Used Volkswagen Golf 2013-2020 review

Very few cars have the classless appeal of the Volkswagen Golf and, with this seventh-generation (Mk7) model that ran from 2013 to the beginning of 2020, VW managed to come up with a car that was not only as multitalented as its predecessors but also improved on them significantly.

The 2020-present VW Golf (Mk8) has since taken up the Golf mantle, but the 2013-2020 one we're focusing on here is truly a tough act to follow.

Engines and performance: For starters, there’s the range of low-capacity 1.0, 1.4 and later 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engines that punch far above their weight in terms of performance yet return impressive fuel efficiency. Then there are the 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesel engines for those who travel on the motorway every day.

Anybody interested in ultra-low-emissions driving might want to consider either the plug-in hybrid GTE or fully electric e-Golf. For those more interested in speed, there's always the hot hatch GTI or ballistically quick Golf R.

Ride and handling: To drive, even the regular versions of the Golf are comfortable and stable at any speed, while also offering enough agility and steering sharpness to make them enjoyable.

The Golf also rides better than nearly all of its contemporaries, thanks to its supple suspension, and even the 1.0 TSI and 1.6 TDI versions that come with a slightly less sophisticated rear set-up are nicely compliant over most broken road surfaces.

Interior and practicality: The interior is very smart, whichever trim you go for. The dashboard is built from upmarket-feeling materials and is laid out almost ideally, with all the major controls right where you need them to be. The driving position is multi-adjustable and visibility good.

Infotainment is taken care of by an 8.0in touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring. Its graphics are sharp and it has clear menus, but the screen is mounted a little low. A digital driver's display was an option on most models, but it's well worth seeking out. It replaces conventional analogue dials and can be set up to display a multitude of information, including a sat-nav map, in a clear and concise fashion.

Space up front is plentiful, even for tall drivers, and there's good leg and head room in the rear, even if six-footers won't want to sit behind similarly tall front seat occupants for long. The boot is big enough for a huge weekly shop, or a baby buggy, but probably not both at the same time.

Trims and equipment: On the regular models, entry-level S trim isn’t lavishly equipped; you get air conditioning and four electric windows (or two on three-door models) but there are no alloy wheels and few other niceties. Move up to the rather better-equipped Match, SE or SE Nav and you'll add 16in alloy wheels, automatic lights and wipers, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, power-folding door mirrors and adaptive cruise control, plus many useful driving aids, infotainment upgrades and safety features.

Next up the scale, GT added more luxuries, and later models topped out with R-Line trim, which made the Golf a very smart and well-equipped car indeed, although you'll obviously pay a premium for the extra goodies.

Facelift: The Golf was substantially updated in 2017, with some styling tweaks to the exterior, a range of more efficient engines, some additional trim levels and a new infotainment system for the interior. This later version has become known by the unofficial moniker Mk7.5. It was replaced by the all-new Mk8 Golf in 2020.

"I find the interior of the Mk7 Golf much easier to use than the newer Mk8's, mostly because it has physical buttons and dials for the climate controls. The Mk8 has fiddly touch-sensitive sliders for these, which are deeply irritating." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

Interested in buying a used Volkswagen Golf? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Around £3000 is enough to get you into one of the cheapest examples of this Volkswagen Golf, but, as you might expect, that amount of money will see you sky-high mileage or a Golf that’s been previously written off.

That being the case, it makes sense to up your budget to £6000, which gets you into an entry-level car with average to high mileage and a full service history for a 2013 or 2014 car, either with a petrol or diesel engine.

Up the ante to £8000 you'll be able to choose from a good selection of 2015 and 2016 cars, while around £9000 gets you into a Mk7.5 facelift model. For 2020 examples, expect to pay upwards of £10,000. This will rise depending on the trim to a certain degree, with later R-Line versions fetching a small premium.

If you want a faster GTI, clean, average-mileage examples cost from around £10,000, while the hot four-wheel-drive R model will set you back at least £13,000. The fully electric e-Golf is much cheaper, starting from £6000, while the GTE plug-in hybrid starts from £10,000.

