New SV adds versatility to Golf range

The new SV will only be offered in two equipment lines, Trendline and Comfortline.

Called the SV (or Sportsvan, as it is known in Europe) it has all the fancy wizardry (including the award-winning BlueMotion technology) and the same engines and transmissions you will find in the hatchback range, but the big difference is the added interior space.

Loads of space

The SV has a longer wheelbase and it is higher and wider than the hatch. The SV's rear sets (40:60 split) slide backwards or forwards up to 180mm, to increase passenger or luggage space. The SV's boot space can be increased from 500 to 590-litres by simply moving the back seats, or converted into 1,520-litres of luggage room when the rear sets are folded down. The SV's practicality is likely to boost the Golf's appeal even further, particularly with families and the younger, outdoorsy set.

Powering the range are the same petrol and diesel engines already doing duty in the rest of current Golf range. The petrol engines are turbocharged 1.2-litre that produces 81kW and 1.4-litre capable of 92kW. The diesel engine on offer will be the 2.0-litre 81kW.

It was a bit of a stretch, but the result is more space.

At the media introduction in the Eastern Cape we only got to drive the 1.4 TSI petrol version (the TDI is due here in the near future), linked to a six-speed manual or 7-speed DSG transmission. Other than personal transmission preference, there is not much to differentiate the two in terms of performance. The engine produces 92kW and 200Nm (which VW says is good enough for a 0-100km/h sprint in 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 200km/h) and it incorporate Stop/Start and battery regeneration systems.

De DSG is da one
In terms of fuel consumption and emissions the DSG version is slightly cleaner and more frugal, but this is negligible. At the coast both versions were quite willing to trot and they maintained their cruising speeds, even during undulating stretches, with enough confidence to show that they won't be stressed with a fuller load on board.

Although I am not a fan of DSG, CVT or auto transmissions in general, the DSG is particularly well-suited to the 1.4 engine in the case of the SV and it would be my choice on this specific model, even though it's R15,500 more than the manual.

The living quarters are typical VW... good quality and bits and bobs in the right place.

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The new SV will only be offered in two equipment lines, Trendline and Comfortline. The Trendline's standard feature includes SD card reader and CD player with 5.0-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 air conditioning.

The Comfortline, which we drove at launch, has all of the above plus front fog lights, rain sensor, electrically adjustable and heated side mirrors and silver roof rails.

Sporty

The new SV boasts with a different front end than the hatchback and it has a lower, longer, profile that gives it an attractively sporty look that is further enhanced by a sleek bonnet and larger windows. It also boasts with the same extended range of standard and optional passive and active safety systems as the hatchbacks.

Don't forget the BMX, the groceries, oh, and of course... the kitchen sink - there's room for the lot.

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The SV's interior has also been freshly re-styled, including a prominent new dashboard and numerous additional mousey-hole storage spaces. There is also a renewed focus on comfort with large doors making for easy ins and outs, and elevated, comfortable seats. The rear seat can be adjusted by up to180mm forwards or backwards. The angle of the backrests can also be individually adjusted and the entire rear backrest can be folded down or split 40:60.

Overall, the new SV presents an attractive combination of trendy looks, practicality, comfort and space that will appeal to existing Golf fans and no doubt attract new buyers.

The models and prices (which include a five-year/90,000km service plan and a three-year/ 120,000km warranty) of the new Golf SV range are:

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