Interior space is the same, too – a corollary of the retained 2578mm wheelbase and largely unchanged exterior dimensions. The doors and tailgate shut like a Deutsche Bank vault.ĭespite the obvious revisions made, the basic cockpit architecture remains similar to that of the outgoing Golf, which is how its owners like it. The all-new audio and air-con panels, again derived from those in the Passat CC, are neat and user-friendly. The front seats provide a superb balance between comfort and support, together with high-quality upholstery. The dashboard plastics are soft to the touch and hard to fault. The new instrument meters, now backlit in classy white instead of fancy blue, look great. The new steering wheel, modelled on that in the upmarket Passat CC, feels good in the hands. First impressions are positive, albeit a tad predictable. It’s cold, wet and windy in Reykjavik, but inside the cabin of the car, it’s toasty, dry and perfectly climate-controlled. To confirm the improvements made, we travel to Iceland’s capital city for the international press launch of the reinvigorated Golf in 2008. Everything else has been improved considerably, the most noticeable being the sharpened styling that, in classic Golf fashion, is familiar yet fresh. Having said that, the Mk 6 edition of Volkswagen’s all-time best-seller carries over just the platform and roof panel of its predecessor. It’s more accurate to describe this Golf as renewed rather than new, because it’s directly derived from the outgoing model and not a clean sheet design.