THE new VW Golf was voted World Car of the Year at the New York Motor Show in 2013 and a few weeks before that it had taken the European Car of The Year title at Geneva.

Described by the judges as "Just the right size - spacious, practical and comfortable with an impressive list of equipment and safety systems," - that just about sums-up the seventh generation Golf.

I have just tried a Golf SE 2-0-litre TDI in 150ps five-door form with the six-speed manual gearbox and it was very easy to live with.

VW has now produced more than 29 million Golfs and it continues to be the model that all others in its sector are judged against.

The first Golfs were produced over 38 years ago and every generation has got better, bigger, more sophisticated and more desirable.

The new range offers premium quality starting from £16,285 - slightly cheaper than the old model.

To be honest the new Golf looks pretty much the same as the old model and many people will not notice the difference.

The styling is clean, crisp and attractive and thanks to new production methods the new car weighs considerably less than its predecessor, making it considerably more efficient.

As well as being lighter the body is also stronger - resulting in it being even safer than before. A PreCrash system is standard throughout the range and other electronic aids like adaptive cruise control, city emergency braking, driver alert system and camera -operated lane assist system are available as options.

The new platform is also larger, resulting in more interior space. Five adults can travel in comfort and boot space has also been increased by 30 litres. Passengers have good, leg, head and shoulder room and the quality of materials in the cabin are excellent.

Equipment levels are generous and even the cheapest model gets a touchscreen as standard while more luxurious models benefit from an eight-inch colour touchscreen plus DAB radio, trip computer and Bluetooth.

All engines now feature stop/start and battery regeneration systems to help save fuel.

The 1.6 diesel engine will probably be the biggest seller but the 2.0-litre diesel fitted to the car I sampled is a belter. It is not the quietest but it is very smooth and flexible. Capable of 134mph it is also quick off the mark with 62mph arriving in just 8.6 seconds.

It also offers outstanding economy with a claimed combined figure of 68.9mpg and although you will never get that in everyday motoring, 60mpg should be achievable.

Although it may not be the best looking hatchback or the cheapest, its quality stands out and it will continue to hold its value better than the opposition. That is why it is such a firm favourite with drivers across the globe.