Volkswagen Golf review
The Mk8 Golf offers cleaner engines, an updated interior and the latest on-board tech, but it can’t quite reach the top of the class
Is the Volkswagen Golf a good car?
The eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf scored well in plenty of areas when it was first launched in 2020, but some shortcomings meant it wasn’t quite as convincing as previous generations. VW’s family car motoring icon has long reigned supreme, combining classy looks and practicality while also being good to drive, but some of the decisions made about the car’s ergonomics meant it wasn’t quite as user-friendly as the VW Golf Mk7. However, the facelifted VW Golf Mk8.5 aims to address most of these quibbles, and the car remains a comfortable and pleasant place to be for the most part. The ride quality is still rather compromised, though, particularly over poorer surfaces, and there’s intrusive road noise at speed, especially on larger diameter wheels.
When you buy a Volkswagen Golf, you expect quality throughout, but the Mk8 model doesn’t feel head-and-shoulders above its rivals, even in its updated guise. The focus on technology was far from perfect at launch, but this is where the Golf Mk8.5 has made the most progress, with more intuitive touchscreen controls and improved ergonomics. However, compared with the competition, the VW Golf isn’t the class benchmark it once was.
| Key specs | |
| Fuel type | Petrol, diesel, PHEV |
| Body style | Five-door hatchback |
| Powertrain | 1.5-litre 4cyl turbocharged petrol, front-wheel drive 1.5-litre 4cyl turbocharged petrol PHEV, front-wheel drive 2.0-litre 4cyl turbocharged petrol, front-wheel drive 2.0-litre 4cyl turbocharged diesel, front-wheel drive 2.0-litre 4cyl turbocharged petrol, four-wheel drive |
| Safety | 5-star Euro NCAP (2022) |
| Warranty | 3yrs/60,000 miles |
How much does the Volkswagen Golf cost?
The Golf name is second only to the Beetle in the history of Volkswagen. The Golf celebrated its 50th birthday in 2024, and in the five decades it has been in production, more than 37 million Golfs have been sold. The hatchback’s biggest strength has traditionally been its few weaknesses; that all-round ability, plus the lure of a German badge, has made it irresistible to buyers for decades.
Used - available now
Over time, Volkswagen has adopted the ‘if it ain't broke, don’t fix it’ approach for the Golf. Evolutionary styling updates, an increasingly high-quality feel to the cabin, and a succession of capable engines have secured millions of customers, and the German manufacturer has broadly followed this strategy with the eighth-generation model.
Under the skin, the Golf Mk8 is based on the Mk7’s MQB Evo platform, which is used across various VW Group cars, including the SEAT Leon and Skoda Octavia - direct rivals in the family hatchback class. The Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf is available in five-door hatchback and estate body styles (the three-door hatch was dropped with the Golf Mk7).
Volkswagen’s trim structure for the Golf is almost bewilderingly large. At the entry point sits the Life trim, above which are Match, Style, R-Line and Black Edition variants, plus the sportier GTE, GTI, GTI Clubsport, R and R Black Edition.
Entry-level Life trim offers a generous amount of kit and tech, including a digital instrument display, wireless smartphone charging and a 13-inch colour touchscreen. The latter is standard on every model and means that the climate controls are now permanently displayed across the bottom of the screen. The Match is the best value; it’s the same as Life trim, but adds a reversing camera, keyless entry, bigger wheels and tinted glass for less than £200 extra.
The Style model should prove to be popular, adding items such as larger 17-inch alloy wheels and sports seats with upgraded upholstery, while the dynamic R-Line spec includes lowered, stiffer suspension and an exterior styling pack giving a more muscular stance. The Black Edition is around £1,000 more than an R-Line and adds larger wheels, matrix LED headlights, heated front seats and more.
One of the main updates for the VW Golf Mk8.5 is with the engine line-up. The 109bhp 1.0-litre has been replaced by a low-output version of the 1.5-litre unit used elsewhere in the range, and is available with either 114bhp or 148bhp. Both versions come with a six-speed manual transmission, while adding the slick seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox to the latter introduces VW’s eTSI mild-hybrid system.
