Volkswagen Golf
New from £28,455 / £227 p/m
Is the Volkswagen Golf Hatchback a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Autotrader
"The Volkswagen Golf needs no introduction. For 50 years it has been a staple on British roads, becoming the definition of a mid-size family hatchback. However, times are a-changing and with the rise electrification and SUV crossovers, is the Golf still as relevant today as it once was? It’s certainly not ready to be consigned to the history books. Amid much speculation about the Golf’s demise, Volkswagen has confirmed it will live on into the all-electric age and we can’t help but breathing a sigh of relief. This latest update addresses the niggles with the eighth-generation Golf, making it the car it should have been from the start. Physical steering wheel buttons are back, there’s an improved infotainment system and a new plug-in hybrid option. The overall package feels solid and classy, just like a Golf should. While it’s less flamboyant than the Peugeot 308 and not as spacious as the Skoda Octavia, the Golf continues to offer the reassuringly well-rounded package we have come to know since 1974."
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Running costs for a Volkswagen Golf
The Golf is available as either a hatchback or an estate with a wide array of engine, gearbox, and trim combinations. This should mean there’s a Golf for everyone, but it does make trawling through the options list rather confusing. By the time you’ve added a few useful extras you’ll be lucky to get any change from £30,000. This is about the going rate for a family hatchback these days, but other cars such as the Mazda3 are more generous with their standard equipment. Whether you opt for petrol, diesel or the mild hybrid, the Golf should easily manage between 40-50 mpg. Meanwhile, Volkswagen’s next generation of plug-in hybrid promises around 80 miles of electric only range. This should more than cover most journeys and if you are able to charge at home running costs should be minimal. For quick top-ups when out and about, it now supports rapid charging too and Company car drivers can benefit from the lower Benefit In Kind.
Reliability of a Volkswagen Golf
The eighth-generation Golf initially got off to a rocky start with a flaky infotainment system and poorly designed temperature controls, but Volkswagen has periodically been addressing this with tweaks to both the software and hardware. This latest update makes for a much-improved car. It feels like Volkswagen has learnt from its mistakes and as a result we are hopeful the Golf is now at the level it needs to be. The fundamental building blocks of the model are shared throughout the wider Volkswagen Group which should give confidence the parts are tried and tested. Each Golf is covered by a standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty and you can pay to extend this for extra peace of mind.
Safety for a Volkswagen Golf
Like any German engineered car, the Golf feels solidly put together. As you close the doors with a satisfying thunk you’ll feel in safe hands and Volkswagen has an excellent track record with NCAP. The entry-level models come with familiar safety features and driver aids including two ISOFIX anchors in the back and one in the front, lane keeping assistance, emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. You’ll need to move up to at least Style trim to get useful features such as blind spot monitoring as standard mind. We found the lane keeping assistance to be rather overzealous, though it’s pretty simple to turn off in the settings menu by using the shortcut button below the main central screen. We’ve docked a point from our overall safety score for this and because additional airbags are a cost option.
How comfortable is the Volkswagen Golf
The hatchback Golf provides ample space for most people’s needs, and opting for the estate will give you more room besides. Being lower down to the ground than an SUV it feels like you are more connected to the road rather than perching high above it. Ride quality and noise reduction is generally good too. The interior, though not as exciting as you’ll find in a Peugeot 308, is practical if perhaps a little plain and has plenty of storage compartments. It’s a comfortable place to be. On the entry-level Life trim and the next step-up Match cars you’ll get the same interior with grey cloth seats, chrome effect dashboard inserts and the light headlining helping to give it an airy feel. Moving up to Style trim you get microfleece seat inserts in your choice of light or dark fabric with match door cards. R-Line cars get sportier seats with larger bolsters. These models have a dark headlining so you might want to opt for the panoramic sunroof to make the space feel more open. In the back there’s room to carry two adults comfortably and three at a squeeze, with useful touches like cup holders in the central arm rest and handy small pockets for your phone on the back of the front seats. Though the interior is not cavernous, it’s certainly roomy enough and all materials feel durable and well made.
