Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI Life 5dr 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 £26,375What Car? Target Price£24,912
Fuel type:
petrol
Gearbox:
manual
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 128bhp 1.5 eTSI 130 petrol is fine if you're looking to keep the price down, but its performance, outside of town driving, is noticeably less spirited than the TSI 150 (0-62mph takes around nine and a half seconds) when you work it hard. It's also quite noisy when you rev it out and barely any cheaper, so we wouldn't bother with it.


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Key information

Doors5
Seats5
0-62 MPH9.2 seconds
Fuel TypePetrol
GearboxMANUAL

Available colours

MPGOfficial overall fuel economy figure

52.3

Boot CapacityHow much space is there?

381

litres

EmissionsOfficial emissions rating

121

g/km