Used Volkswagen Golf 2020-present review

Very few sensibly priced family cars are instantly recognisable to even the most casual observer, or as welcome in Biarritz as on the school run. The Volkswagen Golf, though, is one of them.

Since 1974, this exceptional all-rounder has been a high-quality family car that has succeeded by being thoroughly competent at whatever it sets out to achieve without ever going to extremes.

Plenty of people seem to agree: it has long been one of Europe’s best-selling cars. Forever solid, capable and recognisably a Golf, every new generation has only ever been a gentle evolution of the old one.

This is the Mk8 version, launched in 2020. It takes all that’s made the preceding cars so admirable and adds a more angular exterior design, hybridised engines, sharper driving characteristics, and some more up-to-date safety and interior tech. As with previous versions, you can have it as a hot hatch—with either the VW Golf GTI or VW Golf R—or a more practical VW Golf estate.

An updated version of the Mk8 was launched in 2024. Commonly referred to as the Mk8.5, it brought a raft of changes to the design and engine line-up. The most significant change of all, though, was the new infotainment system, which was heavily criticised in the pre-facelift car for its fiddly layout and buggy nature.

Engines: Under the bonnet is a range of impressive engines. The petrols start with a 108bhp 1.0-litre eTSI (mild hybrid), and progress through a 1.4 TSI eHybrid plug-in hybrid (PHEV), a 128bhp 1.5 TSI 130, a 148bhp 1.5 eTSI 150, a 242bhp 2.0 TSI hot-shot GTI version, a 2.0 TSI 300 R and all the way up to a range-topping 2.0 TSI 320 R model. Diesels include a 113bhp 2.0 TDI 115, a 148bhp 2.0 TDI 150 and a 2.0 TDI 200 GTD.

On 2024 facelift models, the engine line-up was updated. The 1.0-litre eTSI was replaced by a 113bhp 1.5 TSI 115, while the GTD was dropped from the line-up.

The most significant change of all was the new plug-in hybrid system for the eHybrid. It gained a new 1.5-litre engine (replacing the old 1.4) and a larger 19.7kWh (usable) battery, which is up from 10.4kWh in the previous version. As a result, it can now manage up to 88 miles on electric-only power officially, which is a significant boost over its predecessor with its 44-mile range.

Trims and equipment: As far as trims go, entry-level Life comes with standard kit such as 16in alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, ambient lighting and keyless start, as well as a 10.25in digital instrument display and 10.0in touchscreen infotainment system with sat-nav. On facelift models, you get a 12.9in touchscreen.

Wireless phone charging, a wi-fi hotspot and a three-year subscription to VW’s We Connect Plus services are also thrown in from new, as is ‘Car-to-X’ technology, which will eventually allow the Golf to 'communicate' with road infrastructure and other cars around it. A comprehensive suite of standard active safety technology completes the tally.

Active trim essentially adds a Winter Pack to entry-level Life because you get heated front seats and steering wheel, along with three-zone climate control, multi-coloured ambient interior lighting and rear privacy glass.

Style has 17in alloys, adaptive LED 'Plus' headlights, upgraded seats and upholstery, additional ambient lighting, decorative wood inserts and three-zone climate control.

R-Line adds a few more toys and sharper styling, while there are separate GTE, GTD, GTI and GTI Clubsport trims for the plug-in hybrid, sporty diesel and petrol-powered super-sports versions.

On facelift Mk8.5 models, the trim options remain largely the same, other than a new Match trim that sits above Life. It offers 17in alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control, tinted rear windows, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and parking aids.

Ride and handling: On the road, the 1.5 TSI 130 is sweet, as is the more muscular 1.5 eTSI 150. The more powerful engine is noticeably swifter getting up to motorway speeds, though (0-62mph comes in a sprightly 8.5sec).