Features of the Volkswagen Golf
The most notable feature of the Golf is the new infotainment system, it’s the same one you’ll find in a Passat or Tiguan and it’s oh so much better than the previous version. The 12.9-inch screen is now more responsive and has customisable shortcuts for features you use the most like parking aids, climate control and the driver assist settings. This combined with the newly backlit temperature and volume sliders and the physical steering wheel buttons, makes for a much less frustrating experience. Another new addition is the integration of ChatGPT into the in-built virtual assistant ‘IDA’. We had fun trying it out, but we’re not quite sure how useful this really is. Getting the assistant to spring into life was a bit hit and miss as we put on our best telephone voice, repeating “Hello Volkswagen” into the ether. For requests relating to the car, like finding the menu to turn off the lane keeping assist ‘IDA’ handles this without ChatGPT and it seemed to work ok. If, for example, you ask the Golf “How old is President Biden?” it will respond using machine learning. “According to ChatGPT president Biden was born on the 20th of November 1942 so his age changes as time progresses.” Thanks Volkswagen, we’re reassured machines will not be replacing humans for a while yet. However Volkswagen does say this will improve with software updates as time goes on. One of the more practical features on the Golf is the option for a 360-degree camera giving a bird’s eye view of your surroundings. It’s the first time this has been available and it’s helpful, but not as clever as the cameras on the latest Nissan Qashqai.
Power for a Volkswagen Golf
We started out by trying the entry-level 115-horsepower 1.5-litre TSI petrol hatchback. This was easy to drive and felt perfectly nippy with a smooth six-speed manual gearbox. There’s also a more powerful 150-horsepower option offering increase confidence for those who spend more time on motorways. We then hopped into a mild hybrid eTSI estate this recoups braking energy and uses it to provide a small boost of power. The eTSI are all seven-speed automatics and have the same 115- or 150-horsepower options. We tried the 150-horsepower which was very slick, and we enjoyed having that extra bit of oomph. It seemed pretty efficient on fuel too, claiming to do nearly 50 mpg on our test route. We didn’t get the chance to have a go in the new plug-in hybrid with an impressive, claimed range of over 80 miles, but based on our experience of the Tiguan and Passat we expect it to feel swift out on the road and to come close to the official range figures. Those who do mega milage or use their car for towing will be pleased to know you can also still get a diesel Golf for now. This uses a 2.0-litre TDI engine with the same power output options as the petrol cars. For those used to driving petrol cars it feels a little less refined but is a solid option for those who mainly do motorway driving. Volkswagen continues to build a Golf fit for every occasion and while SUVs remain in vogue, the Golf still delivers on all the essentials you really need from a car.
Lease deals
These deals are based on terms of 8,000 miles, for a 36 month lease with a 6 months initial payment.
£430.52
Monthly payment
£2,583.10
Initial payment
- 5 seats
- 5 doors
- Hatchback
- Petrol
- Automatic
- 2.0 litres
£316.71
Monthly payment
£1,900.28
Initial payment
- 5 seats
- 5 doors
- Hatchback
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- 1.5 litres
£299.28
Monthly payment
£1,795.70
Initial payment
- 5 seats
- 5 doors
- Hatchback
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- 1.5 litres
£378.77
Monthly payment
£2,272.62
Initial payment
- 5 seats
- 5 doors
- Hatchback
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- 1.5 litres
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your Volkswagen Golf Hatchback. This may vary between trim levels.
