The new Golf comes with an unusually high level of standard equipment, including anti-lock disc brakes and side-impact airbags. There's also an unexpected level of refinement. Forget the grained plastic wood found in many cars. This trim is the real thing. The stylish instrument panel has the look of an aircraft carrier's flight control room, with backlit blue gauges and vibrant red needles.The Golf's cupholders are well-placed and adequate for most container sizes. There's plenty of storage space, with a large glovebox, deep door pockets and a center tray that's useful for stowing cellular telephones. During our first day behind the wheel, we clocked close to 200 miles of aggressive driving on the twisty mountain two-lanes between Palm Springs and San Diego. It was a good opportunity not only to test the new car's engine and suspension, but also its seats. In some cars, a day bouncing around these tight-and-twisty roadways can leave you exhausted. But in keeping with the sporty nature of the new Golf, we found its seats firm, contoured and supportive. Unfortunately, we also found the seating controls, especially the recliner wheel, a bit difficult to use, but that's sort of a Volkswagen trademark.
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