The 1.0 eTSI 110 hybrid is good in town thanks to plenty of low-down punch. It uses the same mild-hybrid tech as the 1.5 eTSI. The engine is assisted by a small electric motor that helps it pull even more strongly from low revs than the non-hybrid equivalent. Both cars feel quite brisk when you work them hard, and the automatic gearbox is responsive when you ask for a quick burst of pace.

Diesel fans, meanwhile, will enjoy how strong the entry-level 2.0 TDI 110 feels at low revs. It makes for relaxed progress when you’re not in a hurry. The GTD is certainly brisk, if not quite hot-hatch quick.

Meanwhile, the 1.4 and 1.5 eHybrids are punchy, although the latter is slightly quicker (0-62mph takes 7.2sec as opposed to 7.4sec).

On its standard suspension, the Golf rides potholes and ridges well but at higher speeds it can get a little unsettled over minor imperfections. If you opt for a ‘150’ engine and above, you get a more sophisticated rear suspension set-up that makes the ride less fidgety. R-Line and GTD models get lowered sports suspension that’s noticeably firmer, but still perfectly acceptable.

If you want a really plush ride, you can choose a car with the optional Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) adaptive suspension fitted, which has three main suspension settings: Comfort, Normal and Sport. In Comfort, it's one of the best-riding cars in the class, dealing with craggy roads exceedingly well.

Interior and practicality: Whatever your size or shape, the Volkswagen Golf has plenty of adjustments in seat height and steering wheel rake and reach, so you should be able to find a driving position to suit you.

Every Golf comes with a touchscreen infotainment system, but the system you get depends on whether you go for a Mk8 or Mk8.5 facelift. No matter the set-up, though, the screen is mounted high so you don’t have to look too far from the road to see it.

In the Mk8, you get a 10.0in touchscreen. The graphics are sharp and there are lots of helpful standard features, including wireless phone charging, built-in sat-nav, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration.

It’s a shame ease of use wasn’t prioritised over making the infotainment look swish, though. Some of the menus are confusingly arranged, and to make matters worse, there are no physical shortcut buttons to take you quickly from one menu to the next. Instead, you get touch-sensitive sliders that aren’t even backlit for driving at night. The result is that you’re often taking your eyes off the road momentarily just to perform basic actions, such as changing the interior temperature. The set-up in the previous Mk7 VW Golf was far more intuitive because of its physical dials.

In the Mk8.5, you get a 12.9in touchscreen and a new infotainment system. It's a much better set-up than what you get in the pre-facelift car, with menus that make sense and 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 touch-sensitive sliders are also backlit for driving at night, although they’re still quite fiddly to use.

In both pre-facelift and facelift cars, the Golf comes with a 10.25in digital driver’s display, which can be configured to show information for the radio, phone and built-in sat-nav. While the systems in both cars are largely the same, the physical steering wheel buttons on facelift cars are much easier to use while driving than the touch-sensitive ones in range-topping models of the pre-facelift. Unfortunately, the Golf R facelift retains the touch-sensitive set-up.

There's plenty of head room up front in the Volkswagen Golf, and its seats go back far enough to accommodate people with long legs. The interior dimensions allow a pair of six-footers to sit relatively comfortably in the back, where head room is very generous but leg room isn't outstanding.

The boot is big enough for the weekly food shop and you can just about squeeze in a small set of golf clubs or a fold-up baby buggy. On the whole, boot space is average for the family car class.

If you're interested in buying a used VW Golf or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.

Prices for the Volkswagen Golf Mk8 prices start from around £10,000 for Life trim cars with around 100,000 miles on the clock. For 2020 cars with lower mileage, you can expect to pay upwards of £14,000.

For 2022 and 2023 cars with higher miles, prices start from £15,000 and move up to £20,000 for low mileage examples. Newer, 2024 range-topping models top out at £26,000.

The Mk8.5 facelift Golf went on sale in the UK in Spring 2024, so there are quite a few of these available with prices starting from £21,000 for Life trim cars. Expect to pay a bit more for cars in higher trims, with Match models starting from £23,000 and R-Line models £26,000.

