Used Car of the Year 2011 - Green cars

Winner Green cars
VW Golf 1.6 TDI SE 5dr
Age 2009/09
Dealer price £12,300
Private price £11,900
Not only is the Golf great to live with, it also has a great set of numbers. It’ll do an average of 62.8mpg and a year’s road tax will set you back just £30. You can forgive the fact that it isn’t exactly rapid; factor in the low starting prices and it’s unbeatable.

If you plan to cover a lot of miles, you could look at the dedicated Bluemotion models, which manage as much as 74.3mpg. They’re still too pricey for us to consider them good value, though.

The Golf is superb to drive, being both refined and composed, and the steering is accurate and well balanced. The ride manages to be comfortable, and body roll isn’t excessive when cornering. Wind and road noise are kept in check, too.

Inside, the Golf is more than up to the task of coping with a family, with decent passenger space in the back. There’s enough leg- and headroom for two adults – or three if they’re prepared to cosy up – and the boot is big and easy to load. The only slight issue is that the split-folding rear seats don’t lie totally flat when folded.

The SE is the best buy because it comes with many of the things you’d expect on a Golf, including alloy wheels, automatic lights and wipers, and cruise control.

We expect the Golf to hold its value well over the next few years, which will limit the money you’ll lose through depreciation. The Golf also upholds Volkswagen’s reputation for reliable cars, so you won’t face huge repair bills, but it isn’t totally fault-free. Issues include faulty ventilation systems and wiring faults that cause the heated seats to fail. There are occasional clutch and engine management issues, too.



Runners-up
Toyota Prius 1.5 T4,
’08/58, £9000
The car that bought green motoring to the masses is still a good used buy. Well equipped, spacious and easy to find on the used market.

BMW 3 Series 320d ED,
’09/59, £16,700
Even more efficient than the standard 320d, the Efficient Dynamics manages 68.9mpg and costs £20 in annual road tax.
Judge’s view
Matt Sanger,used car editor, What Car?
‘Great to drive, desirable and very efficient, the Golf should be at the top of every green driver’s wish list.’