The more powerful GTI delivers 261bhp from its 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine, while the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport and R models offer 296bhp and 328bhp, respectively. All of these models come with a standard DSG twin-clutch auto, while the R is also equipped with 4MOTION four-wheel drive.
For those prioritising fuel economy, the updated Mk8 Golf is still available with a 2.0-litre diesel engine with 113bhp or 148bhp, the latter being auto only. Buyers can also opt for the 268bhp GTE petrol plug-in hybrid or the 201bhp eHybrid, which both now come with a 1.5-litre engine to replace the older 1.4 TSI unit. They offer exceptional fuel economy and low CO2 emissions, while a larger 19.7kWh drive battery means they can travel further in zero-emissions all-electric mode.
Many of the Golf’s immediate competitors are offered with the option of pure-electric power (like the Vauxhall Astra Electric and Peugeot E-308), but if you want a Volkswagen-badged Golf-sized EV, then you’ll have to look at the Volkswagen ID.3.
Volkswagen continues to charge premium prices for what it considers to be the class-leading family hatchback currently on sale. Entry-level cars start from more than £27,000, and the range tops out at around £43,000 for the Golf R.
Engines, performance & drive
While the eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf had one or two flaws when it was launched, a lack of diversity in its range was certainly not one of them. A vast array of powertrain options has always been on the table, and that trend continues with the revised model.
The options have changed slightly, though. There was a time when downsizing was all the rage among car brands, slipping smaller engines into cars and compensating with turbocharging to make up for the capacity deficit, but this often resulted in an engine that could be a little overworked (and, therefore, less frugal) in the real world.
Things have now changed, with one such engine, the 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol, now replaced with a new version of the 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI. This motor produces 114bhp and 220Nm of torque; not only is that latter number 20Nm more than the outgoing three-cylinder, but the 1.5-litre achieves maximum torque at lower revs than the old 1.0-litre engine. Above that model sits our choice, the more familiar 148bhp/250Nm variant. Models fitted with an auto get mild-hybrid tech with an electric motor to take some load off the engine when accelerating.
The plug-in hybrid range has also grown. Literally, in the case of the battery; the new unit is bumped up to 19.7kWh of useable battery capacity, enabling the Golf to offer up to 88 miles of electric range on a single charge from the eHybrid version. Power outputs range from 201bhp to 268bhp, with the latter reserved for the sporty GTE model.
Above the GTE sits a line-up of even more performance-focused choices. The iconic Volkswagen Golf GTI has been given a power boost to 262bhp, while the hot Volkswagen Golf R version now produces 329bhp, which it sends to all four wheels.
As the more financially frugal side of the family, Volkswagen is still offering buyers the option of diesel. A 2.0-litre unit is available, with power outputs of 113bhp and 148bhp, the latter with an automatic gearbox.
| Model | Power | 0-62mph | Top speed |
| Golf 1.5 eTSI 150 Life DSG | 148bhp | 8.4 seconds | 139mph |
| Golf 2.0 TDI Match | 114bhp | 10.2 seconds | 126mph |
| Golf 1.5 GTE | 268bhp | 6.6 seconds | 143mph |
What is the Volkswagen Golf like to drive?
In town
Undoubtedly, the most important quality of a family hatchback drives is its ease of use, and more than ever, the Golf is a car anyone can hop into and just immediately feel comfortable with.
The mild-hybrid technology on the 1.5 e-TSI smooths out some of the rough patches that we’ve previously noticed with VW’s DSG gearbox – particularly when moving off or reversing into a tight parking space. In comparison, the TDI diesel auto without the MHEV system still suffers from a touch of jerkiness, but the generous low-down torque means that the gearbox doesn’t need to kick down quite as often.
The Golf’s steering is nicely weighted and fairly precise, but it doesn’t offer much feedback and is quite slow off-centre, which in some situations means that the Golf doesn’t feel like the most agile hatchback on the market.
On A- and B-roads
One of the VW Golf’s strengths has always been to offer a chassis compromise that delivers competent (if not class-leading) body control through corners without letting the ride comfort fall apart on a bumpy road.
