The Volkswagen Golf Plus

Prices for the Volkswagen Golf Plus, which goes on sale in the UK on the 1st June have been revealed today. Recommended retail prices start at £12,895 on the road for the S 1.4-litre 75 PS and rise to £19,600 for the 2.0 litre GT TDI 6 speed auto DSG.

The Golf Plus is a new addition to the increasingly popular Golf range, and fits into the Volkswagen line-up between the Golf hatchback and Touran compact MPV.

However, the Golf Plus is closer in concept to the Golf than the Touran, the latter model being a larger vehicle offered with seven seats. Where the Touran appeals directly to buyers with families who are primarily concerned with practicality and space, the Golf Plus is likely to attract those without families - or with a small family - requiring more room and flexibility than the traditional hatchback can offer. Those who participate in leisure activities such as skiing or surfing are also potential Golf Plus customers.

The Golf Plus is offered in four trim levels - S, SE, Sport and GT TDI/GT FSI - mirroring closely the Golf hatchback range (with the exception of three-door and GTI models). Specifications are also similar with, for example, ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme); Climatic semi-automatic climate control; ABS; six airbags; and a CD/radio as standard on every model. The Golf Plus will also feature LED rear lights as standard, a first for this sector. There is an approximate £500 premium for the Golf Plus over the equivalent Golf hatchback.

Golf Plus shares many of its engines with the Golf hatchback, with four power units available from launch: 1.4-litre 75 PS; 1.6-litre FSI 115 PS; 1.9 TDI 105 PS; and 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS. Later in the year three further engines will be added to the range: 1.4-litre FSI 90 PS; 1.9-litre TDI 90 PS; and 2.0-litre FSI 150 PS.

The similarities between the Golf Plus and the Golf hatchback are no coincidence – the two models are very similar underneath, sharing, for example, the same wheelbase and major mechanical components. However, thanks to its increased height (raised by 95 mm to 1580 mm), the Golf Plus offers more interior space. This means more flexibility for the customer, thanks to more stowage areas and loadspace, more leg room for all occupants, and a more flexible rear seat arrangement.

The 60/40 split rear seats can be shifted lengthways by 160 mm independently of each other. They can also be folded via a new system, which means that the base lowers as the backrest is folded down, resulting in an almost level luggage space. The middle seat even doubles as a fold-down drinks table. Furthermore, a double height boot floor, standard from SE upwards, allows more adaptable stowage and a maximum capacity of 505 litres with the rear seats in place.

The Golf Plus is available to order as from tomorrow (29 April), ahead of its launch date.