporting drive to match its junior GTI looks. It's punchy throughout its mid-range, making it a surprisingly rapid driver. Its muscle allows it clean, easy overtakes and fuss-free cruising. However, you're reminded of this VW's sporting notions every time you're on a rough surface, as the 15mm lower suspension sends knocks through into the cabin pretty convincingly. It's not too harsh, but you might find yourself wishing VW would trade a touch of body control for ride comfort. It's unlikely you'll find much to complain about in the interior though. It's all standard Golf, save for a small GT badge on the leather-rimmed steering wheel. It feels beautifully built. Sure, it's not the most inspired when it comes to style, but like the best designs its beauty is in its functionality rather than its form - the Golf's fascia and controls all working very intuitively. The chunky steering wheel comes with decent weighting, but it's fairly devoid of feel. The same is true of the six-speed gearbox; it shifts cleanly enough across its short throw but feels rather remote when doing so. The steering wheel and gearshift might not be perfect, but their positioning is pretty faultless. Ample adjustment allows all shapes to find a good driving position, the seats among the best you'll find in the Golf's class for comfort and support. It's details like these that make the Golf such an appealing choice. But you pay for it, the Golf never a cheap option, less so when in the Sport GT guise. The near £19,000 of the 140 GT Sport pitches it among some serious competition, including more powerful and entertaining hot petrol models that rival this car's GTI relative. So you'll be sacrificing a lot of potential performance and big grin driving fun if you opt for the Volkswagen. And is it worth it? That's inevitably down to the individual but it's difficult not to be won over by the Golf's all-round quality and sub-prestige feel. Nothing in this class wearing a mainstream badge touches it. Driven sensibly you'll see mid 40mpg in daily driving, the quoted combined figure of 51.4mpg possible on longer journeys. It's quick enough, handles decently and is as practical as any of its rivals. Residual values will be stronger than much of the competition too, meaning you shouldn't lose additional money you have to invest in it in the first place. As an all-rounder then it's difficult to fault, but similarly it's difficult to get too excited about it either. Specs Pictures Cons Not cheap, diesel a bit gruff and has a narrow power band, not the most exciting drive. Pros Inherent respectability, faultless build quality, economy, decent space and better than average residuals. Send by Messenger Email this article Print More news and reviews from Volkswagen More motoring news Message Boards - Talk about it More pictures More pictures More pictures More pictures More pictures More Pictures Related Videos for Volkswagen Volkswagen Polo 1.4 TDi Bluemotion 1 A greener shade of blue, Volkswagen's latest Polo has the lowest emissions and fuel consumption of any mainstream production diesel car currently available. Volkswagen Golf R32 V6 4MOTION The most powerful production Golf to date, the R32 once again catapults a familiar name to the top of the class. Volkswagen Passat 3.2 SEL FSI V6 4Motion DSG More sophisticated than ever, the sixth-generation Passat is a smart-money alternative to high-profile premium brands. ADVERTISEMENT if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object(); window.yzq_d['VK_UP1f4eEk-']='&U=13otrm556%2fN%3dVK_UP1f4eEk-%2fC%3d200101456.201942216.203232434.201252045%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d200784458%2fV%3d1'; Search new and used cars var kk_num_offers=3; RECENT OFFERS FROM YAHOO! CARS£54995.00Maserati Granturismo 4.2 V8 coupe 2 dr(Motors.co.uk)View offer£52990.00Maserati Quattroporte 4.2 Sport saloon 4 dr(Motors.co.uk)View offer£64990.00Maserati Granturismo 4.2 4.2 V8 20in Alloys+Leather+SatNav Auto coupe 2 dr(Motors.co.uk)View offer SEARCH NEW & USED CARS SELL YOUR CAR FOR £9.99 £9.99 until sold! Reach over half a million buyers on Yahoo! and Kelkoo for a quick and easy sale.more Video on Yahoo! Cars BMW M3 VW Tiguan Volvo V70 Renault Koleos Discover KoleosRenault Koleos. 4 x 4 Outside. Renault Inside.Take the high road Insurance Bargains Search for the best insurance deal with our MotorWizardSave cash now >> Personalised Plates - Find Yours Today! 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Updated Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Help if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object(); window.yzq_d['Va_UP1f4eEk-']='&U=12d9l36me%2fN%3dVa_UP1f4eEk-%2fC%3d-1%2fD%3dFSRVY%2fB%3d-1%2fV%3d0'; if(window.yzq_p==null)document.write(""); if(window.yzq_p)yzq_p('P=r5DZFlf4ec9uHpqWTQID7wFEUd_.BU0FKQEADdBv&T=14h0u5jlh%2fX%3d1292183809%2fE%3d97574221%2fR%3dukie_cars%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d1.1%2fW%3dJR%2fY%3dUKIE%2fF%3d1948053057%2fG%3dCnVraWVkYXRhCgo-%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3dCC79F857'); if(window.yzq_s)yzq_s(); || LOGIN REGISTER NEWSLETTER Home NEWS REVIEWS PRODUCTS COMPARE CARS VIDEOS BUYING USED CARS NEW CARS MOTORSHOWS COMPETITIONS 6 ISSUES FOR £1 Search Car Reviews: You're in - Car Reviews: Car