4 stars by expert for Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet

who is not familiar with the car filled with the history of the VW brand, If it's a sporty convertible you're after then look elsewhere, but the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet's appeal lies in its excellent refinement, top build quality and strong heritage. The massive choice of engines means there's something for everyone, whether your Priorities are low running costs or punchy performance, while the spacious cabin and fast folding roof broaden its appeal. The Eos and Beetle Cabriolet have been the only drop-tops in Volkswagen's for some time, but the Golf Cabriolet, revealed at this year's Geneva Motor Show, is back to bolster the range. The last time you could buy a Golf without a roof was in 2002, when the old-fashioned MkIII version was still in showrooms, so this one has been a long time coming.

From the front, it's identical to the Golf hatchback, and Volkswagen has plumped for a traditional fabric roof rather than a folding hard-top like the Eos' roof. Buyers will initially get a choice of three engines when the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet goes on sale in July: a 104bhp 1.2-litre TSI, 158bhp 1.4-litre TSI and a 104bhp 1.6-litre TDI diesel. Three more engines will follow later in the year: 120bhp 1.4-litre TSI, 207bhp 2.0 TSI and a 138bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel - so you're spoiled for choice. There's loads of space inside: even rear passengers aren't short of leg- and headroom by the usually meagre convertible standards, and refinement is superb. We tried the 1.6-litre TDI BlueMotion first, which impresses with average fuel economy of 64.2mpg and emissions of only 117g/km. The trade-off is its mediocre performance, as the diesel engine requires encouragement to get the Golf moving. The 120bhp 1.4-litre TSI unit offers the best of both worlds, with willing acceleration (0-62mph in 10.5 seconds) and 44.8mpg.

There's nothing more than a light buffeting from the wind around the windscreen pillars, which is exceptional for a cabriolet. Wind, road and engine noise are so well contained that you barely have to raise your voice when the roof is down. The only audible element is a clattering from the TDI diesel engines if you roll down the window. and for the prices haven't been confirmed but Volkswagen says the basic Golf Cabriolet will cost from between �20- and �21,000 when it goes on sale in July. Top-end models will retail for around �29,000, which is comparable with the Audi A3 Cabriolet.