2007 Volkswagen City Golf Road TestA good strategy?
Shopping at Volkswagen might be a little confusing these days. Last fall, they replaced the Golf with the Rabbit, which was previously scheduled to still be called the Golf, and is still called the Golf in Europe. Then, the City Golf was announced, based on the outgoing model but with a fire-sale price. Finally, the 2006 Golf TDI models were still on sale well through the beginning of 2007.
What exactly is the reason for the City Golf's existence? According to VW, since they don't have a subcompact ready for the North American market, and that particular segment is growing rapidly with the rising price of gasoline, they had to do something. Send the previous-generation Golf's blueprints to a factory in Brazil, cut down on the standard features, and fix some bugs at the same time. The City Golf, along with its City Jetta counterpart, are compacts at a subcompact price, and are not offered in the United States. Tried and tested mechanicals VW dusted off the old 8-valve 2.0-liter engine, which wheezes out only 115 horsepower, and sent it back down the warpath. It may sound pathetic, but in real-world driving, it's not that bad at all; 122 pound-feet of torque are available low in the engine's rev range, which makes up beautifully for the modest power output. The 5-speed manual's shifter feels a little wobbly, partly because to engage reverse you have to push down on the spring-loaded shifter, and the shift knob isn't capped on tight. That doesn't prevent it from doing its job, and the light clutch makes for easy launches. I was expecting a noisy driving experience, but it's not the case. The powertrain is actually quite pleasant, and its sound level is decent. It actually sounds better than the Rabbit's inline-5. The only time it starts to get loud is on the highway, because at 120 km/h, the engine is spinning at a high 3,600 rpm. Overall, the car is returning an average of 10.4 L/100 km, which isn't bad, but don't expect subcompact-level fuel economy. The rest of the car is pure VW: sure-footed handling, a competent chassis, precise steering, and a healthy dose of driving pleasure.
The cockpit's been spared, kinda Cost-cutting measures obviously have to be made to offer a low base price. Yet the living quarters of the City Golf remains a nice place to spend time. The dashboard and instruments still look and feel VW-grade, although you can't get a centre armrest, which I really do miss.
The seat material looks a little cheap, but seat comfort is still one of their strong points. For shivery people, I strongly recommend opting for the heated seats, which are an inexpensive option. You can see the car's painted metal frame when you climb into the back seat, which looks low-rent. The City Golf comes standard with 8 speakers and a CD player that reads MP3 and WMA files, which is much appreciated. I just wish the radio was mounted higher on the centre stack, as there is an empty space there anyway. There's a lot of cargo space in the Golf when you fold down the rear seats; that's the advantage of throwing a compact in a subcompact arena. However, the rear hatch on this test model has to be slammed with a very good swing, like when you spin the big wheel on The Price is Right. So how about that marketing strategy? In March, 455 City Golfs and 290 City Jettas have been sold. Total sales for 2007 might end up being slightly below VW Canada's 12,500-unit target of City models. However, I'm sure a lot of people would rather been seen in a compact than in a dinky subcompact. And finally, some can now afford themselves a Volkswagen, something they might have been dreaming of doing for years. For now, VW's City models seem to be a clever idea. In a couple of years, though, it will be interesting to see if the company will develop a true subcompact for North America to replace the City duo. In Europe, there are two models that are smaller then the Rabbit: The Fox and the Polo. The car is now assembled in Brazil, so how's its build quality? My test car exhibits no squeaks or rattles, and nothing fell apart. Apart from the paint job that looks a little thin, there's not much to complain about. Auto123.com's forum members reported some minor problems, but that's nothing new for Volkswagen.
Conclusion The City Golf is proof that manufacturers don't have to produce redesigned models every 5 years; basic, cheap transportation is what many people need, not the latest technology and ultra-powerful engines. And with a test price of $17,195, which includes the $205 Cold Weather Package, the $740 Convenience Package and $1,350 Air conditioning, this car is priced just right; it's probably even stealing some Rabbit sales. So it's your choice: a modern subcompact, or an old-school compact. Some car buyers want the latest models on the market, while others just want the most for their hard-earned money. If the City Golf and City Jetta end up being reasonably reliable, a lot of people will take advantage of Volkswagen's strategy. Personally, I like this Golf, and I'd probably choose it over a Rabbit to save some money. However, if I was shopping for a subcompact, I'd still go for a Honda Fit or [link artid="687412]Nissan Versa[/link]. Aggressive pricing Fun to drive Agreeable cockpit Adequate power Radio placed too low on the dash Looks old Engine rpm on the highway Photos: Philippe Champoux
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