- 12V Socket - Centre Console
- 12V Socket - Luggage Compartment
- 2 USB-C Ports in the Front - 2 USB-C Ports in Centre Console in the Rear - Charging Capacity up to 45 W
- 6 Speakers - 4 Front-2 Rear with Centre Speaker
- DAB - Digital Radio Reception
- Diversity Antenna for FM Reception
- E-Sim Card for Online Connectivity
- Infotainment System with 12.9in Display
- Mobile Phone Interface with Wireless Inductive Charging Function
- Navigation System
- Preparation for We Connect and We Connect Plus
- Wireless App Connect
- eCall - Emergency Call Service
- 16in Alloy Wheels - Norfolk
- Anti-Theft Wheel Bolts
- Body Coloured - Door Mirrors and Door Handles
- Exterior Ambient Lighting with Illuminated Door Handles
- Exterior Mirrors - Convex on the Left and Aspherical on the Right
- Heat Insulating Glass in Side and Rear Windows
- Laminated Safety Glass Windshield - Heat Insulating
- Preperation for Alcohol Ignition Interlock
- Rear Exhaust Tailpipe
- Rear Fog Light on One Side and Back Up Light on Both Sides
- Remote Electrically Foldable Door Mirrors - Puddle Lights and Reverse Activated Passengers Door Mirror
- Standard Bumpers
- Tyre Mobility Kit including Compressor and Sealing Foam in Lieu of Spare Wheel
- Tyres 205/55 R16
- 3-Point Seat Belts for the Outer Rear Seats
- Activated Carbon Canister - Evaporative Emission Control System - EVAP
- Air Care Climatronic Air Conditioning System
- Carpet Mats - Front and Rear
- Chrome Plated Radiator Grille Inserts - Air Vent Surrounds and Light Switch Surrounds
- Comfort Seats - Front
- Digital Cockpit Pro
- Door and Side Trim Panel
- Front Centre Armrest
- Front Seats with Manual Height Adjustment
- Interior Ambient Lighting with 10 Colour Options
- Keyless Start with SAFELOCK
- LED Reading Lights - Two in the Front - Two in the Rear
- Leather Gearshift Handle
- Manually Adjustable Lumbar Support in Front Seats
- Nature Cross Brushed Decorative Inserts in Dash and Front Door Panels
- Rain Sensor
- Rear Seat Bench Unsplit - Backrest Split Folding with Centre Armrest - Cupholder and Loadthrough
- Standard Pedal Cluster
- Steering Wheel - Multifunction - Leather Wrapped
- Sun Visors with Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
- Three Rear Head Restraints
- Tool Kit for Tyre Mobility Set
- Welcome Light with Surround Lighting
- 3-Point Seatbelts in Front with Height Adjustment and Seatbelt Pretensioners
- Alarm with Interior Protection
- Autonomous Emergency Braking - Front Assist with Pedestrian and Cycling Monitoring
- Curtain and Side Airbags in Front with Centre Airbag
- Disc Brakes in Front
- Disc Brakes in Rear
- Driver and Front Passenger Airbag with Front Passenger Airbag Deactivation
- ESC - Electronic Stability Control
- Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold Function
- Extended Pedestrian Protection Measures
- Front Head Restraints
- ISOFIX Anchors for Child Seats on Outer Rear Seats and Front Passenger Seat - Compatible with i-Size
- Lane Keeping System Lane Assist
- Multifunction Front Facing Camera for Distance Control
- Oncoming Vehicle Braking when Turning including Swerve Support
- Two-Tone Horn
- Warning Signal and Warning Light for Front and Rear Seat Belts Not Fastened
- XDS Electronic Differential Lock for Improved Traction and Handling
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Advanced Driver Attention and Drowsiness Monitor
- Dynamic Road Sign Display
- Parking Sensors - Front and Rear
- Speedo - Rev Counter - Electronic Odometer - Trip - Service Interval Display and Exterior Temperature Display
- Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator
- Voice Control and Voice Enhancer
- Automatic Headlight Control with LED Separate Daytime Running Lights and Coming Home-Leaving Home Feature
- Dynamic Headlight Range Control
- High Beam Assist - Automatic Sensing for Switching Between Dipped and Main Beam
- LED Headlamps
- LED Rear Combination Lamps
- Power Assisted Steering - Speed Sensitive
- Speed Limiter
- Start-Stop Function with Battery Regeneration - Recuperation - Energy Recovery During Braking
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