Volkswagen Golf GT Sport 1.4 TSI Review: Plain Jane or Jane Fonda?

Unlike the Fiat, the Golf’s centre console appears to have been inspired by primitive Casio calculators with the oversized LCD display. Volkswagen has tried to tart it up a little with some bluey lights, which is a bit of a vain effort.

The Golf has a fantastic seating position and range of adjustments suited to humans. The Bravo seems to have supplied seats that make the driver feel too tall without much lateral support.

The boot sill on the Fiat is also a tad too tall which could provide a challenge when lifting heavy items.

The more you look at it, the more the Bravo would remind you of another unmistakeable upmarket Italian hatch in the Fiat stable. Clues including, the entire door frame, especially in the rear door where a black bit of plastic blanks out what might have been a door handle in another car; giveaway rooflines and light cluster positions also add to the list of hints.

The truth is, these cars are designed to be everyday effortless commuters. They both do reasonably good jobs overall with ample room and power. However, the Golf still has the overwhelming trump card.

Although $15,000 more than the Fiat and the Casio interior, it still has more power and poise, not to mention impeccable manners and will probably cost you less than the depreciation of the Fiat.

After all, pleasant Jane is what most blokes would love to come home to at the end of the day.

But remember though, that the Fiat is tons cheaper, and isn't exactly inferior in all senses of the word.

The cute rear end and beautiful insides make you WANT one, and quite badly too. It really isn’t that much slower, and despite the terrible steel rims/hub cap combination used on our test car (you get pretty alloys when you actually get around to buying one) it handled pretty well, sans understeer at the limit. And for $91,900, it's an argument safe in the can.

Credits: Text and Photos by Khong Shaohao and Amery Reuben