DOUBTLESS you will have read a lot about the latest Golf by now. In all respects, the evolution of this hatch into its sixth generation has been a huge success. The fresh lines of the new car may not be as radical as some may have wished for, but there can be no denying that this slightly conservative approach has paid off in terms of the car being instantly recognisable, yet also coming across as a more sophisticated automobile than the previous generation. Levels of refinement and packaging have been improved to give the new car a perceived “class above” feel that few rivals can compete with.
In our July issue, a Golf 6 powered by the new World Engine of the Year, Wolfsburg’s innovative 1,4 TSI “twin blower” powerplant, saw off the challenge of the slightly more affordable Ford Focus 2,0 Si, making the Ford offering feel just a little dated. This time we pitch the turbodiesel Golf against the impressive Honda Civic 2,2i-CTDi, a model we rated very highly in a test published in our May 2008 issue…
DESIGN AND PACKAGING
VW Golf 17/20
Honda Civic 17/20
Next to the fairly radical design of the Civic hatch, the latest Golf’s styling comes across as restrained. Certainly, the new car’s lines are sharper and leaner than the model it replaced, the changes being most noticeable when the two are parked alongside each other. There is a premium feel to the package, both inside and out, and one can only hope that this 82 CAR August 2009 CAR August 2009 83 East meets Tough choice. Golf is the classier, more refined car, but Honda has enviable reliability reputation – HO I find the Golf instantly comfortable and classy. Honda’s cabin takes longer to get accustomed to – IM perceived quality stands the test of time, and not just the initial few thousand kilometres.
One area in which the Highline-specced Golf fell short in our previous comparative test was with its relatively small luggage area, robbed of space by the fitment of a full-size spare wheel. This test car had a spacesaver fitted under the boot board, which frees up an additional 38 dm3, making the luggage area noticeably deeper and more useful.
A sharp, wedge-like design with extrovert styling elements means that the latest Honda Civic is unlikely to have as broad an appeal as other, more conventional competitors in this segment. But this also makes gthe Civic stand out from the crowd. The cleverly “hidden” rear door handles, extensive use of glass around the head- and tail-lamp clusters and split rear glass spoiler give it a much sportier stance than the Golf. Of course, a potential downside to this fairly radical design is that it may date sooner than the Volkswagen’s.
However, Civic is strong on practicality as well as style. An example is the clever packaging, which endows the Honda with impressive rear passenger and utility space.
COMFORT AND FEATURES
VW Golf 16/20
Honda Civic 16/20
As is Volkswagen South Africa’s wont, our Golf TDI test unit arrived fitted with a variety of extra cost options. Fortunately, none of these contributed too much towards the overall positive feel of the car. Extras such as a reverse camera, parking sensors and a touch screen navigation system could easily be left out and not missed. Of the standard equipment fitted, all controls and functions fall easily to hand and are logical to use, but we would, like to see the inclusion of the multi-function steering wheel in a vehicle in this price bracket.
As with the Golf 1,4 TSI, all testers noted just how comfortable is the cabin of the TDI. Front seats offer good support, with ample adjustment, operating in conjunction with rakeand reach movement on the steering column to allow drivers of all shapes and sizes to find an optimal position at the wheel. The placement of the electric window controls high up on the door panel adds convenience.
Standard full-leather trim and climate control help to achieve an up-market feel in the Civic’s cabin. It takes a little longer to get comfortable in the Honda, though, as there isn’t as much adjustment available, especially on the driver’s seat, as in the Golf. Also, a bit more time is required to get accustomed to the slightly busy switchgear and controls. Far from conservative, which fans of the brand will appreciate, the very different layout of controls and instrumentation does take some getting used to, and isn’t to everyone’s liking. There is a sense that build quality is high, though, and an impression that the cabin is built to last longer than the warranty, something that we hope the latest Volkswagens will fi nally achieve.
Both cars offer good rear passenger legroom, with the Golf’s standard rear air vents adding to comfort levels.
RIDE, HANDLING AND BRAKING
VW Golf 18/20
Honda Civic 16/20
One of the most impressive attributes of the latest Golf is the comfortable ride that it offers. The solid feel of the car is offset nicely by the compliant and competent suspension dynamics. MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear cope well with most road imperfections in slow-moving traffic, and come into their own on the open road. A firmer, sportier set-up will be reserved for the upcoming GTI version, but even with this comfort-biased configuration handling is neutral and confident. Body roll is kept to a minimum and standard ESP stability control keeps a watchful eye over proceedings.
By contrast, the Honda Civic has a slightly firmer ride that complements a more driver oriented suspension and dynamics set-up. This firmer ride is evident over uneven surfaces but is still compliant enough to not be uncomfortable. The payoff is that the Civic feels decidedly more light-footed and agile than the Golf.
