For The VW Golf is refined and comfortable, but remains fun to drive. The cabin is classy and practical, the residual values are strong, and every car has lots of safety kit.

Against The most basic engines in the range don’t have a lot of power, and the styling is conservative, inside and out.

Volkswagen Golf Hatchback
55 5stars

The Volkswagen Golf is better than ever. Desirable, refined and great to drive, it's one of the best all-rounders, and deservedly our 2012 Small Family Car of the Year.

What Car? readers say

4.135135
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The full Volkswagen Golf review


There are 37 Volkswagen Golf versions available

Hatchback blue-e-motion 5dr TBA TBA
Hatchback 1.2 TSI 85 S 3dr £15,865
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.2 TSI 85 S 5dr £16,450
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.2 TSI 105 S 3dr £16,735
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 122 S 3dr £17,250
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 90 S 3dr £17,280 TBA
Hatchback 1.2 TSI 105 S 5dr £17,320
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 122 S 5dr £17,835
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 90 S 5dr £17,865 TBA
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 S 3dr £18,025
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 122 Match 3dr £18,535
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 S 5dr £18,610
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion 3dr £18,860
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 122 Match 5dr £19,120
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 Match 3dr £19,310
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion 5dr £19,445
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 BlueM Tech Match 3dr £19,720
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 Match 5dr £19,895
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 105 BlueM Tech Match 5dr £20,305
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 Match 3dr £20,520
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 BlueM Tech Match 3dr £20,930
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 Match 5dr £21,105
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 160 GT 3dr £21,330
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 BlueM Tech Match 5dr £21,515
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 GT 3dr £21,830
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.4 TSI 160 GT 5dr £21,915
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 BlueM Tech GT 3dr £22,240
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 GT 5dr £22,415
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 BlueM Tech GT 5dr £22,825
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 170 GTD 3dr £24,655
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TDI 170 GTD 5dr £25,240
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 210 GTI 3dr £25,330
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 210 GTI 5dr £25,915
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 235 GTI Edition 35 3dr £27,575
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 235 GTI Edition 35 5dr £28,160
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 270 R 3dr £31,450
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Hatchback 2.0 TSI 270 R 5dr £32,035
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5

Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

The Volkswagen 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, it would be a Golf.

Yes, it couldn't look more conservative if it wore a blue rosette, but buyers still love it. 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, and because the Golf’s residual values are so strong, you’ll get plenty of money back at resale time.

We’d avoid the smallest petrol engine because it’s a bit weak, but all the rest make a strong case for themselves. Our favourite is the 1.4TSI petrol, which is our reigning Small Family Car of the Year,. The Bluemotion model, meanwhile, is our Green Small Family Car of the Year.

Reader test team says:

Volkswagen Golf Hatchback 2.0 TDI 110 S 5dr

I have owned a 1.4tsi petrol for 2 years, and am VERY satisfied. Get past the utilitarian looks, and it lives up to its name as the best small family…

Richard Winfieldale

4 out of 5 stars

Volkswagen Golf Hatchback 2.0 TDI 170 GTD 5dr

This is the 3rd Golf I have taken ownership of. I previously had a GTI Mk V so I knew I would be taking a hit on power but the enhanced frugality of…

Kevin Pollock

5 out of 5 stars

Volkswagen Golf Hatchback 2.0 TSI 210 GTI 5dr

I bought the Golf GTI new in August 2011, added a load of spec which should have been standard, inc, xenon, parking sensors, better hifi, bluetooth,…

Nick Harman

4 out of 5 stars

Volkswagen Golf Hatchback 1.4 TSI 160 GT 5dr

I have had the Golf for nearly months and covered about 1300 miles. My previous car was 1.4 Audi and I have to say that the MK6 Golf has far superior…

Mark de Fleury

4 out of 5 stars
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