Volkswagen Golf 1.0 eTSI Life 5dr DSG Review

Category: Family car

Section: Version review

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VW Golf front cornering
  • VW Golf front cornering
  • VW Golf rear cornering
  • VW Golf interior dashboard
  • VW Golf interior rear seats
  • VW Golf interior interior infotainment
  • VW Golf right tracking
  • VW Golf front right tracking
  • VW Golf rear left tracking
  • VW Golf front right static
  • VW Golf rear right static
  • VW Golf headlights
  • VW Golf rear lights
  • VW Golf interior dashboard
  • VW Golf interior driver display
  • VW Golf interior steering wheel detail
  • VW Golf interior detail
  • VW Golf boot open
  • VW Golf front cornering
  • VW Golf rear cornering
  • VW Golf interior dashboard
  • VW Golf interior rear seats
  • VW Golf interior interior infotainment
  • VW Golf right tracking
  • VW Golf front right tracking
  • VW Golf rear left tracking
  • VW Golf front right static
  • VW Golf rear right static
  • VW Golf headlights
  • VW Golf rear lights
  • VW Golf interior dashboard
  • VW Golf interior driver display
  • VW Golf interior steering wheel detail
  • VW Golf interior detail
  • VW Golf boot open
RRP £28,485What Car? Target Price£26,901
Fuel type:
petrol
Gearbox:
semi-auto
Doors:
5 doors

The Golf is a highly recommendable option in the family car class – thanks in part to its solid blend of ride and handling, and the frugality promised by its petrol engines – but there are cheaper rivals that are more spacious inside and better to drive, and premium rivals with better infotainment systems and higher-grade interiors.

We'd stick with this entry-level trim. It comes with pretty much all you really need, including single-zone climate control, 16in alloy wheels, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob, automatic lights and wipers, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, a digital Active Info Display, 10-colour interior ambient lighting, wireless phone charging, front and rear parking sensors, traffic sign recognition, front and rear centre armrests, front-seat adjustable lumbar support, and a 10.0in infotainment touchscreen with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto and a DAB radio.

The cheapest engine option is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder with 108bhp. Performance is adequate if you’re not in a rush, although it’s at its best trundling around frugally using the engine’s low-rev urgency to best effect. The 2.0 TDI 115 diesel sips even less fuel, but the 1.0 TSI 110 is significantly cheaper to buy.


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Key information

Doors5
Seats5
0-62 MPH10.2 seconds
Fuel TypePetrol
GearboxSEMI-AUTO

Available colours

MPGOfficial overall fuel economy figure

54.3

Boot CapacityHow much space is there?

381

litres

EmissionsOfficial emissions rating

117

g/km