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Volkswagen Golf Hatchback 1.4 TSI 122 S 3dr

For With the best blend of performance, price and economy, this is our favourite Golf engine. Even the cheapest models look pretty well equipped with air-conditioning, electric front windows, and the full safety kit.

Against For higher-mileage drivers, a more economical diesel model may make more long-term financial sense. Plus, S trim misses some desirable kit, such as alloys, electric rear windows and a smarter interior.

What Car? says

5 out of 5 stars

This is certainly the best engine in the Golf range, but we think a model with five doors and SE trim is the better buy.

Reader review rating

4.186047

Key facts

0–60mph: 9.5 secs
Top speed: 124 mph
Average mpg: 45.6
Tank range: 552 miles

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Features

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Size

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View the whole Volkswagen Golf Hatchback range

Cheaper

Hatchback 1.4 80 S 3dr
£14,850
Hatchback 1.4 80 S 5dr
£15,435
Hatchback 1.2 TSI 105 S 3dr
£15,990
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 122 S 3dr
£16,495
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 90 S 3dr
£16,570
Hatchback 1.2 TSI 105 S 5dr
£16,575
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 122 S 5dr
£17,080
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 90 S 5dr
£17,155
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 S 3dr
£17,315
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 122 SE 3dr
£17,380
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 S 5dr
£17,900
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 122 SE 5dr
£17,965
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion S/S 3dr
£18,100
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 SE 3dr
£18,200
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion Tech SE 3dr
£18,610
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion S/S 5dr
£18,685
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 SE 5dr
£18,785
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion Tech SE 5dr
£19,195
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 SE 3dr
£19,495
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 SE 5dr
£20,080
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 160 GT 3dr
£20,240
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 160 GT 5dr
£20,825
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 GT 3dr
£20,870
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 GT 5dr
£21,455
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 170 GTD 3dr
£23,610
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 210 GTI 3dr
£24,175
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 170 GTD 5dr
£24,195
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 210 GTI 5dr
£24,760
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 270 R 3dr
£30,090
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 270 R 5dr
£30,675
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 270 R DSG 3dr
£31,395

More expensive

Hatchback 1.4 80 S 3dr
£14,850
Hatchback 1.4 80 S 5dr
£15,435
Hatchback 1.2 TSI 105 S 3dr
£15,990
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 122 S 3dr
£16,495
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 90 S 3dr
£16,570
Hatchback 1.2 TSI 105 S 5dr
£16,575
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 122 S 5dr
£17,080
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 90 S 5dr
£17,155
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 S 3dr
£17,315
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 122 SE 3dr
£17,380
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 S 5dr
£17,900
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 122 SE 5dr
£17,965
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion S/S 3dr
£18,100
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 SE 3dr
£18,200
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion Tech SE 3dr
£18,610
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion S/S 5dr
£18,685
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 SE 5dr
£18,785
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion Tech SE 5dr
£19,195
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 SE 3dr
£19,495
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 SE 5dr
£20,080
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 160 GT 3dr
£20,240
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 160 GT 5dr
£20,825
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 GT 3dr
£20,870
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 GT 5dr
£21,455
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 170 GTD 3dr
£23,610
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 210 GTI 3dr
£24,175
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 170 GTD 5dr
£24,195
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 210 GTI 5dr
£24,760
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 270 R 3dr
£30,090
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 270 R 5dr
£30,675
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 270 R DSG 3dr
£31,395

The Volkswagen Golf Hatchback full review Read in full

Performance
4 out of 5 stars
All but cheapest versions have lots of go
Ride & Handling
5 out of 5 stars
Brilliant blend of comfort and fun
Refinement
4 out of 5 stars
Smoother and quieter than most rivals
Buying & Owning
4 out of 5 stars
Not cheap, but worth every penny
Quality & Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
As swanky as a hatchback gets
Safety & Security
5 out of 5 stars
Most boxes checked
Behind The Wheel
5 out of 5 stars
Absolutely nothing to fault
Space & Practicality
4 out of 5 stars
Plenty of space for passengers
Equipment
4 out of 5 stars
SE is the way to go

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Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

The Golf is all the car most families will ever need. There are rivals with more prestigious badges, larger cabins, punchier engines or lower prices, but if we had to pick one model to cope with everything a family is likely to ask of a car for the next, say, three years, it would be a Golf.

Yes, the styling couldn't be more conservative if it wore a blue rosette, but buyers still love it. The Golf is amazingly well-rounded, too. It’s class-leading in many areas, and there isn’t a thing that it does badly.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t big discounts to be had, though. Haggle hard, and you’ll get four figures off almost any version. Bigger savings can be had online, and because the Golf’s residual values are so strong, you’ll get plenty of money back at resale time.

We’d avoid the smaller petrol and diesel engines, because they’re a little short on grunt. For the best mix of abilities, go for either the 1.4TSI petrol engine, or the 138bhp 2.0TDI diesel.