Australian Car Guide

By Jonathan Plowman

Most car enthusiasts we've spoken to lately reckon the Sports Bora is just a hotted-up Golf with a trunk, and not much else. But as far as $50,000-odd sports sedans go, this assumption could not be further from the truth.

Yes, the Bora's front panel has been lifted straight from the Golf, and yes - with regards to the base-model anyway - the Golf's 2.0-litre engine has also been shifted straight across by Volkswagen.

However, the comparisons start to dwindle fast when you check out the Sports Bora up close. Apart from the car's elegant curves and suave sports styling, there's the beautiful cabin and sublime lay-out of the dashboard inside.

Then there's the oh-so-comfortable leather seats and litres of room in the driver and passenger seats. Put the pedal to the metal and you realise this V5 engine is another 200 metres down the fairway than what the Golf could manage.

For starters, the 2.3-litre V5 is a lot more zippy off the line and is torque-rich for a sports sedan at this price. It doesn't quite deliver in the raw sports performance department, and with a greedy petrol tank to boot, is more adequate for highway cruising than flat-out tearing through streets.

Pricing & Fuel Economy

The entry model V5 Bora starts at $44,200, a fair chop off what you'd expect to pay for a prestigious sports sedan in today's market.

The "Sport" package is an option available on the Bora V5 and the V6 4 Motion, which costs another $5,000 and $5,500 for each upgrade respectively.

Ouch - the motorist certainly pays for that sporty finish nowadays, and Volkswagen is no exception to the rule.

The Sport package includes a rear spoiler, grippier tyres and a sportier grill mesh, but for that price I'd side on greater performance than a sportier look. A sunroof would be nice too, but VW want another $2,000 for that, even if you opt for the Sports Bora.

It doesn't help that the Sports Bora is a little thirsty at the fuel pump, drinking up 10.1 litres/100km around the city. Those figures aren't bad for a sports sedan, especially taking into account the 6.5 litres/100km figure for highway travelling, but pushing that V5 engine to the edge does tend to burn up the juice more than most new cars in this segment.

Let's hope the German manufacturer will lower their prices for the Sport package later this year as part of their Golden Jubilee celebration. Already Volkswagen is paying registration and on-road costs for customers wanting to get into a Polo or Golf, but they are yet to offer any specials on their Bora or Passat series.

Performance, Handling & Overall Ride

The Sports Bora's unique 2.3-litre V5 engine is certainly enthusiastic, but does not produce the exhilirating ride and performance attributes you might expect from a sports sedan in the $50,000-plus segment. VW seem to have accomodated for this with an equipment list nothing short of amazing (more below).

Capable of 125kW at 6200 rpm and 220 Nm at 3200 rpm, the Bora will never match your average WRX for acceleration power or ground-hugging cornering, but for what Volkswagen is offering, the Bora delivers an enjoyable, soft ride with enough power for all levels of driving - apart from maybe tearing around the Great Ocean Road in the wet.

With plenty of torque, it is no slouch in the overtaking department but for raw sports power your best bet is to go for the 2.8-litre V6 4MOTION Sport. That extra cyclinder makes the world of difference.

The five-speed tiptronic automatic tranmission is easy to get used to and is smooth for the most part, apart from some inconsistent acceleration off the line where the revs escalate sharply around the 20km/h mark when pushed hard.

Suspension has been tuned on the softer side, which translates to a very comfortable ride - especially with the leather seats - making the Bora ideal for long jaunts. On the highways it is a delight, and feels more cruiser sedan than sports.

Steering is responsive, without matching the razor-sharp turning abilities of its sporty rivals in this price range. The Bora would be hard pressed to match a Subaru Liberty 4 or Honda Intengra for overall grippiness on the turns, but it wouldn't be close behind either.

Safety & Security

Volkswagen offers a three-year or 100,000km warranty against manufacturing or material faults with every new vehicle and the Bora is no exception.

More impressive is that every Bora is protected by a 12 year anti-corrosion perforation warranty and Volkswagen Assist (24hr Roadside Assistance) for three years.

Attention to safety has this sports sedan equipped with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), Volkswagen's Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), and four airbags (twin front and two side).

An anti-theft alarm and engine immobiliser also comes as standard.

Aesthetics & Innovation

The 2.0-litre V5 is one of the most striking sports sedans around, and the extra touches (spoiler, grill and thicker wheels) Volkswagen has dealt the Sports Bora really gives it a harder, sportier edge.

Similar to the Passat - VW's more expensive showpiece sedan - the thinner, leaner Bora has an excellent standard of panel fit and paint finish. Its sharp lines and contoured rear, plus a bulky (but still appropiate) rear spolier, ensures this automobile won't be humbled when parked next to the latest BMW 3-series.

Inside, woodgrain trim, leather seats and exquisite cabin display spell quality.

A beautifully sculptured leather wheel is a nice finishing touch too, and the simple instrument functions are a joy to operate. Just wait until dusk when the blue back-lighting appears behind the steering wheel - deluxe!

Finding a suitable driving position is easy with steering columns adjustment options, plus a seat base with height and tilt adjustment.

The front leather sports seats are heated and offer good cushion and back support, but beware of piping hot temperatures because she doesn't like extreme heat one bit. A combination of black leather and a mediocre AC unit makes for a very uncomfortable experience in the heat.

Room & Added Features

The only area where room is an issue in the Sports Bora is the rear passenger seats, which are tight, but acceptable.

Everywhere else there's realms of space, and if the Bora is just a glorified Golf with a boot - like those motoring enthiusiasts claim - boy, what a boot! The trunk holds a massive 455 litres of space, with that figure swelling to 785 with the rear seats folded back.

A very strong equipment list appeals to a lot of motorists looking for a new car, and if there's one thing the Bora has it's extras.

Try anti-lock brakes, twin airbags, air conditioning, CD player, cruise control, a trip computer, sports steering wheel, security alarm and remote central locking to start off with. Climate control, alloy wheels, leather trim and rain sensing windscreen wipers come as standard on the Bora V5, but not the base-model Bora.

ECARS Verdict

The V5 engine under the bonnet of the Sports Bora is one cylinder off a V6, and sometimes you can't argue with figures - this baby is one notch down from a stack of high performance cars in this segment.

Nonetheless, the V5 has the necessary flair, good looks and smooth ride motorists want from a sports sedan nowadays, so lack of big-time power shouldn't be its archilles heal.

If thrills and razor-sharp handling is what you're after in a sports sedan then it's best to look elsewhere, perhaps something a bit more pricey. Otherwise, if you're keen on a Volkswagen, perhaps give the gutsier V6 4MOTION Sport a glossing over, which carries a price tag of $60,300.

The V6 models also come with the V5's stunning equipment list.

Prices
Bora 2.0 5spd Manual $37,800.00
Bora 2.0 4spd Automatic $39,900.00
Bora 2.3 V5 5spd Manual $44,200.00
Bora 2.3 V5 5spd Tiptronic Automatic $46,300.00
Bora 2.3 V5 Sport 5spd Manual $49,200.00
Bora 2.3 V5 Sport 5spd Tiptronic Automatic $51,300.00 *** (Test Car)
Bora 2.8 V6 4MOTION 6spd Manual $54,800.00
Bora 2.8 V6 4MOTION SPORT 6spd Manual $60,300.00

Photos courtesy of Volkswagen Australia.