Volkswagen Golf review
The Volkswagen Golf is one of our favourite family cars. It's brilliant to drive, competitively priced and well equipped
RRP £29,040
- New
- Used
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Best price from £22,590
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The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £22,590
RRP from: £29,040
Available now
From £22,590
Leasing deals
From £239
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Volkswagen Golf
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 24 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £238.96 Initial payment £2,867.52
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£3,113 total upfront (£2,868 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 24 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Power
296 bhp
0-62 mph
5.6 s
Efficiency
38.7 mpg
Figures for 2.0 TSI GTI Clubsport DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
Family
Hatchback
Hybrid
Jump to:
Introduction
Performance & drive
Interior
Passenger & boot space
Buying & owning
George Hill & Dan Jones
Updated: 1 November 2026
How we test cars
There are household names and then there’s the Volkswagen Golf. Indeed, it’s been so popular for so long that it’s almost guaranteed you know someone who owns one.
The key to this family car’s success is arguably its ability to defy class boundaries, managing to look just as at home among premium models such as the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A-Class as it does with mainstream rivals including the Honda Civic, Seat Leon and Toyota Corolla. All that is especially impressive when you consider that the Golf has managed to do it for eight generations.
New car deals
Best price from £22,590
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £22,590
RRP from: £29,040
Available now
From £22,590
Leasing deals
From £239
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Volkswagen Golf
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 24 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £238.96 Initial payment £2,867.52
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£3,113 total upfront (£2,868 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 24 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Like its predecessors, the Mk8 Golf is available with a wide range of engine options. In fact, you can have pretty much any engine under the sun, with petrol, diesel, mild hybrid, full hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power. The last two make it particularly appealing for company car drivers, thanks to their low CO2 emissions and benefit-in-kind (BIK) rating.
Despite the rise in the popularity of the family SUVs, the family car class continues to be an extremely competitive and popular area of the market. So, has the class moved on, or is the Mk8 Golf still worthy of your attention?
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Verdict
The VW Golf is a highly recommendable family car with a broad range of engine choices. Just bear in mind that some rivals are more spacious and plush inside. We’d go for Match trim with the 1.5 TSI 150 petrol engine as the best choice for private buyers, while the plug-in hybrid is a great company car option.
What's new?
- October 2026: We drive the new 168bhp full hybrid Golf in Nice, France. It can run on electric-only power at low speeds and average up to 60mpg officially. A lower powered 134bhp version is also available
- January 2025: What Car? names Golf GTI its Best Hot Hatch for Everyday Usability
- April 2024: revised Golf Mk8 goes on sale in UK, and features Chat GPT integration as well as redesigned headlights and a new multi-function steering wheel
Best buy
2.0 TSI GTI Clubsport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (300 ps) review
RRP £44,400
Pros
- Exceedingly comfortable ride with adaptive suspension
- Tidy handling
- Strong and frugal 1.5 TSI 150 engine
Cons
- Automatic gearbox can be hesitant
- Interior quality could be better
- There are more spacious rivals
What's new?
- October 2026: We drive the new 168bhp full hybrid Golf in Nice, France. It can run on electric-only power at low speeds and average up to 60mpg officially. A lower powered 134bhp version is also available
- January 2025: What Car? names Golf GTI its Best Hot Hatch for Everyday Usability
- April 2024: revised Golf Mk8 goes on sale in UK, and features Chat GPT integration as well as redesigned headlights and a new multi-function steering wheel
Best buy
2.0 TSI GTI Clubsport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (300 ps) review
RRP £44,400
Trims available
Life
The Golf's entry-level Life trim is very well equipped, but it’s only available with the 1.5 TSI 115 engine. You can also only have the 134bhp hybrid engine with this trim. It comes with 16in alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise control, ambient interior lighting and front and rear parking sensors.
Style
Style changes some of the styling details and adds sports seats in the front, three-zone climate control and upgraded LED Plus headlights.
R-Line
R-Line sets its sights on being sportier than the other trims, with slicker styling, premium sports seats and stainless steel pedals.