Those characteristics continue with the updated Mk8.5; it’s not the firmest model in its class by a long stretch, but there’s sufficient control for big bumps to be dealt with in a single bounce of the springs.
While some rivals handle more sharply on smooth surfaces, the Golf’s set-up is very well judged for Britain’s bumpy roads. The balance is impressively neutral, and grip, especially on the front axle, is strong for the class.
On the motorway
The Golf isn’t quite the most refined car in its segment at speed – the Peugeot 308 has it narrowly beaten here, thanks to a touch less road noise – but the VW’s high-speed stability is class-leading. A strong engine line-up also works in its favour at higher speeds. Across the board, the power delivery is smooth and the engines are refined – even the diesels are muted under load.
0-62mph acceleration and top speed
The engine line-up for the front-wheel-drive Golf includes TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines. The entry-level 1.5-litre that replaces the older 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol offers 114bhp – up from 109bhp – and has extra torque, so it manages a 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds, which is three-tenths of a second faster than the 1.0 TSI.
The more powerful 148bhp 1.5 TSI (the 128bhp version has been dropped) has a 0-62mph time of 8.5 seconds. Both of these 1.5 TSIs use a six-speed manual gearbox, while there’s also a 148bhp eTSI, with mild-hybrid tech and a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. Cylinder deactivation, which shuts down two of the four cylinders when cruising to save fuel, is also fitted, but you’ll hardly notice when this occurs as the system operates so seamlessly.
Performance from the GTE plug-in hybrid is pretty rapid, with the 0-62mph dash taking just 6.6s, while the GTI model is even quicker at 5.9s. Volkswagen quotes 0-62mph times for the 113bhp and 148bhp diesels, as 10.2s and 8.0s, respectively.
At the top end of the range, the Volkswagen GTI Clubsport races to the same benchmark in 5.6s, while the hot R is a second quicker with a time of 4.6 seconds.
MPG, emissions & running costs
While the Volkswagen Golf has a reputation for bridging a gap between mainstream and premium hatchbacks, a starting price of around £27,000 certainly falls into the former camp. That figure looks very competitive on paper, because it undercuts the base-model Vauxhall Astra by more than £600 and the entry-level Ford Focus by almost £1,500. Things change at the top of the range, with the hot R model breaking the £43,000 mark. From time to time, some very tempting PCP finance deals are offered to encourage would-be customers to get behind the wheel of a VW, so the Golf might cost you less than expected.
And once behind the wheel, this German hatchback won’t cost a fortune to run, either. Officially, the 1.5 TSI petrol achieves 52.3mpg, which is a figure that would be tricky to match around town, but easy to match – or even beat – on more open roads. The diesels are better still, with their official 63.5mpg being similarly achievable on longer runs.
Volkswagen has introduced many features to improve the Golf’s green credentials. Plug-in and mild-hybrid versions, stop-start systems, and cylinder deactivation all feature in the model line-up, and should help customers make cost savings.
Company car users will be particularly taken with the revised Golf GTE thanks to its blend of performance, courtesy of its 268bhp combined output, and super-low CO2 emissions of 8g/km, while the plug-in model is able to cover around 81 miles on electric drive alone. Volkswagen claims the GTE will average 94.2mpg, although you'll need to ensure you regularly charge the battery to get near that figure.
The 201bhp eHybrid Style uses the same 1.5-litre petrol/plug-in hybrid system as the GTE, but overall efficiency improves, with up to 89 miles of electric-only range and CO2 emissions of 6g/km.
Diesel economy figures are also impressive. VW claims the 114bhp 2.0 TDI manual will manage around 64mpg, while the more powerful 148bhp auto version of the same engine will return around 60mpg. You might not reach those numbers in everyday driving, but you certainly won’t be a regular at the fuel station. Emissions are cleaner, too, with the same base car emitting as little as 117g/km of CO2.
The petrol cars provide an interesting mix. Delivering a claimed maximum of 52.3mpg, the 114bhp 1.5 TSI matches the 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit that it replaced, while adding the DSG gearbox (and its mild hybrid add-ons) boosts this figure to 53.4mpg.
