For Common-rail 2.0-litre engine has eradicated the clatter and jack-rabbit torque delivery of the old unit while delivering better economy. SE is the optimum spec, with alloys, four electric windows and a smarter interior.

Against Three-door format doesn't make life easy for anyone above junior school age to get in and out of the back. The rear seats don't quite fold completely flat, either.

Volkswagen Golf Hatchback

What Car? says

5 out of 5 stars

A bit of an odd mixture – a frugal diesel engine and comfort-oriented SE trim in a sporty three-door bodyshell. Still a great car if you don't need easy access to the back, though.

Reader review rating

4.186047
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Key facts

0–60mph
9.3 secs
Top speed
130 mph
Average mpg
57.6
Tank range
697 miles
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Features

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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.

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