Match
Match trim comes with a broad range of engine choices, plus it comes with 17in alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, tinted rear windows, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a reversing camera (on top of the kit you get with Life).
Black Edition
Black Edition is more about styling than anything, with 18in alloys, black detailing across the car and an illuminated VW badge sitting on the nose.
New car deals
Available now
Leasing deals
Performance & drive
What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is
Strengths
- Good engines
- Comfortable ride around town
- eHybrid has a long electric-only range
Weaknesses
- Hesitant automatic gearbox
- Not as agile as a Seat Leon
- Some road and wind noise at motorway speeds
How fast is it and which engine is best?
The Golf’s broad engine line-up starts with two 1.5-litre petrol engines: the 114bhp TSI 115 and 148bhp TSI 150. The former keeps the price down, but we reckon it’s worth paying extra for our recommended engine, the TSI 150. It pulls more strongly when accelerating up to motorway speeds or overtaking, with 0-62mph taking 8.6sec. Both engines are paired with a six-speed manual gearbox.
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There’s also a 148bhp 1.5 eTSI 150 mild hybrid engine, which offers similar performance to the regular petrol version (0-62mph takes 8.4sec). It comes with a seven-speed automatic gearbox.
City dwellers might want to consider the full hybrid engines. These combine a 1.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors and a small 1.6kWh (total capacity) battery, which allow for electric-only driving at speeds of up to 37mph. There are 134bhp and 168bhp versions available and both have a single-speed automatic gearbox.
Out of the two full hybrids, we’ve only driven the 168bhp version. It can do 0-62mph in 7.5sec, which puts it on a par with the Honda Civic (7.8sec) and Toyota Corolla 2.0 Hybrid (7.4sec) for performance. The electric motors make the Golf feel nippy when pulling away from junctions, although there’s a slight delay for the petrol engine to fire up when you need a sudden burst of acceleration. Otherwise, it’s pretty punchy.
Company car drivers are likely to find the 1.5 TSI eHybrid plug-in hybrid (PHEV) the most appealing option. With a 0-62mph time of 6.9sec, it proved to be as quick as a Toyota Prius in our tests when driven in hybrid mode, using both the engine and electric motor to get up to speed. The Golf eHybrid is more effortless to drive than the Prius when you’re running on battery power alone, but the latter is more urgent when the hybrid battery has run out of charge.
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Lastly, there are the diesel options: the 114bhp 2.0 TDI 115 and 148bhp 2.0 TDI 150. The former is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the latter gets a seven-speed automatic gearbox. The entry-level 2.0 TDI 115 is not particularly fast, but its strong low-end shove and linear power delivery makes for relaxed progress. The more powerful 2.0 TDI 150 has more than enough performance for everyday driving, with 0-62mph taking 8.0sec.
Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?
We wouldn’t say the Golf is as agile or fun as a BMW 1 Series or Seat Leon, but it’s tidy and composed in the bends. The light steering is great for town driving, too, but some might prefer a bit more heft and directness for faster, twistier roads. R-Line trim adds dynamic steering and a Driver Profile Selection system (both are optional with other trims), but even then, the Golf’s steering still isn't as sweetly calibrated or as alert and responsive as with the 1 Series or Leon.
The Golf eHybrid PHEV offers more outright grip than a Prius, but the laidback response and weighting of the steering does mean it’s less engaging to drive.
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The R-Line (not to be confused with the VW Golf R hot hatch) has lowered sports suspension, making it keener to change direction and reducing body lean, but it’s still not as sharp as the 1 Series Leon.
The optional DCC suspension lets you stiffen the set-up on demand. If that’s still not sporty enough, the Golf GTI should scratch the itch for anyone chasing hot hatch performance. On its standard suspension, the Golf rides potholes and ridges around town pretty adeptly, and with similar ease to the Mercedes A-Class. As speeds increase, it becomes a little more unsettled over minor imperfections, though.
