Car Reviews > Volkswagen > Golf Cabriolet > Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Prices: £25,595
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder twin-charged
Gearbox: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power/torque: 157 bhp/ 240 Nm
0-62 mph: 8.4 seconds
Top Speed: 134 miles per hour
Economy: 44.1 miles per gallon
Emissions: 150g per kilometre
Equipment: Climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, alloy wheels, leather seats, cruise control
On Sale: Now

The range-topping VW Golf soft-top does not come cheap – but is it worth the high cost?

The VW Golf Cabriolet has finally arrived in the United Kingdom and has started to win plaudits already. The most expensive model is the 1.4 TSI GT model, priced at £25,595, but does it really justify that price tag? After all, for much the same money you can move up to the bigger Eos, which comes with a folding hardtop. Mind you, there are actually several very good reasons why you ought not to.

For one thing, the Golf simply looks better. When the top is up, it has a terrific low-slung roofline that helps it to create a sporty profile. When the canvas hood is neatly stowed away, it generates a sleek appearance with the absence of roll-hoops.

The roof itself is capable of being lowered in as little as 9.5 seconds when driving at up to 18 miles per hour, while its solidity is aided by the inclusion of a canvas-covered metal panel. That panel is positioned on the top when the roof has been folded and essentially removes the necessity for a separate tonneau cover, reducing complexity and saving on weight. As well as helping to create a sense of refinement that is positively leading the class when the hood is up, it also means that when folded, the roof does not intrude into the boot. This means that there are 25-litres of boot space available whether the top is up or down, which is as much as 45 litres more than is offered by the Eos even when its lid has been folded.

The Cabriolet also has the same length wheelbase as offered by the Eos, so the classy cabin has plenty of room and even seating up to as many as four adults should pose no problem at all.

The handling is also first class. Engineers from Volkswagen have reinforced the windscreen frames, doors, cross members and side panels in order to be able to keep as much of the characteristics of the hatchback as they possibly can. The end result is a complete lack of scuttle shake, almost no body roll, and a large amount of grip, which is partly thanks to the lowered sports suspension that has been fitted to this GT model. The Golf also rides very well over bumpy surfaces, with only very large imperfections causing mirrors to shake as a result of the suspension becoming unbalanced.

The engine is without a doubt the real star of the show however, being not just refined and smooth but also producing a healthy bhp rating of 157 at 5800 revs per minute. It takes just 8.4 seconds to go from 0-62 miles per hour, with the top speed standing at as much as 134 miles per hour.

The fuel economy figure is pretty good as well, with Volkswagen claiming a rating of 44.1 miles per gallon and CO2 emissions levels of 150g per kilometre.

The Cabriolet is certainly rather expensive, but that is pretty much the only bad thing you can say about it. It has a stylish appearance, sharp drive, and classy cabin and even if the GT is a bit out of your price range, other models such as the 1.6 TDI and 1.2 TSI are almost equally as impressive.

by Autoweb