Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet 1.4 TSI (DSG) Review: Open Air Golfing

What we like:

Affordable price tag

classless looks

practical nature

quick operating roof

strong performance from small engine

cheap to fuel and tax

What we dislike:

Soft top design still not as secure as a folding metal hardtop

interior too similar to Golf hatchback

Inside, the Cabriolet shares its overall interior with the regular Golf hatchback which means a logically laid out and highly adjustable driving environment as well as high levels of fit and finish that has won the Golf so many fans and owners in recent years. Top spec models like the car tested here comes with the RNS510 radio navigation system head unit with sat nav.

At the rear, kneeroom is similar to the hatch’s, which means enough space for two adults to be comfortable in even on long journeys. Headroom with the roof up is pretty good as well and access to the rear is easy thanks to generously sized doors and front seats that tumble and slide forward. Shoulder room at the rear though isn’t as accommodating as in the hatch as the roof’s mechanism takes up some space along the sides at the rear.

Another big advantage of the Golf’s soft top design is that the roof doesn’t eat into boot space when it is retracted. Inevitably, the Cabrio’s 250-litre boot isn’t as voluminous as the hatchback’s while access is limited by the small opening but it’s a practical boot area with bag hooks in the side panels and remote hatch release mechanisms to fold the 50/50 split/fold rear seat backs.

In addition to the reinforced body and the rollover protection system, the Golf Cabriolet is equipped with a plethora of airbags including head-thorax and knee airbags to protect its occupants in a shunt. The top spec model like the car tested here comes with additional kit and luxuries that includes the previously mentioned RNS 510 radio navigation system, LED daytime running lights, bi-Xenon headlamps, 17-inch wheels, sports suspension, paddle shifts, dual zone climate control and wind deflector, which is a lot of kit for just $9,000 more over a basic car. Even with this $9k slapped over the Golf Cabriolet’s base price, the new topless model is noticeably more affordable than many of its most obvious competitors.

With the Golf Cabriolet, Volkswagen has not only revived the spirit of the original Golf Cabriolet but has also made classy topless motoring more affordable and accessible than ever. This could well be the car that finally brings topless motoring to the masses.

Credits: Story by Raymond Lai Photos by Yang and Raymond Lai