The prices don’t differ much between engines. However, the PHEV versions (eHybrids and GTEs) do command a bit of a premium, with Mk8s starting from £17,000 and Mk8.5s £29,000.

Check the value of a used Golf with What Car? Valuations

Find used VW cars for sale

MPG

According to the latest WLTP tests, the 1.0 petrol Volkswagen Golf averages 52.3mpg, the 1.0 eTSI 54.3mpg, the 1.5 130 52.3mpg, the 1.5 eTSI 51.4mpg, the 1.5 150 51.4mpg and the 2.0 TDI 115 diesel 62.8mpg. The 2.0 TDI 115’s trip computer regularly recorded an average economy figure of more than 65mpg during our testing, with even the sporty GTD managing around 50mpg.

The eHybrid and GTE versions are more efficient on paper, with the 1.5 eHybrid officially averaging a staggering 993.3mpg. Mind you, it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll see that figure in real-world driving, especially if you don’t plug the car in regularly. For context, our real-world fuel economy figures showed that an eHybrid Golf with a depleted battery achieved an average of 48mpg.

Road Tax

All Golfs of this generation will have been registered after the road tax changes of April 2017 came into force will pay annual VED at the flat rate, currently £190 per year – that's the same for all petrol and diesel cars. Hybrid examples attract a £180 fee.

Be aware that cars costing more than £40,000 when new (GTE, GTI and R models, for example) will pay a supplementary luxury car tax between years two and six. This is currently £410 a year.

Running costs

Servicing is reasonably priced. It won’t be quite as cheap as, say, a Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra, but compares well with most other rivals.

Like most VWs, the Golf comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty and one year of roadside assistance. That's not exceptional these days, falling short of the five-year warranties Hyundai, Renault and Toyota offer, let alone the seven years of cover provided by Kia.

The Golf achieved a full five-star Euro NCAP safety rating when it was tested in 2019, with excellent category scores that all but matched the best cars in the class, including the Mercedes A-Class, for adult and child protection. The protection for pedestrians and vulnerable road users isn’t as good as the A-Class's, though.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Golf Mk8 has a poor reputation for reliability, with real-world owner reviews reporting a mixed experience, according to our latest What Car? Reliability Survey.

Common complaints include warning lights, electrical faults and infotainment glitches, with some software issues requiring multiple dealer visits. Mechanical reliability is mostly solid, though diesel models have seen AdBlue system problems. Petrol versions perform better but still suffer occasional sensor failures.

Dealer service varies; some owners praise their experience, while others report long waits and parts shortages. Overall, while the Golf remains popular, reliability could be better.

Find out more about the Volkswagen Golf’s reliability on our dedicated Used Volkswagen Golf reliability page.

We think the more muscular 148bhp 1.5 eTSI 150 makes the most sense out of the VW Golf range. It’s noticeably swifter getting up to motorway speeds (0-62mph comes in a sprightly 8.5sec).

We'd also stick with the Golf's entry-level Life trim. It comes with 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, and all the infotainment, visibility and parking aids we've discussed in the previous sections.

Our favourite: 1.5 eTSI 150 Life

The Ford Focus is good fun to drive and has been one of the best-sellers in the family car class for many years. However, it isn’t quite as comfortable as the Volkswagen Golf, nor does it have such a classy interior.

The Honda Civic is one of our favourite used family cars. It’s smart inside and great to drive, plus it’s powered by a smooth yet efficient hybrid system. It has a good reputation for reliability too, but it is more expensive to buy than the Golf, even when used.

The Toyota Corolla is certainly worth considering. It’s more affordable to buy than the Civic, yet it’s a hybrid and reliability is equally strong. It’s good to drive too, but the interior and infotainment system are a bit basic.

If you’re on a budget, the VW Golf Mk7 is worth a look. It has a smart, upmarket interior and a comfortable ride, plus it comes with a slightly more user-friendly interior than the Mk8, with more physical controls. Reliability is a bit better, too.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here

If you're interested in buying a used VW Golf or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.