01 Feb 05
British buyers will pay a premium of £500-£600 for the Plus over equivalent five-door models, which sounds reasonable though mainland Europeans will pay just 535 euros more - something VW puts down to a higher specification for right-hand-drive cars. Five engine choices are offered initially, the 1.4 (75bhp), 1.6 FSI (115bhp) and 2.0 FSI (150bhp) petrol units and the 1.9 TDI (105bhp) and 2.0 TDI (140bhp) diesels; an entry-level 1.9 TDI (90bhp) follows next year. The 1.6 and 2.0 FSI models have the option of six-speed automatic transmission and the two larger diesels with the DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) clutchless sequential set-up. Volkswagen is adamant that there will not be a Golf Plus GTi. Specifications are otherwise similar to the Golf's - S, SE, Sport and GT - with options including a fridge, DVD player with screens, storage modules, an overhead storage console and active cornering headlights.
At least you can't accuse Volkswagen of misleading advertising: the ads will tell us that it's "a Golf, just a little bit bigger", and the Plus does exactly what it says on the tin. It is that little bit bigger, at least height-wise and in the deep boot (space-saver spare wheel optional), and that little bit higher-riding and that little bit more able to accommodate an IKEA flatpack. It is also that little bit heavier, something which particularly comes across with the 1.6 FSI and 1.9 TDI (105bhp) engines; these aren't especially quick in even the three-door Golf, and are positively leisurely in the Plus - we haven't yet tested the 1.4 and 1.9 TDI (90bhp) versions, but would anticipate them to be comprehensively underpowered. The higher centre of gravity and raised roofline gives a slightly less agile driving experience than the standard Golf, too, though it's a marginal observation, and many drivers will prefer the higher seating position with improved all-round vision anyway as a trade-off.
The higher "h-point" (hip-level entry point) of the Plus will make getting in and out easier for older people or those with mobility problems, as well as helping parents with child seats and baby carriers. However, the more upright position of the rear seat-backs could be tiring on longer journeys, and the reduced length under-thigh cuts down on support for the longer-legged. Push the rear seat forward for more luggage space, and that extra knee-room disappears rapidly. As the saying goes, size matters, but it's really what you do with it that counts.
Basically, the Golf Plus is a car for the undecided, a car for people who find it difficult to commit to any radical change - a bit like Volkswagen itself with this model - or those who refuse to admit that they need something more appropriate to their age, parental status or lifestyle. Not prepared to go the whole hog and sacrifice that sporty-looking single person's hatchback for a family-friendly MPV? The likes of the Renault Scenic and Citroen Xsara Picasso just too school-run Mum? Like thirty- and forty-somethings determined to continue to wear the same clothes they did at twenty, you can go for the same again, but just a little bit bigger.