Opting for one of the 150 engines gives you a more sophisticated rear suspension set-up that makes the ride less fidgety, while R-Line gets lowered sports suspension that’s firmer but still perfectly acceptable. The heavier eHybrid is comfortable by the standards of PHEV hatchbacks, soaking up most bumps fairly well, with just the occasional thump when tackling sharper ruts. A Prius is more settled though.
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The Golf has another trick up its sleeve. If you option the Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) adaptive suspension, you get a Comfort mode that makes the Golf one of the smoothest-riding family cars you can get. There's a bit of float over dips and crests but you can dial that out by switching to the slightly stiffer Normal setting.
Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?
No matter which of the Golf's 1.5-litre petrol engines you go for (including the eTSI, full and hybrids and PHEV), they only really make themselves noticeable when you work them hard. The 2.0 TDI diesels are not much louder, being among the smoothest diesel engines in the family car class.
Compared with the Prius, the eHybrid’s engine sounds coarse and more boomy under acceleration, while a bit more road and suspension noise means it’s not quite as hushed as a cruiser. However, neither is loud enough for it to be a nuisance. Whichever Golf you’re in, you’ll notice a fair amount of wind and road noise at 70mph.
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The manual gearbox has a defined clutch biting point and the gear lever is precise enough to find your route to all six gears easily. The seven-speed automatic gearbox (fitted with all other engines) is great when you’re on the move, but frustratingly hesitant to pull away from the line and slow to kick down through the gears when you want a sudden burst of acceleration.
In the full hybrids and eHybrid, regenerative braking is standard to help top up the battery under deceleration. In the eHybrid, you can adjust how strong the effect is, but having to do so using the infotainment touchscreen is quite clunky.
The brakes in the mild hybrid, full hybrid and eHybrids are strong, but the pedal response is a little grabby, so coming to a smooth stop can be tricky. The regular petrol and diesel versions have firmer, more progressive brakes.
What’s the range and efficiency like and how quickly can it charge?
All the petrol engines offer competitive fuel economy, with the entry-level 1.5 TSI 115 managing up to 53.6mpg and the more powerful TSI 150 as much as 52mpg. The eTSI mild-hybrid isn’t as impressive as you might expect when compared with the TSI 115, averaging 54.8mpg.
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If you often travel long distances, the TDI diesels will likely appeal, with an official average economy figure north of 60mpg. The full hybrids can also average more than 60mpg officially, but these will be more suited to those who don’t have access to a home charger and do lots of urban driving.
The eHybrid can average 252.5mpg officially, but you’ll have to plug it in as much as possible to get anywhere near that figure in real-world use. Officially, it can do up to 88 miles on electric-only power, which is farther than the Mercedes A-Class A250e (52 miles), Prius (44 miles) and Peugeot 308 PHEV (51 miles) can manage. The Leon has an official electric-only range of 82 miles.
The eHybrid can be charged using an 11kW AC home charger, with a 0-100% charge taking around two and a half hours, or approximately 12 hours using a standard 2.3kW domestic socket. It also supports DC public charging at up to 40kW, allowing the battery to be replenished from 10-80% in around 26 minutes.
The VW Golf is still a great choice as a family hatchback, being laidback and composed to drive. It’s not trying to be sporty or too soft, and strikes an excellent middle ground.
George Hill, Used car writer
Tips & Advice
How to test drive a car
There’s no substitute for a test drive in a new car. Take it on a variety of roads and surfaces to ensure it measures up.
Interior
The interior layout, fit and finish
Strengths
- Comfortable driving position
- Great forward visibility
Weaknesses
- Interior quality could be better
- Compromised over-the-shoulder visibility
What does the interior look like and is it well made?
At first glance, the interior of the VW Golf looks smart, crisp and modern. There are even some soft-touch surfaces on the upper parts of the dashboard and the tops of the front doors. Look a little deeper and you’ll start to find lots of harder and scratchier plastics, especially in the rear. When you consider the Golf is usually a paragon of quality, that’s disappointing.
