Volkswagen Golf SV (2014 – 2020) Review

What does the SV in Volkswagen Golf SV stand for? It might surprise you to discover that it means Sport Van, which is the car’s official name in Europe. Perhaps sensibly, Volkswagen decided that something might be lost in translation in the UK, because the Golf SV is neither sporty or a van. That said, it is a more practical version of the Volkswagen Golf, so the ‘van’ cap fits, up to a point. Calling it the SV was a clever move, because traditional MPVs are looking increasingly outmoded in 2020. This is like a BMW 2 Series Active Tourer or Mercedes-Benz B-Class, with a dash of the Golf thrown in for good measure.

The Volkswagen Golf SV is a square peg in a round hole. While the likes of the Tiguan, T-Roc and T-Cross dazzle you with their blend of style and practicality, the Golf SV must rely on its blend of space and flexibility.

Launched in 2014, the Golf SV is based on the outgoing Mk7 Golf, which is no bad thing. It’s biggest problem is an identity crisis. The Golf estate is more practical, the Touran is more flexible, the Tiguan is more appealing, while the regular Golf is nicer to drive. So why is it worthy of your attention?

Family-friendliness is one reason. Buy an SUV of a similar price and there’s a sense that rear seat passengers are less important than the driver and front seat passenger. Not so in the Golf SV, where the rear seats are more comfortable than the regular Golf hatchback.

You sit higher in the back, while the seats recline and slide to provide more flexibility and comfort. There’s also more headroom and legroom, while the rear doors open wide for ease of access.

There’s also a large boot, which is only marginally less spacious than a Golf estate. The boot is also blessed with a low loading lip and a wide opening. There’s a reason why the Golf SV is called the Golf Sport Van in Europe. Not that there’s anything sporty about the car.

In fairness, it’s almost as nice to drive as the Volkswagen Golf, but the lofty stance means the Golf SV tends to lean when cornering. Fortunately, ride comfort is excellent, especially on the 15-inch alloy wheels of the entry-level S. It suffers a little on 17-inch rims, but don’t even think of upgrading to the 18-inch wheels. These, when combined with the GT’s lowered suspension, write cheques the SV cannot cash.

A facelift in early 2018 ushered in some styling tweaks, a much-improved infotainment system and extra safety equipment. It’s for these reasons that we’d recommend a post-facelift Golf SV, not least because you’ll benefit from the remainder of Volkswagen’s three-year warranty.

There are many engines to choose from, each one offering an excellent blend of performance and economy. The 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre TDI engines are recommended if you cover long distances. We’d favour the 2.0 TDI, which is almost as economical as the 1.6 TDI and comes with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmissions.

Don’t rule out the petrol engines. The Golf SV launched with 1.2-litre TSI and 1.4-litre TSI units, but later models were available with 1.0-litre TSI and 1.5-litre TSI engines. The 1.0 TSI is surprisingly good at powering the Golf SV, but the 1.5 TSI is more flexible.

Looking for a second opinion? Read a Volkswagen Golf SV review on heycar

You sit higher up, so you will notice a bit more roll when cornering, but you don’t get the same sense of being ‘perched’ on the car as you do in other MPVs. It feels like a slightly taller Golf, which is the highest praise we can give it.

The ride quality is excellent on the S model, thanks to the relatively small 15-inch alloy wheels. It’s less resolved on the 17-inch rims of the other trim levels, and don’t even think of opting for the 18-inch wheels. These rims write cheques the Golf SV cannot cash.

Indeed, we’d avoid the GT Edition trim level, as the lowered suspension is out of place in a car of this type. Overall, the Golf SV doesn’t feel like a regular MPV. It feels more upmarket than that.

There have been a number of engines available throughout the life of the Golf SV. The old 1.2-litre TSI and 1.4-litre TSI petrol engines did a great job of powering the car, offering a good blend of punch and economy. However, we’d favour the diesel engines if you cover long distances or carry a full quota of passengers.

The 115PS 1.6-litre TDI is fine, but hamstrung by a five-speed manual gearbox, which puts a dent in the economy. You’ll be yearning for a sixth gear on a motorway. Which means the 150PS 2.0-litre with a DSG transmission is the best choice.

There are alternatives. A 115PS 1.0-litre TSI petrol was added later in the car’s life. This is a fine choice if you spend most of your time in the city or have concerns about buying a diesel car. Better still, the 1.5-litre TSI petrol provides the best balance of economy, performance and price. It’s also available with a superior six-speed manual gearbox, as well as the tried and tested DSG.

In 2014, Euro NCAP awarded the Volkswagen Golf SV a maximum five-star crash safety score. Standard kit includes multiple airbags, two Isofix points, an electronic parking brake with auto hold function to stop you rolling back on a hill, and tyre pressure monitoring.

Post-facelift safety features include adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, speed limit display and an autonomous emergency braking system. A driver alert system was also fitted, and speed limits were displayed in the infotainment system. Some important safety features on older cars were reserved for higher trim levels, so check the spec list before buying. If in doubt, buy a GT model.