It’s a similar story with the 148bhp 1.5 TSI, with the six-speed manual model offering 50.9mpg in the official combined figures, while the eHybrid with the seven-speed DSG automatic transmission manages up to 54.3mpg combined.
Customers looking towards the performance of the Volkswagen Golf GTI will see average economy of 39.8mpg and emissions of 162g/km, while the more powerful Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport version delivers slightly worse figures at 35.8mpg and 171g/km. The more powerful R model’s four-wheel drive system has a slight impact on efficiency, so it returns 34.9mpg and 184g/km of CO2.
| Model | MPG | CO2 | Insurance group |
| Golf 1.5 eTSI 150 Life DSG | 54.3mpg | 119g/km | 20E |
| Golf 2.0 TDI Match | 64.2mpg | 117g/km | 19E |
| Golf 2.0 TSI R | 34.9mpg | 184g/km | 33E |
Electric range, battery life and charge time
Both the eHybrid and GTE plug-in hybrid versions of the Golf use a larger 25.7kWh (19.7kWh useable) battery pack that’s also found in plug-in versions of the Volkswagen Passat and Volkswagen Tiguan. That’s up from just 13kWh in the pre-facelift Golf, and allows for over 80 miles of electric-only range.
The maximum charging speed has been increased from just 3.6kWs to 40kWs, meaning if you plug into a suitably rapid charger, a 5-80 per cent top-up will take just 26 minutes. However, that’ll be an expensive way of replenishing the battery in your Golf compared with home charging. Official charging times utilising a more cost-effective 7.4kW wallbox charger haven’t been released for the Golf at the time of writing, but a Passat using the same 7.4kW charger is stated to take around four hours to go from flat to full, so we expect that to be the same for the Golf.
The battery pack in the Golf is covered by a separate warranty, and is expected to maintain above 70 per cent of its capacity for up to eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Tax
With the exception of the R and GTI Clubsport models that cost over £40,000 when new, all other Golfs in the range will cost between £180 and £190 in Vehicle Excise Duty from the second year on.
The cheapest model to run for company-car drivers is the Golf Style eHybrid PHEV. Thanks to its lowly five per cent Benefit-in-Kind banding, this version will cost basic-rate income taxpayers just £367 a year.
Insurance groups
The entry-level Golf Match 1.5 TSI starts from group 17 insurance, while performance versions climb much higher; the GTI is rated at group 31, and the R is group 33.
Depreciation
A used Golf normally holds on to its value fairly well, but in the Mk8 range, some models perform a little better than others. The petrol options hold their value best, with the numerous variants of the 1.5 TSI clinging on to roughly 48 per cent of their original price after three years or 36,000 miles.
The base diesel is just behind, at around 46.5 per cent over the same time period and mileage. The rest of the range, including the PHEVs and performance models, float between 40 and 43 per cent.
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Interior, design & technology
The overall profile of the car is still unmistakably a Volkswagen Golf, with the thinner front grille and narrow headlights the parts most radically refreshed. Overall, the Mk8.5 has left the exterior appearance alone, and the sharp lines help make more of a visual impact than the previous Mk7 model.
Inside, Volkswagen has adopted more touchscreen tech, with the Digital Cockpit Pro set-up as standard and gesture control for the infotainment system, which now comes with a 13-inch screen as standard. It all looks rather smart and chic, but still retains the functional feel of the brand - you know you’re sitting in a Golf.
Entry-level cars benefit from 16-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, and LED headlights. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity are standard.
Stepping up to Style trim brings some chrome exterior trim and a funky LED light strip running across the top of the radiator grille. The R-Line versions receive a sporty styling pack and rear privacy glass, while the GTD, GTE and GTI cars include bigger wheels, keyless entry, and model-specific interior and exterior trim. Black Editions of R-Line and the Golf R delete the exterior chrome and add gloss-black highlights inside and out.
What is the Volkswagen Golf like inside?
It was the cabin that came under fire most strongly when the Mk8 arrived, and it’s here where Volkswagen has tried to do what it can to improve things for the Mk8.5. The touch-sensitive controls proved to be fiddly, which has seen some ditched altogether for the refresh. For example, the steering wheel has reverted back to physical buttons on its spokes, and they’re far more intuitive to use than the previous touch-sensitive set-up.