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It's not as classy inside as a Mercedes A-Class and nor is it bolted together as well as the BMW 1 Series, while the Mazda 3 has a better finish. It’s not all bad news, though: the Golf still ranks above some mainstream family cars on quality, including the Skoda Scala.
Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?
It’s easy to find a comfortable driving position in the Golf, thanks to its seat and steering wheel having lots of adjustment. The seats are comfortable, too, with plenty of shoulder support, but some might find the standard-fit adjustable lumbar support doesn’t extend quite far enough.
Forward visibility is very good, with the Golf's large windscreen and side windows giving you good visibility at junctions. The small quarter lights and low-mounted door mirrors help with this, too.
Rear visibility isn’t as clear. The pillars at the back of the car are large enough to obscure what's lurking behind you when you're looking over your shoulder – although not nearly as much as they do in the Mazda 3. Fortunately, front and rear parking sensors are standard on all trims, and a rear-view camera is standard from Match trim and up.
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Even the entry-level Life trim comes with powerful LED headlights, and those can be upgraded to the same LED Plus headlights fitted to Style that can direct light around corners. Alternatively, matrix LED headlights are optional on all models (they’re standard with Black Edition trim), allowing you to leave full beam on without dazzling other road users.
Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?
Most of the dashboard controls have been loaded onto the infotainment screen, with a few fiddly touch-sensitive sliders on the dashboard for changing the stereo volume and temperature. A 2024 update added backlighting for the sliders, making it easier to change settings at night, but they're still distracting and frustrating to use.
Mercifully, the touch-sensitive buttons and sliders on the steering wheel have been shelved in favour of physical ones. They’re far better and allow you to easily interact with the standard-fit 10.25in digital instrument cluster’s various configurations. Better still, the conventional arrangement of viewing the display through the steering wheel makes it easier to read than in a Peugeot 308 or Toyota Prius.
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Every Golf comes with a 12.9in touchscreen infotainment system that’s mounted high up so you don't have to look too far from the road to use it. The graphics are sharp and there are lots of helpful standard features, including wireless phone-charging, sat-nav, Bluetooth and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration.
Thanks to a mid-life facelift in 2024, the Golf comes with a slick VW operating system, which is a vast improvement on the system from the pre-facelift car. It has a reasonably straightforward menu layout, plus you have the ability to add custom shortcuts at the top of the screen, making it easier to get to the parts of the system you use most.
The Golf’s standard six-speaker stereo will be fine for most buyers and sounds decent, but music lovers will want to go for the optional nine-speaker Harman Kardon system.
I'd go for the Golf's Style trim or higher if you want a more upmarket feel, with a wider range of materials used on the doors and seats.
Lawrence Cheung, New cars editor
Passenger & boot space
How it copes with people and clutter
Strengths
- Plenty of front storage
- Decent boot space
- Spacious for four adults…
Weaknesses
- … but tight if you have three rear passengers
- Some rivals are even more practical
How much space does it have for people?
In the front, the Golf has plenty of head room to suit even exceedingly tall occupants, plus its front seats go back far enough to accommodate those with long legs. It's wide, too, so you won’t be clashing elbows with your passenger.
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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 lever, there’s a handy tray for your phone that includes wireless charging on all versions. 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. Headroom is very generous, but legroom isn’t outstanding – if the front seat occupants slide their seats fully back, taller folk 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 of the car steals some foot space from the middle passenger.
Still, the Golf is marginally more accommodating in the back than a BMW 1 Series, Mercedes A-Class, Peugeot 308 or Toyota Prius, although you’ll find lots more room in certain alternatives, such as the slightly cheaper Skoda Octavia.
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How much room does it have for luggage?
There’s room in the Golf's 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, boot space is only average for the class: five carry-on suitcases will fit below the parcel shelf of all versions, which is the same as the Prius, though the Skoda Scala can carry seven.
Most Golfs have a 381-litre boot, which is about average by the standards of the family car class. You get quite a lot less space (273 litres) if you go for the 1.5 TSI eHybrid PHEV because the batteries take up the underfloor storage area.
