The Premium Car Volkswagen (VW)

Volkswagen (VW) is one of the premium automotive brands that has an extensive line of products. Ranging from the Passat in the sedan segment, the MPV Caravelle, and there's also the Touareg to cater the SUV segment, VW has it all covered. Needless to say, with the range of Polos and Golfs, the hatchback segment is no exception.

Speaking about the Golf, it's a far too familiar model for automotive fans, especially to VW fans. This VW hatchback was first introduced in 1974 and it's been in production ever since.

In Indonesia, Golf comes in two variants, the GTI and the TSi. The GTI type is a CBU (Completely Built Up) shipped directly from its home country, while the TSi is assembled locally.

The Tsi variant offers the benefit of a locally-assembled and affordably-priced version of this legendary hatchback

Consequently, the TSi is much more affordable than the GTI. FYI, the GTI is priced at Rp575 million (on-the-road), while the TSi is offered at Rp354 million. (1$ = 9000)

The price difference of Rp221 million has of course created differences between the two, whether in their standard equipments, features, including the engine as well.

Exterior

Since its launch in 2011, the Golf TSi is positioned by VW Indonesia for beginner buyers who are seeking the Golf but with a limited budget.

On first glance, the TSi lacks the sporty stance as well as aesthetics of the stronger and more potent GTI. While the Golf you see here sports bold defined lines on the its body, it does lend itself to a more feminine side, especially when compared to its cult brethren.

Nonetheless, lacking body kits and a rear spoiler doesn't necessarily make this car look less stylish. Up front, the grille is decorated with ornate chrome ornaments, as well as chrome accents on the outer ring of its fog lamps.

Its side-view mirrors are shaped in a pointy manner with the side indicators adding a dynamic feel while also putting across the impression of a timeless design. The 16-inch high-gloss five double-spoke rims also complement the appearance of this five-door hatch.

Interior

A lavish impression radiates through the black Alcantara upholstery that covers the seats and steering wheel. Other than being extremely comfortable, the seats are are bucket-like, all in the name of a holding the driver in place when the car is driven with gusto.

VW as an automaker for premium quality emanates through the elegance of the black leather-upholstered seats

The only minor downside is the low seating position. While it enhances the sporty feel of the car, visibility is compromised. As such, the driver has to spend a fair bit of time adjusting the seating position.

Don't get your hopes up when you look at the centre dashboard, because there's nothing special there. The AC and audio controls are only adorned with simple black panels. The manufacturer could have applied some improvisations to elevate the character of the interior. For example, wooden ornaments or carbon fibre would have been perfect for the finishing touch.

That said, it remains to be a satisfying cabin to be in as noise levels are kept well at bay, creating that privacy we all love and enjoy when inside a car.

A unique feature, opening the trunk by a press of the VW logo

During the trip, there was almost no noise from the tyre rotation, engine, or even the exhaust pipe. The Golf TSi also provides convenience for the rear passengers with the arm rest in the centre that can be opened to allow luggage retrieval without having to go out of the car and opening the trunk.

For music lovers, this premium hatchback provides excellent audio quality. With a factory-fitted head unit that can play CDs and MP3/WMA audio formats through its eight speakers, the sound quality is superb. Perfect for the low key tunes of progressive-trance music Dash Berlin.

Performance

Born with the TSi (Turbo Stratified Injection) logo on its back door, the VW Golf TSi's engine features a modest 1,390cc displacement capacity, and can churn up to 160hp. This engine is accompanied by a seven-speed DSG (Direk-Schalt Gatriebe or Direct Shift Gearbox automatic) transmission.

The transmission becomes one of the aspects that give the VW Golf Tsi its excellent performance through the smooth gear transitions

On sprinting in S mode, the TSi, which has a 50PS gap from the GTI, is aggressive across the range. Very useful for those short accelerations during overtaking manoeuvres.

The steering control is certainly stable, which we discovered as we drove this car above 80km/hour and while passing through the sharp bents on the Jakarta-Serpong toll road. The suspension setting from the manufacturer also gives a driver the confidence to perform more extreme manoeuvres.

 Gear transition process is smooth as silk with no symptom of stompings commonly experienced with conventional automatic transmissions.

Conclusion

In our domestic market, there are already plenty hatchback sedans for a consumer to choose from, such as the Toyota Yaris, Honda Jazz, Mazda2, Suzuki Swift, and many more. These are Japanese cars that are fairly in demand because of their affordable price and easy maintenance.

However, if you're a brand-driven person, the Volkswagen Golf TSi is a viable option. The TSi offers good handling and stability since European products have been renowned to have a great deal of concern regarding these two factors.

Moreover, the Golf TSi also offers seven airbags, ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) and traction control, safety features that are rarely found on Japanese hatchbacks.