Volkswagen Golf wins World Car of the Year

By Matt Brogan | April 14th, 2009

Volkswagen’s latest Golf, the Mark VI, was honored today as the 2009 World Car of the Year.

A jury comprised of 59 international automotive journalists from 25 countries around the world chose this year’s World Car of the Year, which was announced at a news conference during the New York International Auto Show.

“It is a tremendous honour for Volkswagen to have its global best selling model, the Golf, named the 2009 World Car of the Year,” said Stefan Jacoby, President/CEO, Volkswagen of America, Inc.

The Golf, a perennial favourite in the Volkswagen line-up, has sold more than 26 million units in 120 countries, making it one of the top selling vehicles of all-time. The sixth generation Golf first debuted at the Paris Motor show last September, and made its Australian debut at this year’s Melbourne International Motor Show.

The Golf has been designed to be quieter, sportier, more fuel efficient and present a clean, distinctive appearance. The Golf is a phenomenon, regardless of its particular generation. This style icon defies all automotive and social class distinctions and has come to represent the benchmark in its segment.

Expect a review of the full Volkswagen Golf range over the next few weeks, but in the meantime, you can read our first steer by clicking here.

Alex

No surprise really. Say what you want about the new one coming quicker than expected but the Golf is still a fine car that deserves this very much so.
Hummerbug

Have to agree Alex no surprise at all !
Twilight

yeh, have to agree – no suprise!

Golf is my favourite car of all time… literally.

good work VW!
riceboy

i love the golf, since I have a Mark V GTI, but all the manufacturer’s have to pull their finger out and give us a clean sheet upgrade rather than half baked re-skins a la Focus, Mazda 3 and this Golf… has similar weaknesses of the previous Golf V, like the tiny boot… can’t wait till the Koreans leap frogs them… with such fine products like i30 and Genesis coupe…
Captain Mainwaring

About as predictable as night follows day. Good choice. No Riceboy, the Koreans aren’t quite there yet but will be one day.
o

while us Australian think this is a premium product it really is Germanys corrola though people actually like this one
Hummerbug

“while us Australian think this is a premium product it really is Germanys corrola though people actually like this one ” Sorry missed that one O ?? Either your on something or i need to be??
Lukaas

Just a reply to O…

In Germany, I do not think Golf comes as “packed” as they do here in Australia.
In the US, they are also missing some features.

In Australia, Golf has this “upper” class of hatch aura, so they pack it to the brim.

In US, VW was one of the manufacturers that had many quality issues as per last JDM quality survey.

But nevertheless, the Golf GTI is one of the best value hot hatches in the last decade. Although I’d still pick a 4WD WRX as I like to drive long distances, mountain-paths during long weekends.
Golfschwein

Riceboy, the Golf is a small car. We both have one, so we know that. How do you get a bigger boot? Make it bigger outside. But that’s not what we wanted, which is why we have a Golf in the first place.

The boot is probably appreciably bigger than the original Mk I Golf that weighed 800 kilos or so, and whose size has been eclipsed by the latest Polo.

Don’t fall for criticisms of its boot size if a Jetta or Passat would have satisfied in that regard.
Lukaas

Yes,

Riceboy, I sort of agreed with Golf..
If you want a big boot luggage space, whilst having 3+ other passengers then you would bypass the Golf.
Most other hatches out there have the same problem, minus probably the Impreza.

Its aimed as a “do-it-all” car, as opposed to the “perfect” car if you get my drift…
JasonP

It may be considered the same as a Corolla in Europe, but it’s a better car, nonetheless.

And it makes a nice change from the actual corolla we have here…………
ChineseDriver

Great car from a great company.

Compare with Mark IV and Mark VI. We all can see the huge improvement.
Alex

On the class matter, I think the thing about the Golf is that it is completely classless. Rich people have them, poor people have them. At the end of the day, they are good quality and great cars in basically every aspect and that’s why they can be seen as up-market by some and hey, what’s wrong with that? They are superior.
AAA

The Leyland P76 and the Camira won car of the year as well.

