Audi
Volkswagen
OUR PICK OF THE RANGE Beetle R-Line 1.4 TSI DSG
OUR PICK OF THE RANGE Jetta Highline 1.4 TSI
Volkswagen Beetle
It’s one of the most famous car names in the world, but these days the Volkswagen Beetle struggles to appeal to buyers, despite its retro looks. Part of this could be apportioned to the relatively old chassis that the Beetle is built on. By sticking to a design that apes the iconic original, rear passenger space is limited, as is boot capacity. Obviously, that won’t matter to everyone, and most Beetle fans will look at nothing else other than this. The R-Line model adds a sportier look to the car, increasing its appeal, while the more powerful petrol engine paired with the automatic transmission makes for the best powertrain combo, and in the right specifi cation, it can still look cooler than a Golf.
Volkswagen Jetta
In the huge Volkswagen range, it’s easy to overlook the Jetta. After all, the name isn’t as well-known as the Golf’s, and the Passat is by far the more popular saloon. But the Jetta has plenty of its own positive attributes. From the SUV-rivalling boot capacity to the relatively compact dimensions, the Jetta scores well. Even in the style stakes, its conservative image is inoff ensive, if a little dull. On the move, the Jetta is comfortable, though best-suited to running smaller wheels to combat road noise. The lack of a 1.6-litre TDI diesel option does make it a bit more expensive, but the 125hp 1.4 TSI petrol provides decent power for everyday commuting.
LClass
eader
OUR PICK OF THE RANGE Golf Highline 1.0 TSI fi ve-door
Volkswagen Golf The Golf is a genuine motoring icon, now in its seventh generation and fresh from a useful midlife update earlier on in 2017. There is an estate on sale, but by far the biggest sellers are the three- and fi ve-door hatchbacks, off ered with a wide range of petrol and diesel engines and automatic or manual transmissions. There are almost
as many high-performance options in the GTI and Golf R line-up, too, though most stick with a modest 1.6 TDI version. Thanks to fi nance off ers on the high-spec models, they’re the sensible ones to go for, and they are the Golf at its high-quality best. There’s very little to fi nd fault with the Golf on the road, except perhaps its ubiquity.
OUR PICK OF THE RANGE Passat 2.0 TDI 150 DSG Highline
Volkswagen Passat
When the current Volkswagen Passat arrived on the scene, it set new standards for design and quality. A few years later and the Passat still holds its own against most of the competition, with Highline models good enough to start worrying the more established premium brands. The Passat isn’t all that exciting to drive, but it can eat up vast distances with relative ease. The economical diesel engines are ideal for those frequently traversing the country, while petrol engines were added to the range in 2017. The excellent DSG automatic transmission is worth factoring into your budget, and if the massive boot in the saloon isn’t big enough, the estate version can swallow up to 1,780 litres. For off -road fans, there is a Passat Alltrack Estate, signifi ed by more rugged styling, jacked up suspension and four-wheel drive, but a price tag to match, too. Volkswagen also off ers the Passat GTE, a plug-in hybrid model that comes in both saloon and estate body styles. It can drive up to 50 kilometres using only battery power and has an offi cial combined fuel consumption fi gure of 1.6 litres/100km.
106 Auto Ireland Guide to New Cars 2018 Looking for car fi nance? Visit
www.firstcitizen.ie for details AUTO IRELAND AND IRISH STUDIO MEDIA PUBLISHING LIMITED ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY VARIATIONS.
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