High on style

The Volkswagen CrossGolf is a versatile car, a lifestyle model designed to appeal to buyers who fancy the looks of an off-roader, but don't need the off-roadability, says Shiva Kumar Thekkepat

Somebody at Volkswagen certainly believes niche marketing is its lifeblood. And perhaps they're not wrong either.

Consider the many variants of its top-selling model, the Golf. And now comes another, this time based on another niche variant - the Plus.

The new CrossGolf is a lifestyle model designed to appeal to buyers who fancy the looks of an off-roader, but do not require its off-roadability. The CrossGolf, according to Volkswagen, is part-MPV, part-SUV.

A slightly confusing mix. But if you're in the market for a family hatchback, maybe it's the one for you.

It's a looker, all right. Chunky wraparound body cladding in 'anthracite', a neat silver air intake at the front flanked by fog lights and silver roof rails have been added to the Plus's body.

And it certainly makes a world of difference in the looks department. A 20mm increase in ride height and 17-inch alloy wheels complement the sporty, off-roader claims.

Inside, practicality is just as good as that of the regular Golf Plus, with plenty of headroom all round and a sliding rear seat that is a huge advantage.

The seating position has been increased which, combined with the vehicle's increased ground clearance, gives the driver an excellent view. The air vents and pedals are finished in silver, and there is a three-spoke leather steering wheel and leather trim on the gear lever.

The first thing you notice when you open the door is the increase in space. This is particularly so in the rear where there is a lot of leg and head room.

VW managed to raise the roof which allows for a higher seating position both front (9.5cm) and rear (10.5cm). Aeons ahead of the regular Golf and Golf Plus. As a result, the view is more commanding and rear passengers benefit from extra leg room over the already spacious standard Golf.

Another new feature is a clever multi-variable 60/40 split folding rear seating system which allows for backrest angle adjustment as well as the entire seat to slide forward.

When the backrests are folded down the bottom seat cushions automatically slide forward allowing the backrest to lie level with the cargo floor. The rear cargo floor area also has a sub-level for more storage space.

Some practical details such as folding tables behind the standard front sport seats with storage bins underneath are definitely welcome. The centre section of the seat can be folded down to form a table surface ... helpful when you have messy kids (or adults) on board.

Depending on the bench configuration the cargo volume of the trunk area behind the large rear hatch ranges between 395 and 505 litres. Around 1,450 litres of cargo space is available when the seatbacks are folded down.

The stylised under-protection at the rear end is supposed to protect the car during 'light off-roading duties'. The kind of off-roading you can do with the CrossGolf however is limited to the occasional meander down a rutty path.

Steering the CrossGolf is easy and accurate. The standard sports seats are very supportive. The overall driving experience is competent, aided by spot-on braking.

However, due to the extra ride height, the car isn't as agile as a Golf and the suspension set-up is quite firm.
Particularly suited for families with children, the Golf Plus is undoubtedly a versatile car.

It works well as the main transport vehicle, or even as a second car or for couples with not more than two children looking for the weekend getaway. According to Volkswagen, it fits into the model line-up filling the gap between the Golf hatchback and the Touran MPV.

In the Middle East, the CrossGolf is available in a 1.6-litre four cylinder that delivers 102 bhp, with a maximum torque of 148 Newton-metre at 3,800 rpm.

According to Volkswagen, it consumes 7.8 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres on average. Fitted with a five-speed gearbox the CrossGolf, weighing in at about 1,300 kg, reaches a top speed of 173 km/h. It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.2 seconds.

Safety features include six airbags (front, side and head airbags); rear side bags can be ordered as an option. As in the Golf and Golf Plus the front seats have crash-optimised head restraints and pyrotechnic belt tensioners with integrated force limiters.

In addition to its five three-point belt restraints and head restraints, Isofix child seat mounting fixtures are provided at the outer rear seating positions.

It also features the ESP electronic stabilisation programme together with counter-steering (if the car detects a skid) and trailer stabilisation, ABS and brake assist on board.

Most other options are based on features of the Golf Plus Sportline. These include a multifunctional leather steering wheel, iPod capability, DVD system for the rear seats, various audio and navigation systems, electrically adjustable driver's seat, acoustic parking pilot and bi-xenon headlamps with curve lighting.

Overall, I liked the shape, and I really liked the interior, and was satisfied with the drive. The CrossGolf certainly is a compelling package. Provided you are willing to pay Dh82,000 for the entry-level model.