THe Golf has an extra turbocharger or turbocharger+supercharger. Two more things to go wrong.
Alex

Riceboy, this isn’t a half baked re-skin. This is probably all the new model would have been in another two years anyway. I don’t think the Golf’s boot is ever going to be much bigger than it is now so if you want a bigger one, I suggest next time you want a car you look at the Octavia or the Focus. That is just the shape of the Golf and it would be too risky for Volkswagen to change the shape and only in changing the shape would the boot get bigger. And they probably won’t make the actual car much bigger. If they do, another couple of generations and it will be the size of a Bentley.
Also, although the Koreans are getting very good at their cars, I don’t think they’ll overtake Volkswagen because Volkswagen is already in front and they improve every generation. They aren’t Toyota – get to a certain quality point and just sit there for ten years.
Alex

AAA, that is wheels car of the year (so they give anything to do with Australia an award), this is world car of the year. There is more than one car of the year in the world.
And Golf’s prove very reliable. Things don’t often go wrong.
Golfschwein

AAA, your glass is half empty
Neo Utopia

Congratulations golfmeister! Might pop into a nearby dealer when they become available and take a one for a test drive. I think both the quality and hopefully the reliability of this next generation will prove it’s status better.
XR6T GOD

If you want a boot buy a Jetta……….
QwKEddie

@Alex you seem delusional with this so called “World Car of the Year”.I’m under the impression that you’ve either got one or you’re about to buy a Golf.
The Golf MkVI is a good car but really,what’s different from the MKV Golf?.Hardly anything innovative.Oh! they slapped a turbo on the motors big deal!and made it a little bit quieter and the ride is more compliant?
I’m sure that I’m not the only one that sees this “new car” pretender as a superseded model rather than a new model.They may as well have chosen the MKV Golf!
I agree with Paul Gover(Carsguide) saying it was a safe choice…yep,as safe as a condom.
The commentor “O” is actually quite right about the Golf in Germany but,they’re not as bad as Corollas
People in Australia treat this car as a premium brand,for goodness sake it’s a VW,they made those farting Kombi vans years ago!I just hope this MKVI is more reliable than the previous models.
World Car of the Year should’ve been the BMW 125 rather than this box on wheels …how bloody boring!
http://integra spade

AAA my last four cars have had turbos with mileages up 85k no trouble at all , two being golfs .

wunder auto so perfect for todays motorist , great economy , with power models for those who desire it, plus interiors that are 1st class ,and style that evolves and does not date with a total new look ever 4 years like some .
Alex

QwKEddie, what do you mean I’m delusional with it? See the top of the page? “Volkswagen Golf wins World Car of the Year”. World Car of the Year is not the same as Wheels Car of the year. How am I delusional?
And no I do not currently own a Golf and have no plans to buy one.
Yes, it is a bit safe, I didn’t say it wasn’t. The BMW 3 Series won in 2006 and that’s not exactly an exciting choice but it still deserved it.
Finally, your comment is a bit silly. You wrote “Hardly anything innovative. Oh! they slapped a turbo on the motors big deal! And made it a little bit quieter and the ride is more compliant?”.
Last time I checked, those are pretty big things when it comes to cars. How is a more compliant ride not a good improvement? How is it being quieter not an improvement? How are better engines not an improvement? What’s wrong with turbos? They make for great engines with great economy and power.
I think people are taking all this new model stuff too far. Many cars don’t go through a complete re-design in and out from generation to generation. Volkswagen is only being picked on because they brought theirs out a couple of years early.
At the end of the day the Golf is a fine car with all a hatchback ever needs to be. It’s practical, good quality, a good drive, reliable, etc.
It may carry over the platform and more but let me ask, did it need replacing? The new Golf is getting great reviews from top magazines and websites. Is it dated? No, it isn’t. If it felt like it needed it, I’d understand but it really didn’t.
AAA

Spade, 85k kms or even miles is hardly anything. I had a 3.9L Fairlane that did 350k, a 70′s Datsun that did 200k+ kms.Most of the turbo petrol cars need new turbos at around the 150k or 200k km mark and each hair dryer costs a few grand a pop. Turbo diesel is another story, doesn’t run as hot and lasts a lot longer. In my book, putting a turbo let alone a turbo+sc in a very high volume, economic, everyday petrol car is not the best idea.
Reckless1

Well, AAA, you’ll never get a job at VW then.

