Although the City Golf's interior exceeds expected quality standards, several glitches detract from its overall excellence. For example, folding the 60/40-split rear seat flat requires the removal of three rear seat head restraints and the forward positioning of both front seats. That's an annoying hassle, as is the recline mechanism employed by the front seats. The circular dials in use must be repeatedly rotated to inch the seatback up or down. I thought such mechanisms long ago went the way of the 8-Track.
Despite several minor cabin shortcomings, I was pleased with the layout of the vehicle's instrument panel and its simplistic functionality. Switches and instruments are easy to use/read and are sensibly located.
What keeps the City Golf going?
Volkswagen has retained its 115 horsepower, SOHC 2.0 litre fourbanger from 2006. This engine produces very good low-end torque (122 pound-feet @ 2,600 rpm) and never has to struggle to keep up with traffic. Still it's no powerhouse, delivering tepid highway passing performance at best.
Perhaps its two-valve per cylinder configuration limits its ability to breathe freely at higher rpm levels. Judging by Volkswagen's data, the extra cog in the optional six-speed autobox isn't likely to improve passing lane performance. VW cites 0-100km/h time of 10.4 seconds for the manual City Golf and 11.7 seconds for the automatic version.
The passing lane also verifies that this isn't the most polished or refined four-cylinder powerplant on the market today. It makes its presence audibly known when asked to dish-out grunt; yet the accompanying note is fairly sporty sounding. Such that my milder-driving half asked, "is this car powerful or are you lead-footing it?" "Lead-footing it," I trumpeted back while tossing the stick from one gear to the next.
City Golf ride and handling
The combination of the 'little mill that barely could' and my tester's light-effort short-throw stickshift added a genuine dose of fun to the City Golf's otherwise restrained demeanor. Nicely weighted rack-and-pinion power steering and responsive, four-wheel antilock disc brakes contribute to the City Golf's spirited vibes.
The Canada-only City Golf rides on a fully independent suspension arrangement utilizing gas shocks at all four compass points and stabilizer bars fore and aft. The setup nicely ally's the opposing dynamics of ride and handling to infuse the roomy compact with athletic yet benevolent road manners.
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| The dials used to incline the front seat backs is a pain to work with. |
Despite several minor cabin shortcomings, I was pleased with the layout of the vehicle's instrument panel and its simplistic functionality. Switches and instruments are easy to use/read and are sensibly located.
What keeps the City Golf going?
Volkswagen has retained its 115 horsepower, SOHC 2.0 litre fourbanger from 2006. This engine produces very good low-end torque (122 pound-feet @ 2,600 rpm) and never has to struggle to keep up with traffic. Still it's no powerhouse, delivering tepid highway passing performance at best.
Perhaps its two-valve per cylinder configuration limits its ability to breathe freely at higher rpm levels. Judging by Volkswagen's data, the extra cog in the optional six-speed autobox isn't likely to improve passing lane performance. VW cites 0-100km/h time of 10.4 seconds for the manual City Golf and 11.7 seconds for the automatic version.
The passing lane also verifies that this isn't the most polished or refined four-cylinder powerplant on the market today. It makes its presence audibly known when asked to dish-out grunt; yet the accompanying note is fairly sporty sounding. Such that my milder-driving half asked, "is this car powerful or are you lead-footing it?" "Lead-footing it," I trumpeted back while tossing the stick from one gear to the next.
City Golf ride and handling
The combination of the 'little mill that barely could' and my tester's light-effort short-throw stickshift added a genuine dose of fun to the City Golf's otherwise restrained demeanor. Nicely weighted rack-and-pinion power steering and responsive, four-wheel antilock disc brakes contribute to the City Golf's spirited vibes.
The Canada-only City Golf rides on a fully independent suspension arrangement utilizing gas shocks at all four compass points and stabilizer bars fore and aft. The setup nicely ally's the opposing dynamics of ride and handling to infuse the roomy compact with athletic yet benevolent road manners.
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| The City Golf received front and rear aesthetic updates for 2008. |