Both cars come standard with 17-inch alloy wheels and corresponding 45-profile tyres.
With its emphasis on comfort, one might be forgiven for thinking that this Golf has lost its edge in terms of driver involvement and entertainment, but in fact it matches the Honda in terms of confidence inspiring handling characteristics. The Honda, however, feels the sportier of the two, while the Golf is the more comfortable in everyday driving conditions.
PERFORMANCE
VW Golf 16/20
Honda Civic 17/20
In our previous test of the Civic we referred to its 2,2-litre common-rail direct injection turbodiesel engine as “the real star of the show.” Not only is it one of the most powerful engines in its class, but also one of the most refined. The fact that the new 2,0 TDI Volkswagen engine matches up to the Honda, both on performance and refinement, is what makes this comparison test such a close-fought contest.
The Golf’s latest-generation 1 968 cm3 turbodiesel features a more precise and flexible injection process via special, eight-hole injection nozzles, electronically controlled by state-of-the-art piezo-electric in-line injectors. The result is not only improved fuel consumption, but also newfound levels of smoothness and refinement. These characteristics, combined with the Golf’s impressively well-insulated cabin, make this TDI model easily one of the quietest in its class, especially at idle.
It doesn’t get much closer in terms of performance figures than with these two, either. The Golf matches the Civic’s 103 kW of power, available at 4 200 r/min (4 000 in the Honda) and offers slightly less torque than the Japanese model, at 320 N.m (compared with 340) but this is available from a low 1 750 r/min, as opposed to 2 000 r/min in the Civic. These outputs translate into near identical performance results. The Golf sprinted to within a hundredth of a second of the Civic’s posted 0-100 km/h time of 9,8 seconds, and fell just 1 km/h shy of matching the Honda’s 205 km/h top speed.
Most testers noted that the Honda’s engine felt slightly more zippy and responsive around town and, combined with its slick six-speed gearbox, the Civic had a more sporty feel to it than the more relaxed Golf with its chunky, solid-shifting, six-speed ’box. The Honda power unit’s perceived edge is reflected in its slightly faster ingear acceleration times.
The 2 204 cm3 Honda engine, with its off-set cylinders, secondorder balancer shaft and pendulum- type engine mountings impressed us with its smoothness and refinement and the fact that the Volkswagen matches these qualities is probably the highest compliment that we can pay the latest Golf TDI.
FUEL ECONOMY
VW Golf 18/20
Honda Civic 17/20
The benefit of offering similarly high levels of refinement and smoothness, without sacrificing performance, is that both these models impress when it comes to efficiency and fuel consumption. The Volkswagen just pips the Honda here, though, with a fuel index of 5,88 litres/100 km, which should offer a 936 km range from its 55-litre tank. The Honda, with a 6,24 litres/100 km index figure and smaller 50-litre fuel tank, should be good for 802 kilometres between fill-ups.
VALUE FOR MONEY
VW Golf 15/20
Honda Civic 16/20
You could be not be blamed for thinking that R298 800 seems like a lot of money to be paying for a “mere” Golf, but then, even with the premium that Volkswagen South Africa has a reputation for including, the new model does feel like a very well put together and classy vehicle. Standard specifi cation is a bit basic, but there is enough included so as not make owners feel too shortchanged. We look forward to hearing stories of long-term durability and rattle-free interior quality in the latest Volkswagen products to match the perceived levels that we have experienced while the vehicles are new.
The fact that the Civic is backed by Honda’s reputation for brand loyalty and continually impressive customer satisfaction results means that there is a high level of brand confi dence included in its R289 900 purchase price. Honda also offers a comprehensive standard specification list that makes the Civic a fairly complete package, as is.
The Golf’s popularity and Honda’s reputation should result in both cars having good re-sale values.
VERDICT
VW Golf 17/20
Honda Civic 17/20
When we previously tested the Civic 2,2i-CTDi VXi we noted in our rivals panel that the Honda, at the price, had the beating of the Golf 5 TDI on almost all fronts. That was then. With the latest Golf, Volkswagen has certainly closed the gap on what was perceived to be the class-leading turbodiesel hatch. Golf 6 offers impressive levels of comfort and refi nement, and certainly has an expensive feel to match its price tag. What were impressive fi gures from Honda’s common-rail diesel engine have been matched by Volkswagen and, in terms of effi ciency, have even been bettered.
That said, and as we have mentioned throughout this test, we look forward to receiving the same levels of positive ownership feedback from owners of the latest-generation Volkswagen products as we do from Honda owners.
If we were choosing these cars based on showroom impressions, the Golf would have to win thanks to its classy (if somewhat safe) looks, impressive perceived quality inside and out, and high levels of refi nement. But were we to base our result on prospective long-term ownership, based on our experience to date the Honda would remain our choice.
