New VW Golf now available to order

Order books for the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf are now open, with prices ranging from £16,285 to £24,880. This makes the entry-level model £140 cheaper than the outgoing car.

The Volkswagen Golf is one of Europe’s best-selling cars, with more than 29 million sold. VW claims that the latest, all-new model is “lighter, safer, more advanced, more spacious, more efficient and better equipped than previous Golfs”, so it hopes that the sales success is set to continue.

The new Golf is available in the UK in three trim levels: S, SE and GT (GTI and BlueMotion models will join the line-up in 2013). Four petrol engines and two diesel engines are available, in either three- or five-door form.

The petrol engine range starts with an 84bhp 1.2-litre, then there’s a 104bhp 1.2-litre, a 120bhp 1.4-litre and a clever, powerful and economical 138bhp 1.4-litre engine that features in the new VW Polo BlueGT.

The diesel engines at launch are a 104bhp 1.6-litre TDI and a new 2.0-litre TDI 148bhp unit.

All new Golf models – both diesel and petrol – come with a fuel-saving stop-start system as standard. Gearboxes are a mixture of five- and six-speed manuals, and six- and seven-speed automatic DSG units.

Entry-level Golf S models get seven airbags, air conditioning, a DAB digital radio, an MDI interface (for connecting your iPod or MP3 player), Bluetooth and eight speakers.

Mid-range Golf SE trim adds City Emergency Braking - which can bring the vehicle to a complete halt if the driver doesn’t react to a hazard - rain-sensitive wipers, an automatically dimming rear-view mirror and automatic headlights.

The Golf GT model comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, electrically folding door mirrors, and front and rear parking sensors with visual display.

Options on all Golf models include a rear-view camera, a eight-inch touchscreen sat-nav, keyless entry and a panoramic sunroof.

You can order the new Volkswagen Golf now, with first deliveries due from 7 January 2013.

To view the full Volkswagen range, visit the CarBuyer Volkswagen reviews page.