If you want a Volkswagen Golf, there's no shortage of body styles to choose from. You can have it as a hatchback, or an estate, or an SUV (though that one's actually called the Touran) or, as here, as a sort of MPV. Like its predecessor, the Golf Plus, the SV is significantly taller than the hatchback and has more luggage space, though not as much as the estate does.

Even the most basic versions are well-equipped, though since nearly all SVs cost over £20,000 you'd rather hope that this would be the case. Power outputs from the various petrol and diesel engines range from 84bhp to 148bhp, and several models have the option of seven-speed DSG semi-automatic transmission instead of the standard five- or six-speed manual gearboxes.

Performance

The two 148bhp engines - a 1.4-litre TSI turbo petrol and a 2.0-litre TDI diesel - make the SV accelerate from 0-62mph in slightly under and slightly more than nine seconds respectively. The 84bhp 1.2 TSI car takes 13.2 seconds to do the same job, which is fine as long as you're not planning to get anywhere in a hurry.

There are two 109bhp options, and in each case 0-62mph takes around 11 seconds. The diesel models capable of doing this offer the best compromise between performance and running costs; the petrol ones, which again are slightly quicker, are more expensive to run over long distances but are also cheaper to buy.

Volkswagen clearly isn't expecting anyone to want a high-performance SV. Unlike the hatchback, there are no GTI or R versions.

Ride and Handling

As with other Golfs, the major controls are precise and easy to use. Low-speed manoeuvring shouldn't cause anyone any problems.

Golf hatchbacks are memorably good to drive. The SV's higher centre of gravity means it doesn't handle quite so well, but unless you're trying to make good time over twisty country roads this won't be too apparent. As with other Golfs, the major controls are precise and easy to use. Low-speed manoeuvring shouldn't cause anyone any problems. The extra height means you get a better view of what's ahead than you do in either the hatch or the estate.

Interior and Equipment

The Golf SV is based on the MQB platform which was first used for the Audi A3 and is becoming increasingly common in Volkswagen Group cars.

The adjustable rear seats allow you to vary the amount of room available for passengers and luggage, the latter ranging from 500 to 590 litres (Golf hatchbacks offer 380 litres, estates 605). Folding down the rear seats, which can't be done from the back of the car, increases the capacity to 1,520 litres up to roof level. If you also fold down the front passenger seat you can carry object up to a little over 2.4 metres long. The parcel shelf has its own storage compartment so you don't need to take it out of the car. All SVs have roof rails, air-conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB digital radio, an iPod connection, a 5.8-inch colour touchscreen, post-collision braking and seven airbags, while all but the BlueMotion Technology cars have a spare wheel. (The BMTs, in the interest of reducing weight and improving CO2 emissions, have a tyre repair kit instead.) Further up the range you get things like adaptive cruise control, City Emergency Braking, a rear 12v socket, Driver Alert, Lane Assist and automatic headlights and wipers. The top trim level is called GT and includes 17-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, satellite navigation, rear privacy glass, folding door mirrors and front and rear parking sensors.

Cost

Only the two 1.2-litre TSI petrol models with manual transmission have list prices under £20,000. The most expensive SV is the 2.0-litre diesel GT with DSG, which costs £26,390.

Since no Golf SV is particularly powerful they all have impressive official fuel economy and CO2 figures, the worst being 50.4mpg and 130g/km respectively. None of them therefore cost more than £110 to tax each year, and more than half cost £30 or less. One - the 1.6 110PS BlueMotion Technology diesel, costs nothing at all, since it has a CO2 rating of just 95g/km. It costs a modest £130 more than the SE with the same engine and gearbox, though it should also be pointed out that it has less equipment, and there's a risk of being left stranded if you have a puncture that can't be fixed using the tyre repair kit. Only the two 1.2-litre TSI petrol models with manual transmission have list prices under £20,000. The most expensive SV is the 2.0-litre diesel GT with DSG, which costs £26,390.

Our Verdict

The standard Golf is an excellent basis for this car, and features such as its excellent build quality and, to a large extent, ease of driving have been carried over. The SV’s drive and engines are not as exciting compared to its hatchback counterpart but both should prove more than adequate for the target audience – large family car buyers. The Golf SV is more practical than the hatchback, and although it's not as roomy as the estate its higher driving position may be more important to some owners.