Our first test of an individual model in the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf range involved driving more than a thousand miles in just under a week. Cars can quickly become annoying in these circumstances, but nothing the Golf did altered my belief that it's currently the best model available in what the motor industry calls the C segment.This particular car was in SE trim, the middle one of three specifications available from launch, and with the two-litre turbo diesel engine which, at 148bhp, is the most powerful in the range and will remain so until the GTI and GTD hot hatches come along.There's very little to be said against the engine. It can be a little growly at times, but on the whole it runs very quietly, and considering its power output (which is enough to accelerate the Golf from 0-62mph in under nine seconds if required) it doesn't use much fuel. The official combined economy figure of 68.9mpg is probably out of reach for most of us, but according to the trip computer, which my measurements suggested is pretty accurate, the test car managed 52mpg in town and country motoring and over 57mpg on the motorway.There was an implied challenge in those figures which I was keen to accept, and for a while I was able to maintain more than 60mpg in motorway running, but that was only on flat ground, in good weather conditions, and at significantly below the speed limit. Still, high-50s consumption isn't bad for a fairly powerful diesel car whose shape (because that sharply cut-off back end must create a lot of aerodynamic turbulence) does little to promote fuel economy.In my review of the range as a whole I mentioned that if you want the lowest noise levels and the best ride quality from your Golf you need to choose the smallest wheels and highest-profile tyres. The SE comes as standard with 16" rims, and I was impressed with that set-up at the UK media launch because I felt other, more sporty ones were less effective.Having now put a lot of miles on the SE without the distraction of considering other Golfs, I think I need to revise that slightly. The test car was a little too floaty over large bumps and dealt with smaller ones too abruptly, and if I were in a position of power within Volkswagen I'd be asking for another few days' worth of suspension development. A Ford Focus on similarly-sized wheels rides better, though when you go up to 17s or 18s the Golf becomes the superior car.With the exception of a couple of very cheap-feeling rotary knobs mentioned in the launch review, the interior is beautifully put together from high-quality materials. It's roomy, too - even though I'm six foot three tall I need the driver's seat, most unusually, to be one notch ahead of its rearmost position, and when it's there I can sit behind it, a thing almost impossible in previous Golfs. The extra room for rear passengers is matched by an increase in luggage room, which is now a very impressive 380 litres with all the seats in place.Extra marks for the positioning of the footrest, which is almost ideal. You wouldn't believe how important this is for driver comfort, nor how badly other manufacturers get it wrong.All current Golfs have DAB digital radio, air-conditioning and Bluetooth connectivity as standard, and all the ones with the 2.0 TDI 150PS engine (not available in the most basic trim level) also get cruise control, automatic headlights and wipers, an auto-dimming interior mirror, City Emergency Braking, extra storage space and a 12v socket in the luggage compartment. Not sat-nav, though - you have to go up to the GT before that becomes part of the standard kit.I don't think that this would be my ideal Golf for everyday use. I'd probably go for the 104bhp 1.6 TDI which, even in the same trim level as the car mentioned above, costs less than £20,000, has decent enough performance and will no doubt be much easier to keep running at or around 60mpg. But the two-litre version is a delight nevertheless.All I really want is slightly revised suspension and a commitment from Volkswagen that, by the time the eighth-generation car reaches production, the company will have abandoned what will by then be a four-decade tradition and given the Golf proper rear side windows to make it easier to reverse. Engine 1968cc, 4 cylinders Power 148bhp Transmission 6-speed manual Fuel/CO2 68.9mpg / 106g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 8.6 seconds Top speed 134mph Price £22,015 Details correct at publication date
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