Scale things up with the new Volkswagen Golf SV 2.0 TDI Comfortline - for when a hatch no longer suf

What happens when you outgrow a Volkswagen Golf? When you have just too much luggage for a small hatchback and a string of kids on the arm? You buy a sedan, do you not? It’s the logical step. You go from a hatch to a sedan; from a sedan to an estate and then if you really need to, an MPV.

South Africans do it a little different though and often they’ll jump straight from the hatch, to an SUV, regardless of whether they actually need it’s off-road prowess or not. We like to sit a little higher, look out over the traffic and have several tonnes of steel and glass around us to make us feel more secure on the road. The irony is that we will still flock to the dealerships with OTPs on SUVs, all the while complaining about the price of fuel and incessant gridlock we find ourselves in on a daily basis.

We also, for some strange reason, reject estates. Their popularity in Europe is well documented and one would think that their practicality would be a boon for local consumers, yet there’s something uncool about them in the eyes of the South African consumer.

If none of those options seem appealing to you, if you’re the sort of person that needs that extra space but doesn’t want to walk down the path of an SUV, then you need to go visit a VW dealership. Their latest offering is one that gives you more space than a hatch, with the drivability of one. All without the cumbersome size of a softroader.

The SV in the name stands for Sports Van, but VW doesn’t like you to call it a van, preferring to think of their latest offering as a crossover model, rather than something agricultural. The irony was that we had the 2.0 TDI Comfortline on test. This top of the range model was also fitted with the DSG gearbox and in this vehicle it makes sense - it’s sadly, not as sporty as the name would lead you to believe.

Appearance

While based on the MQB platform that the current Golf is built on, it’s a larger version of the Golf in all aspects. It’s taller, wider, longer and higher version of the Golf and the similarities end at the name. The doors are larger and the windows deeper, the front and rear bumpers roll neatly over the extremities of the car. Nearly each and every panel, every piece of glass, every plastic trim is unique to the SV - there’s so little Golf DNA in the SV that it could easily be a stand alone model.

Interior

It’s in that that it loses some of its appeal, but what it loses there, it makes up for in other areas. The build quality is undeniably Volkswagen and the vehicle is wonderfully engineered. The interior is a lovely place to spend some time and works well with the size and SVs intended use. It takes the best of what VW currently offers and blends it together into a package that suits the car. There’s the infotainment system from the current Polo Range, the steering wheel from Golf and Jetta range. It’s a considerable improvement over the Tiguan and Touran inside and the combination of the angles surfaces with the brushed aluminium trim is more than just pleasant. 

Versatility

The party piece for the SV comes in the form of its loading option and versatility. This is where VW has done some thinking. The rear seats are reclinable, but not only that, they are fitted to rails so that rear legroom can be improved by sliding them back or destroyed by pulling them all the way forward. What you lose in legroom, you gain in loading space. 

Aside from the two-level boot floor which is admittedly a little pointless, the rear seats offer a three-way fold to offer you a ski hatch, part fold or complete fold and ingenious covers can flip from the boot floor to cover the gap created by pulling the rear seats forward. The boot floor also makes provisions for stowing the parcel shelf, but then it has to remain in its highest position - thus, a little pointless. You can choose - parcel shelf in the way and a deep boot, or a shallow boot and no parcel shelf. My tail, I will go chase it now.

Despite its shortcomings, the additional loading area, high roof line and increased width means that with everything folded into place to maximise loading space, you will have 1520-litres at your disposal. Folded up, the boot is still a cavernous 500-litres - considerably bigger than the 380-litres you get from a Golf.

Engine

The 2.0-litre TDI DSG Comfortline produces 88kW and 250Nm torque from the 2.0-litre turbo diesel. It’s slightly underpowered for something that has Sport in its name. It’s more than adequate enough for the daily grind, but when you pack it full of luggage and passengers, it may start to feel the pinch.

The Golf SV 2.0 TDI Comfortline DSG retails for R359 200 before you start speccing it, so not only is it larger than a Golf, it’s also more expensive.