Volkswagen Lupo

The Lupo, a sawn-off Polo, really, has consistently around 4 per cent of sales in the mini segment, so it’s not the fastest-moving success in that small part of Ireland’s car sales. But for all that, VW provides an amazing range of options. You can have a 50bhp 1-litre engine to start with, but for just E200 more the 1.4-litre 60bhp is much more tractable and majorly more accelerative. A snail’s pace 1.7 diesel makes up for slowness with 64+mpg. Build quality is excellent, of course. But most Lupos are no fun. Except ... the 1.6-litre 125bhp GTi, with some fire in its belly and bordello trimming. I drove it for a while, and often wondered who would pay the price of a Mondeo for such a little car? Stars: 6/10

Volkswagen Polo

The VW Polo is available in 3- and 5-door formats, the car has power options of a pair of 1.2-litre 3-cylinder and a 1.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol, as well as a normally-aspirated 1.9-litre diesel and a 1.4-litre turbodiesel. Standard specifications include front and side airbags, electrohydraulic power steering, drawers under front seats and split folding rear seats. The new car is longer, wider and taller than its predecessor, and there is significantly improved interior space, especially for rear passengers. Comfortline & Trendline trim specs are also available. Predictably it is selling well, but I personally prefer the Ibiza. Stars: 7/10

Volkswagen Golf

We tought we’d have seen the new one by now, but it’s not going to be shown until Frankfurt at the end of the year. There’s maybe no name in the ‘ordinary car’ business in Europe which has such a cachet of quality, sportiness, and desirability. Golf’s reputation is still at the top of the on-ramp, and mostly the underpinnings deserve it. Except maybe the slothish 1.4-litre entry-level engine and the absolutely snailish 1.9-litre SDi. Go beyond any of those and you’ve got the business. Buy the 1.6-litre 105bhp 5-door because that’s the one you’ll be able to resell well, and beyond it you’re into the price range for the next segment. But avoid trying to decide from the price list, because it has so many variants of trim, and engine sizes and power, that it will drive you to the heepie-jeebies. Your dealer will make up your mind for you. Stars: 8/10

Volkswagen Bora

Remember the guy who left his pen on a desk so that he could drive hundreds of miles back in his Bora to collect it? It did that, but not in a Bora. Saloons under the VW name don’t have a great track record, not least because you can get other VW Group saloon cars with the same running gear and the same build quality more cheaply. That aside, the Bora is a decently-engineered car and very well built. Maybe it wouldn’t win prizes for avant-garde styling, but after the original Beetle, that was never a VW thing anyway. If you need the boot space and the badge, buy it. And it has the least number of variants on the price list, but you can have engines from 1.4-litre 75bhp to a 2.8-litre V6 outputting 204bhp. Stars: 7/10

Volkswagen Touran

Volkswagen’s first compact MPV, the Touran which is the first derivative of the next Golf family to be built, will be available in three equipment and trim versions sometime towards the second quarter of next year, with a choice of three FSI and TDI engines with power output in the range 100-136 bhp all with standard six-speed gearbox. A new six-speed automatic transmission will be available combining the advantages of a manual gearbox and automatic transmission in an entirely new way. The Touran has five seats as standard equipment - two in front, three in the second row, and an optional package allows the vehicle to be adapted to carry seven people. Lap-and-shoulder seat belts are provided on all seats. Disc brakes at front and rear are standard, with ventilated front discs, ABS and ESP including a Braking Assistant. Stars: N/A

Volkswagen Passat

The great thing about the Passat is that it gave the chasing contestants something to run for the last several years as it consistently romped home ahead of the field, in perception anyway. Some of the field has caught up in recent races, like Ford’s Mondeo and Renault’s Laguna II, and the Opel Vectra also figures in the improved list, not to mention the Semperit Irish Car of the Year 2003 winner Mazda6. One of the oldest shapes in the segment, Avensis, will rebuild itself in April and make things even more difficult for the VW to call itself the brand to beat. A new Accord is also constesting this year. We rather think VW is relishing the renewed contest. Famous for its range of engines, especially the high-end diesels, and it is hard to prise a Passat man from his pride and joy. Stars: 8/10

Volkswagen Phaeton

Due in Ireland in the Spring of 2003, this is Volkswagen’s first high-end luxury car under its own brand name. More details when we get them for the Irish market.

Volkswagen Beetle

Sales have slipped substantially for what was a a modern turn on a nostalgic novelty. I’d prefer to call it a quirky coupe rather than a real family car, if I was to justify the high price for what was once the ‘people’s car’. That said, there is a relatively affordable pair of 1.6-litre versions, and a 150bhp 1.8 T which we would dearly love to make acquaintance with for a decent period. New Cabrio upcoming might relight the fire a little. As long as it doesn’t rain. Stars: 7/10

Volkswagen Sharan

This is the VW of the triplets from Ford/VW/SEAT in the large MPV segment and matches up pretty well to its siblings in fittings and comfort. Any are a good choice for carrying up to seven in good space, though it’s a pity none in this category have yet managed to find a version of the stowaway seats which have brought Opel’s Zafira to the top of its segment. Yes, I’m repeating myself. In true modern VW style, there’s a wide range of engines and specifications, with the lowest-powered not necessarily the cheapest. Go diesel, the 115bhp. Stars: 7/10