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MPG

Ignoring the e-Golf and GTE, the most economical version of the standard Golf is the 1.6 TDI 105, which is capable of 74mpg, according to the older NEDC official figures. In the real world, you can expect it to average 55-60mpg, which is still pretty respectable. Later cars with the 1.6 TDI 115 version of this engine average 68.9mpg (NEDC), or 56.5mpg under the later WLTP tests. The most efficient version of the 2.0-litre diesel can get up to 68mpg (NEDC) or 50-55mpg in the later WLTP tests and in the real world.

Petrol-powered Golfs are also able to achieve impressive economy. According to official NEDC figures, the 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre turbos are capable of 58mpg and 57mpg respectively, equating to 45-50mpg in real-world driving, while even the 2.0-litre turbo in the GTI model is rated at 44mpg, which should mean 35-38mpg out on the road. The 1.5 TSI Evo returns 49.6mpg, according to the WLTP tests.

Road tax

As a result of those consumption figures, CO2 emissions are correspondingly low, so the Golf is very cheap to tax, especially those registered before April 2017. Indeed, all but the performance versions fall into either the £20 or £30 tax band, while the most economical models are actually free to tax. Those registered after April 2017 will pay annual VED at the flat rate, currently £195 a year. To find out more about road tax costs, click here.

Insurance and Servicing

Insurance should be reasonable, with the Golf belonging to generally low insurance groups, bar hot hatch versions (GTI and R).

Servicing is reasonably priced, too. It won’t be quite as cheap as, say, a Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra, but the Golf compares well with most other rivals.

Reliability

The reliability of the Mk7 Volkswagen Golf is a mixed bag, according to real-world owner reviews analysed as part of our annual What Car? Reliability Survey.

While many owners praised the car, a significant number reported a range of frustrating and costly issues. A major trend was problems with the DSG automatic gearbox, which suffered from jerky changes or complete failure, sometimes requiring expensive repairs. Owners also flagged frequent issues with the air conditioning system. Some reported electrical glitches, including warning lights and intermittent faults with the infotainment system.

The dealer network experience appears inconsistent. Some readers found service to be poor or felt overcharged, while others reported very positive experiences.

Discover more about used Volkswagen Golf reliability on our dedicated reliability page.

Engine

If you do a high mileage – say, 10,000 miles a year or more – you’re probably best off with one of the diesel versions, thanks to their impressive fuel economy. Our favourite is the 2.0 TDI 150.

If you do a lower mileage, however, a petrol version should suit you fine and might pose less of a reliability risk later in life. Petrol-powered Golfs are quieter and smoother to drive, yet are just as punchy and almost as efficient as their diesel brethren. Our favourite among the older cars is the 1.4 TSI 125, and on later cars the 1.5 Evo 130 version.

Specification

We reckon the SE, Match and Match Edition trims offer the best balance of equipment and price. All three come with adaptive cruise control, air conditioning, alloy wheels, automatic headlights and wipers, a digital radio tuner and Bluetooth connectivity. Post-2017 models upped the ante even further by offering S, SE, SE Nav, R-line and GT trims, all with even more kit. Our favourite trim of these is SE Nav.

Three and five-door bodystyles are available; the former is very rare in anything other than in GTI and R forms. If you do go for a three-door, make sure you don't pay as much as you would for a five-door model.

Our favourite used Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI Evo 130 SE Nav 5dr

The Ford Focus is good fun to drive and has been one of the best sellers in the family car class for many years. However, it isn’t quite as comfortable as the Golf, nor does it have such a classy interior.

The same can be said for the Vauxhall Astra, although it does offer exceptional value for money as a used buy, thanks to its heavy depreciation. It’s also comfortable, roomy and, with the right engine, reasonably economical.

If you want a Golf with a little extra flair, you could try the 2013-2020 Seat Leon. It’s sharper to drive, but its interior doesn’t feel quite as classy as that of the Golf. However, second-hand prices are highly competitive, making it one of our favourite used cars in this class.

This is also true of the 2013-2020 Skoda Octavia. This car’s big plus point is the space it offers. While it’s similar in size to the Golf, it has a much bigger boot and more room in the rear seats.

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Interested in buying a used Volkswagen Golf? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.