Comparing a Golf to a 3.9l Fairlane and a 70s Datsun, eh – that sure is a comparison that shows how brilliant the Golf is. How many times did the head come off the Fairlane – don’t fib now, you know they blow a gasket every set of tyres along with the front ball joints.

The joy for us VW admirers (and owners) is that Fairlane 3.9 lovers will never “get it”, and can buy a Getz and think it’s the best.

And Riceboy owns a GTI and thinks the I30 will leapfrog it soon – mate, that’s just plain ridiculous.
http://integra spade

AAA gee nice pick in car culture two vehicles best forgotten the flarelane and the 12o y oh y , dont like your taste mate
AAA

lol those were my cars during the student days
Jake02

I, probably unlike many others, really don’t like the new Golf. Its like they thought the old Mk V was good enough design wise (and added Scirocco headlights and Touareg tailamps). The interior has new door panels, and the air-vents are a little more refined. I understand its a good car, but for the price you could get my Skoda Octavia (I’m bringing it up again!) with the same interior quality, driving dynamics, performance but with all the extra space.

Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi Lancer and even the Kia Soul are better cars than the new Golf!

Yep, contreversial I know but I’m sick of the Golf being the most rounded car that people think of, its not! My opinion on the Golf GTI though, thats a different story! The best bit of the new one is the steering wheel, even nicer than the Mk V.
Alex

Jake02, I do agree about the Octavia but come on, I can say with the greatest of confidence that the new Golf is still much better than the Impreza, the Lancer and the Kia Soul. All good cars and if you would rather buy one then fine but no motoring journalist would agree. No well respected one anyway. The Golf and Focus are still considered best in class by all the best motoring journalists and publications so the much cheaper Focus would be a better argument.
http://www.carthrottle.com Adnan from CarThrottle

I’m going to be another who says that I’m not surprised that the Golf has won World Car of the Year.

I’ve driven both the Mark VI GT (review on my site) and the new TSI and they’re both a joy to be in. Now I just can’t wait to get my hands on the GTI and when it’s released the R20!
JamesL

I take my hat off…Golf is worthy of the crown though I’ve not owned one and do not intend to (the boot is too small for my liking). Nevertheless, the build quality is superb and each “iteration” is actually a rethink.
Congrats VAG.
James
Tim

Golf is a good car…but I find it so bloody boring (Not the GTI or the R32 though). When their designers wake up and make something exciting looking and improve that bland interior…then I’ll have a second though.
Boney Maroney

Boring is right Tim, but I guess this shape is much less likely to date in looks when compared to say the goofy looking Mazda 3, or the PUG 308. In a couple of years the Golf will still look boring, but will still clean undated lines. Conservative, but as my Anti-Spam word suggests – “SMART”
Cheers
Yanzo

well i’ve been wanting to get this car for a while now, now i i want it even more!
Dafi

I would not argue with the jury and something that can’t be measured within 12 months of motoring is reliability.
I would like to have this as my next car but I just have a lots of comments from Mechanics not to deal with VW due to reliability. As in US JD survey put this brand not on top due to again its reliability. Wheels Magazine Cars of the Year it also reveal the VW Tiguan test car was having a mechanical failure. Thank God it is not the Car of the Year. Other thing VW only put 80K warranty (correct me if I’m wrong) other brand at least 100K. What’s happening? If you have any story to share regarding Reliabilty of VW would be happy to take as consideration. Peace Bro.
Golfschwein

Dafi, just buy a Corolla.
Karen

Why did you not put my post up

Do people know just how many problems the mark IV had!

I have countless people I know who have owned these golf’s

and with very low k’s substantial problems!!

BUYERS BEWARE VERY COSTLY CARS
Tim

Karen, so CA didnt post your comment regarding VW problems? Hmm, I always thought CA was paid by VW…just look how many reviews they have of the same car. And then quote:

“Expect a review of the FULL Volkswagen Golf RANGE over the next few weeks”

Hmm consiperacy?!
Reckless1

Dafi, Karen, and Tim – the knowledge trio.

