Brian Joss –
Volkswagen is adding a new model to its top-selling Golf range. The Golf SV (or Sportsvan as it is known in Europe) is all-new model that is packed with all the advanced technology of the award-winning Golf hatchback range, but it has a larger and more practical body.
The Golf SV is the second body variant of the seventh-generation Golf and has a look that clearly follows the design of its sibling, with strong elements of Volkswagen’s design ‘DNA’. Based on the MQB platform and measuring 4 338 mm long, the SV is 83 mm longer than the Golf hatchback.
Its 2 685 mm wheelbase is 48 mm longer than that of the Golf hatchback, helping to generate more interior space, while the SV is also 8 mm wider, at 1 807 mm, and 126 mm higher, at 1 578 mm (excluding roof rails).
That greater interior space provides for greater flexibility. The rear seats (a 40:60 split bench) can slide forwards and backwards by up to 180 mm, to increase either passenger or luggage space as required.
It has a boot capacity of 500 litres with the back seats at their rear-most position (versus the Golf’s 380 litres). Moving the rear seats forwards increases the luggage capacity to 590 litres, while folding the rear seats liberates up to 1 520 litres of room.
Like the Golf hatchback, the Golf SV comes with a raft of standard and optional passive and active safety systems. These include a standard ESC with XDS, automatic post-collision braking system which automatically brakes the vehicle after a collision to reduce kinetic energy significantly and thus minimise the chance or severity of a second impact, and a PreCrash system which, on detecting the possibility of an accident, pre-tensions seatbelts and closes the windows and sunroof, leaving just a small gap, to ensure the best possible protection from the airbags. Other electronic aids include Driver Alert System and optional high beam light assist.
Powering the SV is a range of petrol and diesel engines. The petrol engines incorporate Stop/Start and battery regeneration systems. The petrol engines are turbocharged 1.2-litre with 81 kW and 1.4-litre with 92 kW. The diesel engine on offer will be the 2.0-litre 81 kW.
The Golf SV will only be offered in two equipment lines, Trendline and Comfortline. The Trendline 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. Additionally, the Comfortline has front foglights; rain sensor; electrically adjustable and heated side mirrors and silver roof rails.
The Golf SV is built at Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg factory in Germany alongside the Golf hatchback.
