21 Jan 04
And VW is predicting that the most popular petrol-engine choice in the UK will be the 1.6-litre FSI. We reacquainted ourselves with this 115bhp direct-injection petrol engine in a five-door right-hand drive Golf. The idea behind a direct-injection petrol engine is that by injecting petrol straight into the cylinder, combustion efficiency is improved, which should reduce fuel consumption. And while the 1.6 offers broadly adequate performance, you are aware of having to downshift the standard-fit six-speed manual gearbox more frequently to maintain swift progress.
The 1.6 FSI boasts an aluminium block and 'advanced acoustic properties' in an effort to reduce noise levels and improve running refinement. In the lower rev-range, this is the case. However, the 1.6 sounds harsh when pushed, something that you need to do reasonably frequently when negotiating motorway sliproads or inclines.
That failing is unlikely to prevent the new Golf being a sales hit in the UK. The 75bhp, entry-level 1.4 S model costs £11,995. For that, you get a high level of safety equipment including ABS, traction control, stability control and no less than eight airbags. But while a CD player, central locking and electric front windows are standard, air conditioning is a £495 option. Even though air-con is increasingly viewed as a standard-fit feature in the class, its absence in entry-level Golfs is unlikely to dent sales.