All Golfs except the eHybrid have a height-adjustable boot floor. That 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 on its highest setting, there’s barely any lip to negotiate when you're lifting heavy items in and out.
The Golf's rear seats don't do anything clever, like slide or recline. As with most family hatchbacks, you can fold down the 60/40 split seatbacks (the A-Class gets a more flexible 40/20/40 arrangement) by pulling levers next to the outer rear head restraints.
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Once dropped, the seatbacks lie virtually flat. There’s also a ski hatch, which keeps the outer rear seats in place while allowing you to carry longer loads.
The VW Golf is not the biggest family hatchback, but there’s a good balance of space overall. I can sit behind my seating position more comfortably than in a Peugeot 308 or Vauxhall Astra.
Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer
Tips & Advice
Will the car fit your needs?
As part of the test drive, fill the car with regularly-carried luggage, and make sure the family can get comfy before you buy
Buying & owning
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
Strengths
- Well equipped
- Good safety rating
- Efficient engines
Weaknesses
- Reliability record isn’t great
- So-so warranty
How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?
The VW Golf slots roughly in the middle of the family car class on price. For a cash buyer, it’s pricier than a Seat Leon or Skoda Scala, around the same price as an Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia, but cheaper than the BMW 1 Series, Honda Civic, Mercedes A-Class and Toyota Corolla.
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The Golf's entry-level Life trim is very well equipped, but it’s only available with the 1.5 TSI 115 engine. As such, we’d pay a little extra and upgrade to Match trim, because it gives you more engine choices and 17in alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control, tinted rear windows, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.
Ways to buy
Cash from £22,590 Own the car outright. No monthly payments.
Lease from £239pm Drive a new car every few years. Lower upfront costs.
£2,868 initial payment , 24 month contract , 5000 miles p/a . Subject to status and conditions.
Available Now from £22,590 Choose a car from stock. Drive away today!
Stepping up to Style changes some of the styling details and adds sports seats in the front, three-zone climate control and upgraded LED-plus headlights.
R-Line sets its sights on being sportier than the other trims, with slicker styling and premium sports seats, on top of the other performance upgrades. Top-spec Black Edition is more about styling than anything, with 18in alloys, black detailing across the car and an illuminated VW badge sitting on the nose.
Is it reliable and how long is the warranty?
The Golf didn't do well in our 2026 What Car? Reliability Survey. It finished in 21st place out of 24 family cars, placing above the A3 and Leon but below the 1 Series, Civic and Scala. Volkswagen as a brand came 27th place out of 30 manufacturers, which places it below its main rivals including Audi, BMW, Honda, Mazda, Seat, Skoda and Toyota.
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Like most VW car models, the Golf comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty and one year’s roadside assistance. That's not exceptional these days, falling behind the six-year warranty from Mazda and 10 years offered by Toyota (providing you service the car annually at an authorised dealer).
How safe is it and is it easy to steal?
The Golf achieved a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2025, with excellent category scores that all but matched the best cars in the class. It scored similarly to the Civic, but that was tested under less demanding rules in 2022 and its rating has since expired.
Every Golf comes with automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, a driver fatigue monitor, traffic-sign recognition and something called Car2X. All cars fitted with Car2X share information on traffic conditions and any hazards within a radius of 800 metres so you can be sent an early warning of any dangers that lie ahead.
Buy it if…
- You want an efficient family car with strong engine choices
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- Comfortable ride is important to you
- You want a premium-feeling family car for less money
Don’t buy it if…
- Reliability is a big concern of yours
- You need the most practical family car possible
- You’re after a family car with a fun driving experience
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Volkswagen Golf owner reviews
Sort by: Most Recent Star rating
Anonymous
Volkswagen Golf petrol
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
Jun 3, 2026 5:04 PM
I have a great previous experience with the brand.
