Usually, compact cars aren't particularly thrilling to drive. Since their mandate is to provide economical, practical, A to B transportation, the emphasis is put on value for money, thrift, and ease of operation, rather than the ability to get from a standing start to freeway speed in less than six seconds. People that typically buy these kinds of cars don't much care about performance, cornering prowess, or horsepower output. They want the car to come with a reasonable price tag, deliver good fuel economy, and stand up to the rigors of daily driving....usually in commuting scenario.
But that doesn't mean they can't have a high driveability factor. Volkswagen, who pretty much created the econobox market niche in North America, has always managed to infuse its cars with a dash of driveability. Even the original Rabbit, introduced in - what? - 1972, was fun to drive and a favourite with weekend rally sport buffs and amateur racers. That's one of the things that made it so popular.
It's latest incarnation, the City Golf, stays true to VW's roots. It has a very reasonable base price, serves up decent - but not outstanding - fuel economy, and is a pleasure behind the wheel. It's one of those cars that I looked forward to driving every chance I got, and although it wasn't on this year's compact car entry roster at the recent Automotive Journalist's Association of Canada Test Fest, had it been, it would have gotten my vote.
For its just over $15,000 price tag, the City Golf comes well equipped. It's available as a four-door hatchback only, and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, an eight-speaker stereo system, tilt and telescoping steering and 15-inch wheels and tires all come standard.
As does a robust 2.0 litre four cylinder engine that delivers 115 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 122 foot-pounds of torque at 2600 rpm. Two transmissions are available: five-speed manual and six-speed automatic $1400. My car had the five-speed. This powertrain doesn't make the City Golf the most powerful model in this class, nor the thriftiest, but it is still a peppy little car, with more than enough oomph for most folks. For what it's worth, VW gives the City Golf a 0 to 100 km/h time of slightly over ten seconds and a top speed on the high side of 200 km/h....more than enough to exceed Ontario's tough new 50 km/h over the limit and you lose your ride by-law.
One of my own little unofficial tests that I occasionally like to put cars like this through is shifting gears without a clutch. Especially when it involves front-drive models. Time your revs and "feel" your way through the gearbox. Some cars - notably Honda and Toyota products - have such well-designed transmissions and shift mechanisms, you can just slip through the gears, clutchless, with ease. Others resist and reward you with an alarming-sounding crunch. The City Golf falls into the former category, and, once warmed up, has a buttery-smooth transmission with well-placed shift points and an easy-to-get-along-with shift mechanism.
That said, my test car could definitely use a sixth gear. On the highway, it tends to buzz and at 100 km/h, is revving at precisely 3000 rpm. Any long distance, dawn-til-dusk drives could get a little on the loud side, and I guess VW decided to cut costs in the sound-deadening department.
The main virtue of the City Golf lies in its accessible base price. It starts at $15,300, which is up some $400 over last year's version. Keep things at that level and it's a decent value. However, add a few goodies like air conditioning $1350, and additional airbags $160 and $410 and it's not quite as competitive. My tester had both of these items, plus the "Comfort Package", which includes power door locks and windows, cruise control, and remote central locking, and adds another $1175 to the sticker price. After the dust settled, my bright yellow model was priced at $19,419, which kind of changes things.
But for around-town driving and running errands, the City Golf still hits the target. If you compare what you get for the same kind of money, you end up with models like - oh - the Dodge Caliber, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent, Mazda3, and even the diminutive Smart Fourtwo. With the possible exception of the Mazda3 which is at least $1000 more expensive, the City Golf is superior to all of these competitors. Some of its rivals offer better fuel economy, some have a slightly lower price tag, other are bigger inside, but pound for pound, the City Golf offers the most car for the money. Like so many successful automobiles, it may not excel in any one particular area, but taken as a whole, it's tough to beat.
And it's fun to drive, which seals the deal, as far as I'm concerned.
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