High expectations here, and easily met. A sizeable constituent within Volkswagen’s customer base buy its cars (and the Golf specifically) because the interior quality and corresponding aesthetic hoist the cabin ambience out of the mainstream.
Remarkably, this is done without fawning too dramatically at the premium brands’ coat tails; instead, the just-so sweetness of the ergonomics and a design blueprint devoid of ostentation are entrusted to convey that all-important waft of understated class. In that respect, the Mk7 is a chip off the block.
VW insists that every element of this interior was redeveloped or redesigned over its predecessor's, but the innate conservatism of the surroundings means you’d struggle to put your finger on what exactly has changed without immediate reference to the Mk6 .
The centre console has been angled even more aggressively towards the driver, but it is probably the multimedia centre at its heart which is worthy of greater attention.
In a potent sign of the times, the trim levels come with more equipment than before, with the entry-level S comes equipped with LED day-running lights, automatic post-collision braking, city emergency braking and electronic locking differential as standard. Inside there is manual air conditioning, a cooled glovebox and Volkswagen's Composition infotainment system complete with 8.0in touchscreen display, DAB radio, and USB and Bluetooth connectivity.