Volkswagen predicts sales to be largely unchanged from the existing model’s 60,000, which account for almost three-quarters of total Golf registrations.

The Golf is the fleet car, popular with user-chooser and job-need drivers alike. And while the mark-to-mark changes remain evolutionary rather than revolutionary, this car is significantly different – and improved – over its predecessor.
Many of the improvements are in the areas that are fundamental to fleets.

The corporate-staple 1.6-litre TDI cuts CO2 emissions from 107g/km to 99g/km, due in part to a 100kg weight reduction; residual values are expected to increase a couple of percentage points; SMR costs will reduce – all of which adds up to cheaper running costs.

For now, the 1.6-litre TDI SE 105bhp five-speed manual will be the key model. Fleets can order from October 18; deliveries begin in January.

Additions to the line-up in 2013 include the Bluemotion, GTi and GTD variants. An electric e-Golf will be launched in early 2014 (the UK will not take the CNG – compressed natural gas – version due to lack of infrastructure), followed by a plug-in version in 2015.

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