Volkswagen Golf review

The Golf has plenty of head room to suit even the exceedingly tall, and its front seats go back far enough to accommodate those with long legs. It's wide in the front, too, so you won’t be clashing elbows with your passenger.

The front door pockets are each big enough for a 500ml bottle of water and there are two cupholders in the centre console. In front of the gear selector there’s a handy tray for your phone to rest, which includes wireless charging (for more information on the infotainment system see the previous page). You’ll also find a storage bin under the front centre armrest, plus there's a decent-sized, air-conditioned glovebox.

The Golf’s interior dimensions allow a pair of six-footers to sit relatively comfortably in the back. Head room is very generous, although leg room isn't outstanding; if the front-seat occupants slide their seats fully back, taller folks in the rear won't have much space in front of their knees.

Shoulder room becomes tight when a third rear passenger is introduced, and the raised section of floor that runs along the centre-line of the car robs the middle passenger of foot space. 

Still, the Golf is marginally more accommodating in the back than a BMW 1 Series or Mercedes A Class, although you’ll find lots more room in certain cheaper alternatives, such as the Ford Focus and Skoda Octavia.

The Golf's rear seats don't do anything clever, such as sliding or reclining. As with most hatchbacks, you can fold down the 60/40 split seatbacks (the A Class gets a more flexible 40/20/40 split) by pulling levers next to the outer rear head restraints.

Once dropped, the seatbacks lie virtually flat. There’s also a ski hatch, which keeps the outer rear seats in play while allowing you to carry longer loads. Meanwhile, the front passenger seat is height adjustable and comes with adjustable lumbar support as standard.

There’s room in the boot for the weekly food shop and you can just about squeeze in a small set of golf clubs or a fold-up baby buggy. However, the boot space is average for the class: we fitted five carry-on cases below the parcel shelf, whereas the Skoda Scala managed to swallow seven. 

All Golfs have a height-adjustable boot floor. This lets you create two separate compartments and, when raised, irons out the step that's otherwise created when the rear seats are folded down. With the floor in its highest setting, there’s also barely any lip to negotiate when lifting heavy items in and out.