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Volkswagen Golf Estate 1.5 TSI Style 5dr Review

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The 128bhp 1.5 eTSI 130 petrol is noticeably less spirited than the TSI 150 or eTSI 150 (0-62mph takes 9.4sec) when you work it hard. It's also quite noisy when you rev it out and barely any cheaper or more efficient, so we really wouldn't bother with it.

1.5 eTSI

Estate

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

GOLF

Style trim adds 17in alloy wheels, LED 'Plus' headlights, which can direct their light around corners, three-zone climate control, 30-colour ambient interior lighting, high beam assist, and smarter-looking styling inside and out that includes sports front seats.

Style

1.5 TSI Style 5dr

15-tsi-style-5dr

3 point height adj front seatbelts + pretensioners

Rear windscreen washer and wiper with interval delay

Driver and front passenger airbag with front passenger airbag deactivation

Alarm with interior protection and deactivation via infotainment system

Lane change assist with Rear traffic alert

LED Plus headlights with integrated cornering and poor weather light

Remote electrically heated, adjustable and foldable door mirrors, including door mirror puddle lights and reverse activated kerb-view adjustment on pa

Park assist sensor controlled steering aid to assist parallel or bay parking features optical parking display via vehicle's infotainment system

Front and rear ultrasonic parking sensors, audible with audio volume reduction when activated + optical parking display via vehicles infotain system

Dynamic chassis control (DCC) - variable suspension settings sport, comfort and normal with drive profile selection

Winter pack including heated steering wheel - Golf

Winter pack with heated rear seats - Golf Style

Volkswagen Golf Estate

The Volkswagen Golf Estate is a very practical family wagon. The boot is generously proportioned and it’s a comfortable car with a wide range of engines that all offer good performance and economy. We dislike its infotainment system and the fiddly dashboard buttons immensely, though, and a Skoda Octavia Estate offers more car for less cash. 

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.

Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.

There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.

Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.

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Volkswagen Golf Estate 1.5 TSI Style 5dr Review

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50.4

611

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126

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