Keith
Volkswagen Golf hybrid
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
May 15, 2026 7:33 PM
As a company car and not being able to get a GTI due to high tax and the companies policy if hybrid or electric only it is a brilliant all rou der and a perfect alternative for a GTI Lover
Michael
Volkswagen Golf hybrid
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
Feb 25, 2026 5:55 PM
Keith
Volkswagen Golf hybrid
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
Dec 9, 2025 6:01 PM
As a company car driver who would still like to have a bit if fun on the back roads from time to time the GTE golf is a great replacement for my previous GTD and with the DCC option it handles fantastic and makes a nice little rally car engine sound to encourage to have a bit if fun on congested roads. Irs a great alternative to a GTI which is high in company car tax so by switching to this i can have a VW GT model and pay little tax. Car journalists just do not understamd us reps. So it doesnt handle as well as a GTI. so what it is heavier so clearly they dont understand the appeal of the car
The Golf's Winter Pack is worth considering. It adds heated front seats and a heated steering wheel for a relatively small premium.
Lawrence Cheung, New cars editor
Tips & Advice
Never miss a motoring date
Remembering to arrange insurance, book a service or buy breakdown cover can be a pain. Fortunately, My What Car? is here to help
Avoid ULEZ and clean-air zone fines
If you regularly drive into a clean air zone, you’ll want to ensure your next car is compliant to avoid costly fines
Similarly priced cars
Skoda Octavia
Ford Focus
Skoda Octavia Estate
Vauxhall Astra
Toyota Corolla
Mercedes A-Class
Seat Leon
BMW 1 Series
Renault Megane
If you're interested in finding a Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, or any of the other family cars mentioned here, head over to our Cars available now pages to find new cars listed for sale at great prices.
Volkswagen Golf specifications
Best buy
2.0 TSI GTI Clubsport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (300 ps) review
RRP £44,400
RRP price range
£29,040 - £48,380
MPG range across all versions
34.4 - 256.8
Available fuel types (which is best for you? )
Petrol, Petrol Hybrid, Petrol Plug-in Hybrid, Diesel
Available colours
Number of engines (see all)
2
Number of trims (see all)
11
Warranty
3 years / 60,000 miles
Company car tax at 20% (min/max)
£510 - £3,408
Company car tax at 40% (min/max)
£1,021 - £6,816
FAQs
Is a VW Golf a good car to buy?
If you want an efficient, practical, well-equipped and comfortable family car, the Golf is definitely a great choice. The 2024 update removed some of our criticisms of the infotainment system, too.
Why is VW discontinuing the Golf?
The VW Golf isn’t going anywhere, for the moment at least. Due to ongoing rules demanding electrification, the Golf will likely disappear as a combustion-powered car in the future, with its name used on a new electric car (EV) instead.
Which is the best VW Golf to buy?
We think the Match trim and 1.5 TSI 150 petrol engine makes the most sense, because it keeps the price down, gives you a strong engine and plenty of kit. Company car drivers will want to go for the eHybrid plug-in hybrid (PHEV), though.
Do Golf’s have good engines?
Yes – and you won’t be short of choice. Our favourite is the 1.5 TSI 150 petrol, but you can choose from other petrol options, as well as diesel, mild hybrid, full hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines.
New car deals
Best price from £22,590
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £22,590
RRP from: £29,040
Available now
From £22,590
Leasing deals
From £239
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Volkswagen Golf
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 24 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £238.96 Initial payment £2,867.52
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£3,113 total upfront (£2,868 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 24 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Volkswagen Golfs available to buy
In partnership with
Volkswagen Golf
1.5 TSI Match Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £29,760
£23,390
Volkswagen Golf
1.5 TSI Match Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £29,125
£23,429
Volkswagen Golf
1.5 TSI Match Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £29,280
£23,491
Volkswagen Golf
1.5 eTSI MHEV Match DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £32,020
£25,991
Volkswagen Golf
1.5 eTSI MHEV Match DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £32,775
£26,491
Volkswagen Golf
1.5 eTSI MHEV Match DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £31,890
£26,698
Volkswagen Golf
1.5 TSI R-Line Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £33,220
£26,834
Volkswagen Golf
1.5 eTSI MHEV Match DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £32,635
£26,990
Volkswagen Golf
1.5 eTSI MHEV Match DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £32,520
£27,012
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: George Hill
Title: Used car writer
Follow George Hill on
George Hill first joined the What Car? team as a staff writer in 2021, before becoming a used car writer in 2024 and a reviewer in 2026. In his current role he writes new car reviews for What Car? magazine and whatcar.com.
