For Even the cheapest models look pretty well equipped with air-conditioning, electric front windows and the full safety kit. The engine is quiet and very light on fuel consumption.

Against The engine is very flat at the bottom of the rev range, so it’s not very flexible. S trim misses desirable kit, such as alloys, electric rear windows and the smarter interior that you get on the dearer models.

Volkswagen Golf Hatchback

What Car? says

5 out of 5 stars

The lean fuel consumption is tempting, but it’s not the most flexible engine. Stick with the 1.4 TSI 122.

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Key facts

0–60mph
11.3 secs
Top speed
117 mph
Average mpg
62.8
Tank range
760 miles
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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.

Reader test team says:

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Had it at the dealer nothing found wrong something…

Geoffrey Charlesworth

1 out of 5 stars
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