Golf SV is for the entire family

Long gone are the days you had a sporty-type hatchback, a family- orientated sedan and the single guy’s coupe making up the range offered by a manufacturer.

Nowadays we have hatches of all sizes, we have hatches that are coupe-looking, we have sedans that think they are hot hatches and everything you can think of in between. And this is before we get to the crossover, mini MPV, compact SUV and SAV options that add further choice when it comes to the compact end of the market. As a consumer you are truly spoilt for choice.

And adding to that choice is Volkswagen, which is now offering a Golf SV model. The Golf SV – which means Sports Van in Europe – is a model packed with all the technology and feel of the award-winning Golf hatchback but with a larger and more practical body.

Family sized Golf SV has launched. Picture: Supplied

In case you might be wondering, the Golf SV is not the replacement for the Touran. The Touran is being replaced later this year with a bigger offering that will feature seven seats and the Caddy will remain the cheaper commercial offering from VW. What the Golf SV will be targeting though is BMW’s just-released 2 Series Active Tourer, Mercedes-Benz’s B Class and Citroen’s C4 Picasso.

The Golf SV is based on the same MQB platform, but now measures 4 338mm in length, which is 83mm longer than the hatchback. And thanks to its 2 685mm wheelbase, which is 48mm longer, its width, which is 8mm wider at 1 807mm, and a 126mm increase in its height, you now have quite a bit more interior space and versatility.

This means you have rear seats (a 40:60 split bench) that can slide forward and backward by up to 180mm to increase either passenger or luggage space as required, along with a boot capacity of 500 litres with the back seats at their rear-most position (versus the Golf’s 380 litres). Moving the rear seats forward increases the luggage capacity to 590 litres, while folding the rear seats liberates up to 1 520 litres of room.

Family sized Golf SV has launched. Picture: Supplied

Of course, being a Golf means you get all the standard and optional passive and active safety systems you would expect or could want from a family car. These include as standard: ESC with XDS; an automatic post-collision braking system, which automatically brakes the vehicle after a collision to reduce kinetic energy significantly and thus minimises the chance or severity of a second impact; and a PreCrash system which, on detecting the possibility of an accident, pre-tensions seatbelts and closes the windows and sunroof, leaving just a small gap to ensure the best possible protection from the airbags. Other electronic aids include Driver Alert System and optional high beam light assist.

The Golf SV will only be offered in two equipment lines at this stage – the wellknown Trendline and Comfortline specs. The Trendline standard features includes the likes of an SD card reader and CD player with 5-inch colour touchscreen; a front centre armrest; dual rear Isofix fittings; seven airbags, including one for the driver’s knees; an automatic post-collision braking system; flat tyre indicator; multifunction leather steering wheel; front and rear electric windows; 15-inch Lyon alloy wheel with full alloy spare wheel; black roof rails and manual airconditioning. Additionally, the Comfortline has front foglights, rain sensor, electrically adjustable and heated side mirrors and silver roof rails to complete its offerings.

Keeping the choices relatively simple for now – as there are other offerings overseas with a GTI and R model not out of the question sometime in the future – you get two turbo petrol options with Stop/Start and battery regeneration technology and one turbo-diesel option.

Family sized Golf SV has launched. Picture: Supplied

The base engine in the Golf SV model range is the 1.2 TSI with a 81kW power output and a maximum torque of 175Nm available and is offered only with a six-speed manual gearbox. Top speed is said to be 192km/h, the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.7 seconds, along with a claimed fuel consumption of 5.1 litres per 100km.

The 1.4 TSI is a slight jump up at 92kW and 200Nm and comes with the choice of a six-speed manual or optional seven-speed DSG gearbox and is good for 200km/h and a 0-100km/h in 9.9 seconds, with a claimed fuel consumption of 5.4 litres per 100km.

Although VW feels the 81kW/ 250Nm 2.0 TDI will be the pick of the bunch, we never got to drive one on the launch. But this model comes with the choice of a standard five-speed manual gearbox or an optional six-speed DSG. It is claimed the TDI completes the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.5 seconds while going on to a top speed of 190km/h, with a claimed fuel consumption of just 4.6 litres per 100km.

Family sized Golf SV has launched. Picture: Supplied

VW has another winner on its hands – especially with more and more people looking for hatchback dynamics, looks and performance from a more family-friendly car. The Golf SV is that car.