Remarkably ordinary

Price: n/a Powertrain: 2,0-litre, 4-cyl, turbodiesel Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Power: 110 kW @ 3 500-4 000 r/min Torque: 360 N.m @ 1 750-3 000 r/min 0-100 km/h: 8,8 seconds* Top speed: 223 km/h* Fuel consumption: TBC CO₂ : TBC Rivals: Mazda3; Toyota Corolla Hatch

+ stellar refinement; bang-up-to-date tech

- some cheaper trim; long wait for SA

When you’ve got a bestseller that’s clocked up more than 35 million sales, you wouldn’t want to change the recipe much when it comes to launching a new generation. And that’s the thing about the new Golf Mk8.

You see, while it looks different from some angles to the model it replaces, the styling is still Golf-like. The interior may be modern in look and some of the engines may well be new, but the platform on which the Mk8