Some haven’t disappeared, however. The main volume control is still an awkward slider below the touchscreen, although at least it’s backlit now so it can be used in the dark. It’s a little more responsive than before, and now that the driver has access to proper volume-control buttons on the steering wheel, it’s less of a negative than it was previously. However, this slider, along with the ones on either side for temperature control, are still positioned where you are likely to rest your hand when using the main touchscreen.
What is the interior quality like?
Perhaps more surprising than the functionality of the Golf Mk8’s cabin somewhat letting the side down was that its interior didn’t feel quite as posh as we’ve come to expect from the famous name plate.
Not too much has changed on that front with the Mk8.5, so while it all feels fairly well put together, rivals such as the Peugeot 308 and even the Skoda Octavia feel more expensive inside.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
All Mk8.5 Golfs have a 13-inch Discover touchscreen system, and while it doesn’t quite sit as neatly on the dash as the Mk8’s smaller screen, it’s a welcome improvement compared with the system it replaces.
The latest screen has faster loading times, an easier to navigate menu layout, and its additional size means that the climate controls are now on permanent display at the bottom of the screen. While we’d rather have physical controls to make quick adjustments to the temperature, the revised set-up is much better than before.
Many of the Golf’s driver-assistance systems have been tweaked. These include the Park Assist function, which can now detect if a space is large enough for the car as it drives beside it. If it is, the VW can drive itself into the bay by adjusting the drive and steering. A 360-degree camera system is available as a £600 option on entry-level Life trim if you’d rather do it yourself but need a better view of your surroundings.
Boot space, comfort & practicality
Previous generations of Volkswagen Golf have been available in both three- and five-door forms, but the latest Golf has gone down the more practical route of offering just a five-door body style only. The Volkswagen Golf Estate has been retained for those after a bit more versatility but don’t need something quite as big as a Volkswagen Passat. The pseudo-SUV Volkswagen Golf Alltrack with four-wheel drive has been dropped.
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4,282mm |
| Width | 1,789mm |
| Height | 1,483mm |
| Number of seats | 5 |
| Boot space | 381-1,237 litres (273 litres eHybrid and GTE) |
Dimensions and size
The Mk8 Golf grew a few centimetres over the Mk7, and the update hasn’t changed this. The five-door hatchback is 4,284mm long, 1,789mm wide (excluding door mirrors), and 1,491mm in height.
How practical is the Volkswagen Golf?
Seats & space in the front
While many rivals have caught up when it comes to the VW Golf’s design and finish, the brand still really nails some other basics.
The driving position is spot on, while a wide amount of adjustment in both the front seat and the steering wheel makes it easy for most people to get comfortable behind the wheel. The large glass areas, plus the ability to raise the seat up high if necessary, mean that all-round visibility is better than in most rivals.
There are some well thought out storage areas, from the large glovebox to a dedicated smartphone slot complete with wireless charging. The latter is angled forward so your device can’t fall out of place while driving. The door bins are large and are carpeted both front and rear to stop items from rattling about. That does mean they’re not a great place to store snacks, though.
Seats & space in the back
Adults will find a reasonable amount of kneeroom compared with most rivals, while the flat roofline means that even taller people have space above their heads. The outer seats are quite sculpted, and are a little more upright than in other rivals.
If you need to squeeze three people in the back, the middle seat occupant will find the central position is fairly soft, and there’s a high central tunnel they’ll need to straddle, forcing their feet into the space of the other two occupants.
Storage is decent, with map pockets and smaller smartphone slots on the back of the front seats. If only two people are sitting in the rear, there’s a fold-down central armrest with a pair of cup-holders.
A pair of ISOFIX child seat mounting points are provided on the outer positions of the rear bench seat, plus the front passenger seat. The hooks in the back are hidden behind some easily removable plastic tabs.
Boot space
A 381-litre boot capacity isn’t the largest available in the segment, but it is a neatly designed shape with a fairly low loading lip. An adjustable height boot floor is also available, helping to create a level load area in its highest position when the rear seat backs are folded down. When in this configuration, the hatchback’s overall storage capacity increases to 1,237 litres.