Group Tests VW Golf 2.0 TDI 140 SE Current class favourite offers executive-style refinement. June 2009 The all-round excellence of the VW makes it a formidable opponent in the compact family car class. And the sixth-generation version has familiar looks as it doesn’t deviate from the tried and tested Golf template.Its smart but conservative design is well proportioned and oozes solidity. In SE trim you get 16-inch alloy wheels and chrome inserts on the grille, but the Mazda looks a lot sportier.The understated exterior gives way to the most desirable cabin we’ve ever experienced in a mainstream family car. From the high-quality materials to the straightforward but ergonomically faultless layout, it’s first class. There’s nothing particularly exciting or clever inside, but the seamless blend of comfort, ease of use and space makes the Golf difficult to fault.There’s a huge range of wheel and seat movement, so the driving position is superb and there’s a greater feeling of space than you get in the Mazda. There’s more legroom in the back, too. Cabin stowage is good, and while the 350-litre boot isn’t class leading, it’s 50 litres ahead of the Mazda’s. Under the bonnet, the 138bhp 2.0-litre TDI engine is 10bhp down on its rival’s 2.2-litre unit. However, the Golf weighs 154kg less than the Mazda, so performance is closely matched. A 0-60mph time of 9.1 seconds is only two-tenths slower than the 3’s, and with the exception of top, where a longer sixth ratio blunts throttle response, the VW recorded virtually identical in-gear acceleration figures.In addition, the TDI is quiet at idle and under load. The common-rail unit’s power delivery isn’t as smooth as the Mazda’s, but it produces a useful punch and the engine’s overall refinement is impressive. This complements the quality cabin, which is unsurpassed in the class for its lack of wind and road noise. At high speed, the Golf is amazingly relaxed and hushed. Our test car was fitted with VW’s optional £705 Adaptive Chassis Control system. In Comfort mode, the ride is supple and isolates rough surfaces from the cabin effectively. Sport mode tightens its responses a little, making the Golf capable in corners. There is more body roll than in the Mazda and, while it isn’t as engaging or sporty as its rival, the handling is composed. It requires little effort from the driver to make swift and secure progress. Strong brakes, well weighted steering and a precise gearshift complete the package. With good economy, low emissions and solid residuals, the rest of the ownership experience is equally impressive. And it’s this ability to be the ideal car for virtually every occasion that makes the Golf such a hit.At £18,635, the VW is only £195 more than the 3, but the Mazda has far more equipment as standard. Does the Golf do enough to maintain its place at the front of the family car pack?In detail:* Price: £18,635* Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 138bhp* 0-60mph: 9.1 seconds* Claimed economy: 57.6mpg* CO2: 129g/km* Euro NCAP rating: Five stars For an alternative review of the latest Volkswagen Golf visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk BACK TO TOP What Next COMPARE CAR LOANS COMPARE CAR INSURANCE For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift! < Previous 0 Comment Be the first to comment on this article You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join. Email: Password: Sponsored Results Social Bookmarks Link to this article: For more details about purchasing this feature and/or images for editorial usage, please contact the Dennis Syndication team on pictures@dennis.co.uk Email a Friend Print this Full Car Reviews Photography - Advertisement - Sponsored Results Facts and Figures Open Table DETAILS Chart position:1st WHY? With its strong image, refinement and quality cabin, the Golf is the car to beat here. AT A GLANCE: The VW allows more body roll than the Mazda in corners and it surrenders front-end grip earlier than the 3. But with the manufacturer’s £705 ACC Adaptive Chassis Control system fitted, the Golf strikes an excellent balance between handling and ride comfort. This adaptive damper technology gives you three settings – Comfort, Normal or Sport.In Comfort mode, the dampers isolate road imperfections really well, while in Sport you can feel things tighten up. It also defaults to the sportier setting when the car is cornering hard. Meanwhile, the VW’s brilliant touchscreen sat- nav system is a £1,570 extra, but provides clear mapping and is very easy to use. Even the standard audio system is neatly laid out. SCORES Styling: Interior: Driving: Costs: Green: - Advertisement - Company Website | Media Information | Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Subs Info | Voucher Codes | SitemapOur Other Websites: The First Post | Custom PC | Evo | IT Pro | IT Pro India | MacUser | Men's Fitness | Micro Mart | PC Pro | bit-tech | Know Your Mobile | Octane | Expert Reviews | Channel Pro | Know Your Cell | Know Your Mobile India | iGizmo | Digital SLR Photography | Den of Geek | The Week | Computer Shopper | Dennis Communications | Magazines | Mobile Phone Deals | Competitions | Health & Fitness | CarBuyer © 2010 Dennis Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.Licensed by Felden || || ||