Bad car
Not a very good build.
Alarm was faulty and was changed after 2 months.
Seat belts were faulty.
Engine has had problems fixed a few times.
Auto transmission is a disaster; needs a software update every three months.
Simply nothing good in this car.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 19th December, 2012
A keeper
The rear window washer dribbles a little washer fluid when the outside temps are at 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
I've always liked Volkswagens. My first car was a 1969 Beetle, and I also had a 1997 Jetta. My last car, a 2005 Hyundai Elantra hatchback was competent, likeable, and reliable -- I'd happily recommend the brand to anyone, but VW is my favored brand.
The 2.5 liter five cylinder is torquey. Around town, I seldom have to push it far beyond 2000 RPM to accelerate. This is my first car with more than 5 cylinders and more than a 2 liter displacement. I am pleasantly surprised with the fuel economy. I am getting similar gas mileage to what I got with the Hyundai -- 24/25 city and 31/32 highway.
The tiptronic automatic transmission shifts in a smooth and seamless manner, and having a 5th and 6th gear makes highway travel very pleasant.
My favorite characteristic of the car is its handling abilities. The only car in the class that matched it was the Mazda 3, which I felt out handled the VW a little bit, but at the expense of ride quality.
The fit & finish and the quality of materials are superb. The stitching on the very comfortable seats is pretty attractive.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 11th July, 2011
Great car, front seats are no good though
Nothing has gone wrong to date, the car is still really new and only has 8000kms on the clock.
The performance of the car is great. I drive it around Sydney, and it's zippy enough to get you into gaps in traffic.
First gear is not great at all; if you're not going to drive it in the city, you wouldn't even know though. First is very rough and low geared; when city driving, you're mainly in first and second when traffic builds, so that really needs some work. But like I said, it's only in city driving; if using on regional roads, it wouldn't bother me.
Ride comfort is great, no squeaks or creaks! Great build quality.
Interior is good for a base model, does everything it should with no problems.
Drive comfort is OK, most things are adjustable, BUT the one thing that I hate about this car is the front seats. At first they feel really supporting, but after 30 minutes in them, my back aches and I get fidgety. The tilt position is locked to a slight angle back, which puts pressure on the back of your legs. There is no lower lumber support, NONE. Between these 2 things, it makes the drive a lot less enjoyable. I even bought a back support, which I use in the car to help out.
Overall, this car is a good buy. Would I buy one? YES, but not the base model. Pay a little extra, and make sure you get the adjustments for the front seats.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 3rd October, 2010
10th Sep 2012, 20:10
There is a way to improve the front seat comfort with respect to the position of your lower back. You will need to get a tool to take out the bolts holding the rear of the seat to the floor. It is star shaped and you can find it at a parts store. Once removed, add three to six washers to the rear only, then replace the bolts. This will raise the rear seat bottom, which will then allow you to adjust the seat back - back a bit more. This allows for some more support to your lower back. You won't feel like you're wedged in as much.