Just be aware that the R model has a smaller 341-litre boot due to modifications needing to be made in order to accommodate the four-wheel drive system. The battery pack in the plug-in hybrid eHybrid and GTE models takes up even more space under the boot floor, reducing capacity to 273 litres.
Towing
If you're planning on using your Golf for towing duties then you'll be best served with the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel that can tow a braked trailer or caravan of up to 1,600kg, or either the eHybrid and GTE plug-in hybrid models that can pull up to 1,700kg.
The 148bhp 1.5 TSI petrol and 114bhp 2.0 TDI diesel can haul around 1,500kg, while the 114bhp 1.5 TSI has 1,300kg of towing ability – although we suspect it’ll feel a bit underpowered up hills. Surprisingly, the Golf GTI and Golf R are both rated to tow, with max weights of 1,600kg and 1,700kg, respectively.
Reliability & safety
Unfortunately, the latest Volkswagen Golf came last in the 2024 Driver Power satisfaction survey, with owners unhappy with numerous aspects of their cars, with the majority of issues surrounding the infotainment system, and the mix of touchscreen and physical controls. The updated Golf has a much improved touchscreen set-up, so several of these issues will hopefully be resolved.
Work still needs to be done to improve the Volkswagen brand’s poor 29th place out of 32 manufacturers included in the survey – a further slip from its 27th place (out of 32) result the brand received in 2023. According to our expert data, 23.4 per cent of Volkswagen owners surveyed experienced a fault of some sort during the first year of ownership.
The Golf has a strong reputation for being safe, and the Mk8.5 comes as standard with plenty of safety kit such as adaptive cruise control, a driver fatigue detection system, a road sign display system, and an autonomous braking feature that intervenes in an emergency to help reduce the possibility of accidents.
It also features Volkswagen’s advanced Car2X driver assistance system. The tech communicates wirelessly with other similarly-equipped vehicles, and is able to warn drivers of problems such as roadside hazards, vehicle breakdowns, and vehicles ahead that have applied emergency braking. The system also uses the information it receives to detect when the end of a traffic jam is coming up, and is then able to re-engage the car’s adaptive cruise control once the traffic clears.
Euro NCAP put the latest Golf through its rigorous safety tests in 2019 and reassessed it in 2022 to ensure the earlier score was still relevant with a more rigorous testing procedure. In both instances, the popular hatch was judged to have a top five-star rating, although the Honda Civic that was also tested in 2022 achieved higher scores in the adult, vulnerable road user and safety assistance categories. At least the Golf did much better than the Peugeot 308, which only got four stars out of five.
| Key standard safety features | Euro NCAP safety ratings |
|
Warranty
Volkswagen offers a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty package with its new cars. Although it’s the industry-standard cover, it does seem a little short when some rivals offer seven-year warranties. VW does offer extended cover for extra cost, though.
Servicing
The Golf is available with a two-year servicing package for around £500. The cost of the most basic oil-change service beyond that is around £250, which means three years of maintenance will set you back around £750.
Volkswagen offers a choice on how your vehicle is maintained, with fixed and flexible servicing options available. These relate to mileage covered and driving style. The latter can be impacted if the engine is regularly under a high load due to activities including frequent hill climbs, driving with the vehicle fully loaded, or towing a heavy trailer or caravan.
What do owners think?
Here’s what owners in the 2024 Driver Power survey thought of the VW Golf. These impressions are of the Mk8 car rather than the revised Mk8.5 version covered in this review.