If you follow What Car? on social media, you might see him presenting the odd video on new cars too.
Name: Dan Jones
Title: Senior Reviewer
Follow Dan Jones on
Dan joined What Car? in 2021 and is now the road test team's Senior Reviewer. In that role, he produces new car reviews for Whatcar.com and What Car? magazine, alongside occasional contributions for Autocar and Move Electric.
More Volkswagen Golf
Used reviews
- Used Volkswagen Golf 2020-present
- Used Volkswagen Golf 2013-2020
- Used Volkswagen Golf GTI 2020-present
- Used Volkswagen Golf Estate 2020-present
- Used Volkswagen Golf GTE 2015-2019
New reviews
- Volkswagen Golf GTE
- Volkswagen Golf GTI
- Volkswagen Golf R
- Volkswagen Golf Estate
- Volkswagen Golf Alltrack
Longterm reviews
- Cupra Leon long-term test
- Volkswagen Golf GTI long-term test
- Land Rover Defender long-term test
- Volkswagen Golf long-term test
- Audi A3 Sportback long-term test
Reliability
- What Car? Reliability Survey: Most and least reliable family cars
- Reliability Survey: Most and least reliable diesel cars
- Britain's most reliable cars 2024 (plus the ones that'll let you down)
- Reliability survey: the most expensive cars to fix, and the cheapest
- Most and least reliable used cars: family cars
Category rankings
- Best company cars under 10% BIK
- Best small car tyres
- Best-selling cars
- Best used estate cars for less than £15,000
Similar car reviews
- Skoda Octavia
- Vauxhall Astra
- BMW 1 Series
- Ford Focus
Comparison tests
New Volkswagen Golf GTI vs used Volkswagen Golf GTI
The 2005 Volkswagen Golf GTI is still revered by fans. We put it up against the latest version to see what 20 years of progress has brought to its game
New Toyota Prius vs Volkswagen Golf
It looks far more futuristic than its predecessors, but is the latest Toyota Prius a cut above its refreshed plug-in hybrid rival from Volkswagen?
New Honda Civic Type R vs new Volkswagen Golf R 20 Years
The latest evolutions of the Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf R hot hatches promise thrills galore. But which is best?
New Volkswagen Golf R Estate vs Cupra Leon Estate
These two fast freighters combine power with practicality, but which is the better buy?
See all comparisons
News and advice
Best of
Best-selling cars 2026: new car market grows in October
In what is usually a quieter month for the automotive market, new car sales were up in October, but which models were the most popular?
Thu Nov 5 2026
Sponsored
Best used estate cars for less than £15,000
In need of a practical car to suit an active lifestyle? Don't rule out an estate. Check out our top 10 favourites for less than £15,000
Tue Oct 20 2026
Sponsored
Best used family cars for less than £10,000
If you’re looking to spend less than £10,000 on a used family car, there are some excellent options to fit your budget - here are our top 10.
Tue Oct 13 2026
News
Deal of the Day: Lease a Volkswagen Golf GTI from £262 per month
The Golf GTI is an icon of the hot hatch segment, and it's well-priced on a lease deal. Here's all you need to know, including how much you'll pay up front
Fri Oct 2 2026
See all latest advice
All Family car reviews
BMW 1 Series
Ford Focus
Honda Civic
Hyundai i30
Kia Ceed
Kia XCeed
Mercedes A-Class
New Citroën C4 X
New Toyota Prius
Seat Leon
Skoda Octavia
Toyota Corolla
Vauxhall Astra
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