Road Test: Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDi 110 S 5dr

This Golf is like a girl that you meet who you get on really well with, and so decide to go out with, in the hope that at some point down the road you'll fall in love.

It's all here in the Golf. The ride quality is excellent, the steering is great, the cabin's well put together, the 2.0-litre diesel engine is a cracker, the driving position is spot-on. All the bits are in the right place - there's even a bizarre double-ended bottle opener in the cup holder compartment.

It looks good too - like Golf's always do - but with a new front end that, while undermining the exclusivity of the Scirocco's looks by stealing the grille and lights, only serves to bring this more up to date.

The problem is, it's all a bit dull. There's nothing here that gets your heartbeat up beyond normal. It's just a good, functional car. No bells, no whistles.

You'll be better off stumping up the extra initial cost of £1,200 or so for the slightly more powerful 138bhp model, that has equal fuel consumption to this and only one g/km worse CO2 emissions.

You won't go far wrong with this if you buy one, though, but just don't expect to fall in love.

Jamie Hibbard