Volkswagen Golf Hatchback (2013 - 2020) SE Navigation 1.5 TSI EVO 130PS 5d Owner Review

A lovely drive if you like smooth. The 130bhp 1.5 tsi delivers relatively gently which is great for parking, unlike say dual turbo other manufacturers' models eg the Focus. However my lady fried who has a Mini estate find the Golf non-grippy and i have to agree that Mini seems to really grab the road. One big problem with modern car, the Golf included is restricted all round visibility creating a reliance on expensive error prone elrctronic gizmos. For example, the C pillars are 1 foot wide and create an enormous blind spot. Secondly the body work has reached such a height to gain max ncap.ratings, you cannot see whats beside the car. Once again, you are forced to rely on those bl**dy unreliable sensors. Thirdly, you cannot see any edge of the car, which makes manouevring sans sensor trickier. I think manufacturers have failed to account for the world's most advanced and reliable sensor decision making system, the human eye and brain. Forthly a rear sensor is intermittently faulty. The vw garage was reticent to fix it in warranty. On a separate point, the start stop systems seems to be on strike. Altjough yesterday after about 6 months protest, it crossed to picket line and functioned again for 5 mins. I've read elsewhere may either a consequence of battery charge from shirt city journeys ( i'm guilty) or a faulty engine management system system. I think its located near one of front brake calipers. So a nice car, the enjoyment of which is tempered by poor electronic reliability, poor visibility design, overreliance on friable poor quality electronics and a lack of a sufficient close elbow rest for the driver. Lastly the front door pulls ie the handles one closes the doors with are painted in match body work paint. This scratches very easily as i found out from a relative's metal crutches imolating the paint work. Colour matched genuine leatherette would be a more sensible choice. If nit available, i shall ask the lady to apply her knitting to make a below fastening crotcheted set of door pull covers. Also the blinking alloys, which i sispect a scheme from marketing to force to buy new wheels scratch easily, especially when can't easily see where both the curb is and where you're reversing simultaneously. I'm 5'11. I dont know what the mpg is. Its got a big petrol tank though. In some ways i miss my old skoda fabia 1.4mpi. It was perky, the czech 2cv equivalent battle cat commuter. Compared to tge golfs main benefits are: Working air con Cruise control which is almost as good as can be except it sets automatic braking by distance rather than time travelled to points the car in front boot has passed. This means one has to adjust the distance between city and motorway to put a stop to people cutting in to longish spaces between you and the car ahead, which aid safety on the motorway. Automatic braking with time travelled separation would automatically adjust the distance between cars according to their speed, thus sensibly providing bigger gaps on the motorway than the city. Finally the headrests are fixed and in my opinion too far back. One bring them firward by having the seat bolt upright. Or by swapping the vw ones for tilt adjustable one's from a 2002 fabia.