Below the £25,000 mark, your options are limited when it comes to upgrading your audio system. Usually, you’re stuck with the manufacturer’s stock option, with the rarefied Bowers & Wilkins and Burmester systems found in more expensive models a mere pipe dream.
In working with Danish audio firm Dynaudio, however, VW has brought a taste of the high end to the more affordable end of the market. A £550 upgrade, this audio system is incredibly good value, its ten-channel digital amplifier pumping out 400W of power, supporting eight speakers and delivering a level of drive, aggression and presence that belies its relatively lowly price tag.
With gut-rumbling bass, an open mid-range and a crisp, sharp top-end, the Golf’s Dynaudio system sounds better than audio systems on other cars many more times as expensive; and well-deserving of our under-£25,000 award for best in-car audio.
For those on even tighter budgets, another VW group car caught our eye – the Skoda Fabia. This is a car that sounds as good as it drives. And we’re not talking pricey, branded upgrades here: the Fabia we tested came with VW’s stock music system, and to say we were impressed with it is an understatement. Its surprisingly tight bass, easy-to-listen-to mid-range and crisp high-end make it a fun listen, whether you’re listening to radio, audiobooks, techno or jazz.
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