26 million Golfs sold worldwide since inception, but these three know it all. They have internet access but one cannot even use it to determine that the Golf has 100,000k/3 year warranty.

I agree with Golfie – these people should definitely buy Corolla, because Toyota doesn’t even have workshop manuals for its cars, they are so reliable.
http://deleted Alex

Karen, I may be wrong but I will just write that sometimes the comments don’t work. It might not be CA but a glitch in the site. Have you tried again?

Tim, I think you’re taking that a bit far. If you don’t agree with what CA is doing in your mind then get off their website. Maybe they speak highly of them because they are good cars and some simply can’t accept that?
Mike

The thing about the internet is you only really hear about the problems. You don’t get lots of people saying, “hey there’s absolutely nothing wrong with my Golf”, instead everyone reports on what issues they do have. It’s like that with all products.

If I was to browse some Mac forums or a Sony forum, I’m sure I could very easily come to the conclusion that both are very unreliable, because everyone posts the faults, never the good.

Oh, and just because some friend of a friend f yours had a few issues with their Golf, doesn’t mean that every Mk V out on the road today is going to blow up at any second.
Tim

Ahh Reckless, what was that comment about? Sorry that I PERSONALLY dont like the style of the Golf…even though I still mentioned that it is a great car.

Whatever..
Golfschwein

Karen, we once had a woman on here saying that she’d never buy a Golf because she had a friend who borrowed a Golf and it cost thousands of dollars in repairs just because she put the wrong petrol in. HRRRMMPH! Such bad cars.

How DARE the Tdi not accept Unleaded!
Bavarian Missile (.)(.) AKA DA COGAR

hahaha Golfy……….

Cant blame the receiver of her stuff up,my son just sold his Golf ,get this “because Im bored with the fact I dont have to fix it” hahaha yep! True………….

His Skyline is helping him to over come that boredom now ,gearbox out of it already……….Kids !
http://internode.on.net Peter

I’ve been on leave so missed this.

Congrats VW – the Golf proves once again it is a very good car. I’m seriously considering it for my next purchase.

What’s with all the “small boot” talk – at 350L the Golf has an average to large boot for a hatchback, the Subie Impreza has 301L, Mazda3 340L, i30 340L and the Corolla a very limited 283L (never hear that mentioned when ppl praise this car).
Tom

Mr Clive Matthew-Wilson from NZ, author of the Dog and Lemon Guide is always keen to bag every Euro car, especially VW.

I wonder if he was on this panel of 59 international automotive journalists from the 25 countries involved.
Wheelnut

Tom – Mr Clive Matthew Wilson [The so called expert] isn’t what you could call a Motoring Journalist he is merely a Uni graduate / academic with a distored rather simplistic view on the world – like a number of others on this site

Not only that but in his so called Magazine he bags virtually every car.. every car that doesn’t have a Toyota badge on it that is.. mind you what do you expect from someone who drives a Morris Estate – now there’s motoring excellence

Thing is every car has certain problems in some areas be it design engine brakes/suspension interior etc it all depends on how hard you look and how you rate the severity.

Having said I think that the VW Golf is a worthy winner particularly as VW look at a car as an overall project unlike some who design/build a car bit by bit then hope it all comes together
Tom

Dear Wheelnut,

I have always taken Mr Matthew Wilson’s comments with a grain of salt and I totally agree with your comments about him.

I have owned a VW Golf MK III 2.0 GL for 10 years and a bit and it has been a very good car, that’s my experience anyway.

Ofcourse all car makes will have for and against but if you sell 26 million or so VW Golf’s you must be doing something right and the latest award given to the new VW Golf VI is clear evidence.

Regards,

Tom
Glen

World car of the year, how about world lemon of the decade?

I’ve got a 118 TSI which is suffering major mechanical issues. Its had 6 days in the workshop and will be there for 5 days the week after next having major repairs to its brake pedal assemble once again. VW pretty much says tough luck, that’s why we give you a new car warranty… Appalling and absolutely no commitment to customer care or satisfaction. This was my 3rd new Golf, there won’t be another…