Volkswagen Golf

Refinement. That's what the latest Golf is all about. Refine the ride, refine the engine noise, even refine the plastics. Possibly refine the looks as well, although in this respect it's so identical to the last one that it's difficult to tell.

All of which means there's a genuine big car feel about the Golf MkVI. The diesels will be the most popular over here, but don't rule out the petrols - the 118TSI is a nice halfway house to the GTI, and the 90TSI is fine if your annual mileage isn't huge.

Don't be fooled by the TSI badge of the latter, as there isn't a trick turbo and supercharged arrangement. It's just a turbo here, which is so smooth that you really can't feel it boosting pressure. Which is another way of saying that its effect is virtually unnoticeable - low down in the revs there's not much torque, but equally up high there's not an abundance of poke.

This sounds like faint praise, until you remember that the old 1.6-litre FSI engine was far rougher and much less economical. Equally, it was hardly the last word in pace. The diesel is still far better on the current car, but this petrol brings it closer than it was.

Piers Ward