The Golf, then. One of the few cars that can simply be itself, and one of the few that defines a genre. It’s not ‘Hyundai/Ford/BMW/whoever’s new Golf rival’; instead, it simply is what it is: the epitome of the small family car and the one by which others are judged.
It's now in Mk7 form, a Golf underpinned by a platform known as MQB that carries great responsibility for the Volkswagen Group. Dozens of cars within the group are being rolled out based on this architecture, throughout the group's brands, in sizes ranging from a VW Polo supermini to the likes of a seven-seat SUV as previewed by the VW CrossBlue concept. Although the Mk8 is on the horizon with the replacement Golf set to be unveil in November.
The Golf, as ever, is almost clinically evolutionary in its feel and appearance, yet it is ground-up fresh technology from its MQB platform to the all-new motors in its subtly more angular body.
There is no getting away from the fact the Golf is a recipe that works and Volkswagen would be bonkers to change it. The 29 million they’ve sold since it was launched in 1974 proves this.
Since then range has been expanded greatly, to encompass everything from a 1.0-litre petrol turbo, through to the fast Golf R hot hatchback with true sports car pace. Bodystyles include three- and five-door hatchbacks, an estate, the MPV-styled SV, the rugged Alltrack and the recently axed convertible.
Although since diesel-gate much pressure has been put on the VW Group and as an attempt to hone in on increasing profit margins the next generation Golf will only be available in certain guises. Ahead of the Mark 8 Golf, Volkswagen gave the seventh-generation a light facelift with subtle changes to the exterior and interior, alongside the introduction of a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine.