The Volkswagen Golf SV can tow up to a maximum weight of 1,800kg. We’d recommend the Trailer Assist pack if you want to tow, which is optional on Match Edition and GT Edition models, but only in conjunction with the optional swivelling tow bar. It helps you reverse more easily, thanks to a visual display and reverse steering controlled via the mirror adjustment switch.

Pay attention, because this matters. Although the Volkswagen Golf SV is more spacious than the Volkswagen Golf hatchback, the Golf estate is the car to opt for if you’re after maximum practicality. It’s not that the Golf SV is small – far from it – but the Golf estate offers greater flexibility.

You should buy the Golf SV for its cabin space. Rear seat passengers will thank you for it, because there’s loads of headroom and legroom in the back, along with wide door openings that make it easy to get in and out. Front seat passengers will appreciate the fact that you sit 59mm higher than you would in a regular Golf, as it creates a more commanding driving position.

The rear bench slides forward to provide up to 590 litres of boot space, but make sure you check with your back seat passengers before doing this. The Golf estate offers marginally more at 605 litres. With the rear seats folded, the Golf SV offers 1,520 litres of space, just 100 litres shy of the estate.

 This is a car that will have to withstand years of abuse at the hands of Happy Meals, wet wipes and chocolate milkshakes, and there’s a sense that it’s up to the challenge.

It’s not the most exciting cabin, but the low-sheen and robust materials are perfectly at home in a car of this type. The switches, dials and buttons operate with a feeling of quality, while the doors shut with a reassuring thud.

All Golf SV models get a colour touchscreen display as standard, but not all have sat-nav built in. It’s a good system, with clear and logical menus, but it lacks the wow factor of, say, the new Volkswagen Golf Mk8.

It’s worth opting for the facelifted model of 2018. These cars benefit from an improved eight-inch touchscreen behind a glass-look panel. Better still, opt for the Discover Navigation system, which benefits from a 9.2-inch display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and sat-nav. Either way, the infotainment system is one reason why we’d recommend a post-2018 Golf SV.

Although the Mk7 Golf has made way for the all-new Mk8 Golf, you can still buy the Mk7-based Volkswagen Golf SV. There are four trim levels: S, Match, Match Edition and GT Edition.

The Golf SV S costs £22,305 and features 15-inch alloy wheels, eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, start-stop and electric front and rear windows.

The Golf SV Match costs £25,495 and adds the Discover Navigation system, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, Car-net smartphone app, leather-trimmed steering, front fog lights with cornering function and rear tinted glass to the mix.

The Match Edition costs £25,295. The spec includes everything on the standard Match, plus heated front seats, dual-zone air-conditioning and LED headlights. Finally, the GT Edition costs £27,145 and boasts 17-inch alloy wheels.

Although the Golf SV isn’t as popular as the regular Volkswagen Golf, there are still hundreds to choose from on the second-hand market. An early 2014 car could cost as little as £6,000, but you’ll be looking at cars with 100,000 miles on the clock and a few battle scars.

We’d suggest opting for a post-facelift Volkswagen Golf SV. You’ll pay more – prices start from around £14,000 – but it’s worth it for the tweaked styling and improved tech. It’s worth noting that because the Golf SV is on borrowed time, there are some great deals available on new and nearly-new examples. Don’t pay full price.

Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) deals are available for around £300 a month. This is based on a four-year contract and after a £1000 deposit.

Consult Real MPG data for a realistic idea of what you are likely to achieve in the real world.

Alternatively, use the figures for the latest models, which were sourced using the more reliable WLTP standards. The 1.6-litre TDI engine is the most economical, returning 52.3mpg to 54.3mpg in S trim, or 50.4mpg to 55.4mpg in Match Edition and GT Edition guise.

The 2.0-litre TDI is almost as economical, due to the fact that it’s paired with a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission, rather than a five-speed manual gearbox. You can expect to see 49.6mpg to 50.4mpg.

There’s little to choose between the 1.0-litre TSI and 1.5-litre TSI petrol engines. The former could return 45.6mpg to 48.7mpg, while the latter varies depending on the transmission. Between 44.8mpg and 49.6mpg is likely for a Golf SV with a six-speed manual gearbox, or 41.5mpg to 43.5mpg with a seven-speed DSG transmission.

Car insurance should be affordable, especially if you buy the 1.0-litre S model, which slots into group 11. The others range from 12 to 19.

The country might be falling out of love with the humble MPV, but cars like the Volkswagen Golf SV and BMW 2 Series Active Tourer prove these cars still have a role to play in family life. The Golf SV is more flexible and practical than most SUVs, not to mention just as good to drive.

If you’ve got a pair of growing children, the Golf SV will see your kids from toddler to teenager, then through to university. We’d recommend the Match and Match Edition models. More appealing than the entry-level car, but more comfortable than the GT trim.