Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen Golf

While it might seem a good idea to get rid of a pedal in the driver's footwell, we have often been disappointed by the clutchless manuals offered in recent years, whether they've been in a Ferrari or a Ford Fiesta.

DSG could be the perfect gearbox. It offers the choice of a refined and easy-to-use auto, but if you're in the mood for some fun it can be a rewarding manual. It doesn't have a noticeable effect on performance or economy, but it adds a whopping £1,480 to the price of a basic Golf 1.9 TDI SE.

Advertisement - Article continues below

While it might seem a good idea to get rid of a pedal in the driver's footwell, we have often been disappointed by the clutchless manuals offered in recent years, whether they've been in a Ferrari or a Ford Fiesta.

The notable exception has been the slick-shifting, technology-packed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox), fitted to the V6 Audi TT since last year. Now this transmission has filtered down through the ranks of the Volkswagen Group, and has ended up in the new Golf.

And it is not only the sporty models that will get the treatment, as here in the UK the box is also available on the 1.9 and 2.0-litre TDI variants. So what's all the fuss about? DSG manages to combine the efficiency of a manual box with the smooth and responsive gearshifts of a really good conventional automatic. The transmission's secret is to have two electro-hydraulically op-erated clutches instead of one. This bridges any gap in power delivery during a shift by bringing in the clutch of the next ratio before it has quite disengaged the previous gear.

Not even the best drivers can manage that in a conventional manual. And unlike with normal automatics, the transmission saps only a small amount of power - around 2bhp - so the performance and fuel economy are virtually identical to the manual version's.

The newcomer is simple to drive, too. In the place where a gearlever would normally be found is a selector with the usual PRNDS positions, and a slot for manual shifting. As an optional extra, you can specify steering wheel paddles to do the job even more easily. We sampled the 2.0-litre TDI version, along with an FSI petrol variant currently available only in Germany. In both machines, whether we selected D or manual, the smooth take-off and gearchanges were just as good as in the best standard automatics, including VW's new six-speed self-shifter.

The transmission kicks down in D as briskly as a conventional auto. It is marginally quicker than any other paddleshifter when moving between the gears manually, too, yet it keeps that smoothness. In fact, you can only tell that the box has changed ratio at all by the alterations in engine note.

The DSG set-up manages to satisfy all the needs of the keen sporting driver, while proving equally effective as a smooth and refined automatic. At last, even the fussiest motorist can boot out that clutch pedal.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £4,614 off RRP*Used from £10,641
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,406 off RRP*Used from £10,195
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £27,005Avg. savings £7,837 off RRP*Used from £11,900
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,607 off RRP*Used from £15,997
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval
Skoda Elroq - front cornering

Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval

Despite some models costing over the £37,000 threshold, Skoda has secured the government grant on its mid-size electric SUVs
News
2 Sep 2025
New BYD Seal 6 2025 review: talented estate should have BMW worried
BYD Seal 6 Touring - front tracking

New BYD Seal 6 2025 review: talented estate should have BMW worried

BYD’s latest arrival isn’t an EV, but efficiency is still key
Road tests
3 Sep 2025
New Fiat Grande Panda goes on sale with tiny price and big ambition
Fiat Grande Panda La Prima - front cornering

New Fiat Grande Panda goes on sale with tiny price and big ambition

The newly crowned Auto Express Supermini of the Year is available in hybrid or pure-electric form, with the EV offering 199 miles of range
News
1 Sep 2025