For as long as I can remember, the Volkswagen brand has been synonymous with quality engineering, understated style, and immense popularity. Both the Golf and the Polo control large portions of the supermini market. In the same way that certain lagers are advertised as “reassuringly expensive,” the VW range has touted itself as the hatchback choice of connoisseurs. So what happens when Volkswagen gets cheap? With prices starting as low as £6,625, Volkswagen is really cutting itself below its usual price range. The VW Fox is here to make its case.
First impressions of the Fox are as positive as they could be; it essentially looks like a slightly smaller Polo, which is pretty much everything you could hope for. The box-shaped trademark displays distinctive VW features that have been etched into automotive history. To sweeten the deal, the Fox is also taller and wider than most of its competitors. So far so good. I’m a proponent of the popular adage “you get what you pay for,” so to be honest, I didn’t expect much from Fox’s push. And I didn’t get much either. But we have to put this in some sort of perspective, for six and a half grand you can’t expect the comfort or style of the Golf…it’s twice the price of the Fox after all. What you get is a car that’s been tuned specifically for low-rev pulling. This makes it perfect for city driving, but as soon as you hit the highway or country roads, the Fox will struggle. The weight of the car is also a bit of an issue when you consider that the 1.2-litre petrol engine only makes 55bhp, again it’ll do fine at stoplights, but take it past 50mph and you’ll hear the effort.
The Fox’s interior doesn’t exactly get the heart racing, either. It is gray, it is very plastic and there are no additional devices except the CD player. Once again I have to go back to the price argument. For just over six thousand you can hardly expect a built-in sat nav or even air conditioning (which is available to install, but will set you back a whopping £925!). The closest thing to standard styling on the VW Fox are the two cup holders. What you get is…well…functional. The Fox is not a particularly pleasant place to sit for long periods of time, but for the 10 minute trip to the supermarket and back, it will suffice amicably.
Handling isn’t bad for the price range, and the Fox’s steering feels light but intuitive. The Fox feels positively nimble compared to some of the competition’s superminis. If they could combine peppy steering with an engine that could maximize driving potential, then the Fox would be fun to drive. As it is, it can be frustrating at times; You want to go faster, but the heavy bodywork and struggling engine are holding you back.
In the aftermath of all this I found myself driving the Volkswagen Fox [http://www.heritagewestbury.co.uk/new-cars/volkswagen-fox.shtml] be a confusing experience. I knew I wasn’t particularly comfortable, or enjoying the ride all that much, but I know that if I were to buy one, I’d love to have a genuine VW for under £7000 that would probably be smiling all the time. anyway.
In short, if you’re not driving for fun or particularly long distances, the VW Fox is a reliable, economical car that has enough space to fit four people comfortably. For weekly trips to the shops, it would be pretty foolish to spend more than Fox costs. It’s practical, stylish and has the VW badge…but don’t expect too much and you won’t be disappointed.
