The Best Golf Yet?

Though its not usually the first car in popularity here in North America, Volkswagens Golf is near the top of its compact category throughout the rest of the world. Aside from selling over one million examples per year, a total of 22 million since its introduction, and being assembled in six plants globally, the Golf has topped sales in a category that ranges from truly basic transportation to near premium luxury. Unlike the brands most recent offering, the Phaeton, VWs Golf at least lives up to the company name - it really is a "peoples car".

The current version has been produced since the latter half of 1998 (only appearing on North American soil in 1999), giving it a long lifespan of six years. Its gone toe to toe with such compact leaders as the Ford Focus, Mazda Protegé (now Mazda3), Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, let alone the countless European rivals we wont ever see here.

At the same

Volkswagens Golf is near the top of its compact category in popularity throughout Europe and the rest of the world. (Photo: Volkswagen)

If you trace the Golf down its family line, youll notice that each new model has inherent traits spawned

The new Mk V Golf measures in at 165 inches in length, growing from 163 inches in its current generation. (Photo: Volkswagen AG)

In comparison to the original, and even the current Mk IV, the next-generation Golf continues to balloon in size. The Mk V measures in at 165 inches in length, growing from 163 inches in the last generation and from 146 in its first state. Its wheelbase has also grown to a respectable 102 inches, albeit only a moderate step up from the last generations 99 inches it will improve rear seat legroom.

Besides making the Golf larger, Volkswagen

While at first interesting to look at, the new Golf may take some time for VW fans to warm up to. (Photo: Volkswagen AG)

Volkswagen is also introducing new module doors which consist of an inner door and an outer skin. If damaged in a minor

Taller and larger, the next-generation Golf remains a well-proportioned, classy automobile - a formidable successor to the Mk IV. (Photo: Volkswagen)

Style wise, the new Golf is a mixed basket. While at first interesting to look at it may take some time for VW fans to warm up to. Penned by designer Marc Lichte, this new Golf incorporates many trademark designs in a new, tall-body design. With a similar profile to the hardly popular Honda Civic SiR hatchback, and countless European hatchbacks including the Peugeot 307 and Renault Megane, Lichte has added a few VW details which draw styling cues from the Touareg, Phaeton, Passat and Polo.

Theres plenty of glass and the trademark fat rear pillar is still present. The new Golf also includes

All cars should feature the same attention to interior detail as the Golf does, regardless of price. (Photo: Volkswagen)

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