| What they like | What they don’t like |
| “I can drive 680 miles in one day on a round trip to Devon, and I am not stiff or sore when I get back.” | “Disappointing quality. I expected better of VW and would not buy another Golf based on this one.” |
| “I love how comfortable and smooth a drive it is. It looks beautiful and the petrol costs are sensible.” | “The touchscreen is almost impossible to use safely while the car is in motion. It needs more switches.” |
| “A reasonably serene ride when I’m just going from A to B. It goes like the clappers when I’m in the mood.” | “I tend to use my phone because the Golf’s built-in navigation seems to take longer routes.” |
| “I find the much-maligned infotainment works really well if you set it up properly with shortcuts in the menu.” | “Luggage space is all right, but it can be a bit of a squeeze in the back seats if passengers have long legs.” |
| “The boot is very accommodating. There’s enough space is for a family to go on holiday. Even better, we can bring our dog along, too. | “I had two Golfs before my Mk8; each provided years of trouble-free motoring. This one is a joke in comparison.” |
| “My Golf offers a good balance between pin-sharp handling and limousine-like comfort. VW has struck just the right balance for me; it’s good to drive and comfortable.” | |
| “There’s a good amount of height and lumbar adjustment, and the bolsters give lots of support. The controls and switches are very user-friendly as they respond easily.” | |
| “The quality is good. I’ve driven many other cars, so I can appreciate the Golf’s fit and finish.” | |
| “It’s a great car in terms of style, performance, space and practicality, and the residuals will be strong.” |
Volkswagen Golf alternatives
As mentioned above, the VW Golf faces competition not only from rival manufacturers, but also from the SEAT Leon and Skoda Octavia within its own stable. Other challengers include the Kia Ceed, Hyundai i30, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Peugeot 308, and Vauxhall Astra, while for those looking towards the premium end of the market, there’s the Audi A3 Sportback (another car based upon the Golf platform), Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1 Series.
Anyone interested in a hybrid car but doesn’t fancy plugging in should consider either the excellent Honda Civic, or the frugal Toyota Corolla.
Used and nearly new Volkswagen Golfs
The iconic Golf hatchback has offered a near-perfect blend of style, driving fun and practicality for over 50 years. You'll struggle to find a classier used buy, with the Golf Mk5 providing a much-needed return to form as a great driver's car in GTI trim, and later Golf Mk7 models offering improved on-board tech and a range of efficient engines. There is plenty of choice when it comes to power options, with an array of petrol, diesel and hybrid units available, although be sure to check the usual service history details, particularly on older-gen cars, as time is catching up and you may find bills more expensive.
Volkswagen Golf history
Volkswagen Golf Mk7: 2013-2019
The Mk7 Volkswagen Golf brought together all of the German manufacturer's technical know-how in what is, arguably, the best overall package in the iconic hatch's history. Already undeniably classy and good to drive, the model received a Mk7.5 facelift in 2017, introducing styling tweaks and useful new onboard technology. Read our full Mk7 Volkswagen Golf buyer���s guide here…
Volkswagen Golf Mk6: 2009-2013
The Mk6 Golf is based on the same platform as its predecessor, although Volkswagen raised the interior quality over the Mk5 car. The cabin included plenty of soft-touch materials and comfortable seats, while it had a quiet, executive air out on the road. Prices remain strong, even after a number of years post-production, so you'll need to spend some time finding the best bang for your buck. Read our full Mk6 Volkswagen Golf buyer’s guide here…
Volkswagen Golf Mk5: 2003-2009
Keen drivers often speak about the Mk5 Golf GTI as being one of the best hot hatches Volkswagen produced. More mainstream models were also highly praised for their solid build quality, while strong engines and the extra practicality of the high-roofed Volkswagen Golf Plus and roomier estate models meant the Golf's appeal reached out to a variety of buyers. Read our full Mk5 Volkswagen Golf buyer’s guide here…
Older VW Golf models
Buyers on the hunt for fourth-generation or earlier examples of Volkswagen Golf will probably be best served by scouring specialists or even the classified ads.
VW launched the Mk1 Golf in 1974, followed by the slightly bigger Golf Mk2 nine years later. The Mk3 arrived in 1991, growing in size again, and was named European Car of the Year in 1992, while the Mk4 Golf went on to be the best-selling car in Europe. Older Golf models are still popular with enthusiasts, which means there are still decent, well-cared for examples to be found, but remember to still take extra care when looking to buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
For some buyers there’s an element of buying a Golf because it’s a Golf. There’s nothing wrong with that, because it’s still a decent hatchback, but it doesn’t excel in any particular area these days.
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