Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI Life 5dr Review

Category: Family car

Section: Version review

Fuel type:

diesel

Gearbox:

manual

Doors:

5 doors

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~~RRP £24,955~~What Car? Target Price£23,389

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Review

The model

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There’s no doubt the Volkswagen Golf is still 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, especially the 1.5 TSI 150. But there are cheaper rivals that are more spacious inside and better to drive, such as the Ford Focus and Seat Leon, and premium rivals with better infotainment systems and higher-grade interiors, like the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A Class.

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The trim

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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 engine

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Unlike many rival’s similarly powerful diesels, this 113bhp is a whole 2.0-litres in capacity. It pulls strongly from lower revs than any of the regular petrol engines making for relaxed progress if you’re not in a hurry. When worked harder it isn’t as smooth or as quick as the 1.5-litre petrols yet it costs more than our preferred 1.5 TSI 150. We’d therefore only recommend it if you’re a high-mileage driver who’ll benefit from the very impressive fuel economy.

Key information

Doors5

Seats5

0-62 MPH10.2 seconds

Fuel TypeDiesel

GearboxMANUAL

MPGOfficial overall fuel economy figure

62.8

Boot CapacityHow much space is there?

800

litres

EmissionsOfficial emissions rating

118

g/km

Equipment

Specification

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