The Golf is a medium sized coupe hatchback that has been produced by Volkswagen for close to forty years and is now in its sixth series.
Originally earmarked to become a front wheel drive substitute for the original VW Beetle , the Golf Coupe Hatchback has gone on to become the best-selling car that Volkswagen have ever produced, as well as the third best-selling car in history. While the bulk of the more than twenty million Golf's that have rolled off the production lines since 1974 were of the three door hatchback variety, the Golf has appeared in many formats including a five door hatchback, station wagon, convertible and even a saloon version.
The current version of the Volkswagen Golf Coupe Hatchback is the series six, first unveiled in late 2008 at the Paris Auto Show, reaching the United States by mid 2010.
The 2012 Series Six Volkswagen Golf now comes as a five seater, either three doors or five door hatchback. The Golf comes in three trim levels, the standard L, the TDI and the sporty GTI.
The 2012 Volkswagen Golf 2.5L is powered by a 2.5 liter five cylinder producing 170 horsepower and 177 pounds per feet of torque, paired with a five speed manual transmission as standard , with the option of fitting a six speed automatic transmission.
More powerful is the Golf TDI coming with Volkswagen's 2.0-liter four cylinders Turbo-diesel producing a 140 horsepower and a healthy 236 pounds per feet of torque. The TDI comes paired with standard six speed manual transmission or the option of a six speed automated manual direct shift gearbox (DSG).
As far as speed is concerned, Volkswagen have done a fine job of tweaking up the GTE version, fitting it out with a turbo-charged, 2.0-liter 4 cylinder engine that produces an impressive 200 of horsepower and 207 pounds per feet of torque that can again be paired with a DSG manual transmission.
Reviews report that both the three door and five door versions of the Golf provide a smooth and even ride, thanks to the hatchback's hyper- responsive electric power steering.
The Golf has been around for so long that many buyers find its traditional square lines comforting and reassuring while others might crave a change of look after all of these years. For those who prefer the status quo, they will find a lot of it in the 2012 Series Six Volkswagen Golf Coupe Hatchback which has been around for six years now and with very little in the way of exterior or interior changes having been made in that time.
There is lots of leg and head room for the driver and passengers while those in the back seat might find things a little cramped, especially if they are all adults, and if a lot of passenger carrying could be a regular task, then the five door hatchback has to be the one to go for.
The Golf Hatchback, no matter if it is the three or five door version, comes with around fifteen cubic feet of storage with the back seat up and a reasonably impressive 46 cubic feet if the seats are folded forward.