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The latest Volkswagen Golf has sharper styling, upgraded tech and better performance. But should you buy one? Dan Powell finds out.
Things you'll like
- Efficient line-up
- Composed drive
- Classy interior feel
Things to consider
- Premium price tag
- Some rivals offer more boot space
- Infotainment system can be awkward to use on some versions
What is the Volkswagen Golf?
The go-to family car for buyers for over 50 years, the Volkswagen Golf is a common sight on UK roads. In fact, we’d challenge you to find a driver who hasn’t owned or travelled in a Golf at one time or another.
As a result, any new Golf is something of a big deal. And for many drivers, the Golf is the benchmark by which all other family cars are judged.
The key to the Golf’s success over the past half-century lies in its universal appeal. It’s upmarket styling and refinement has made it extremely popular with older car buyers, while its ease of use and low running costs also make it desirable with younger drivers.
The eighth generation Golf was launched in 2020 with a futuristic and minimalist cabin, hybrid tech and significant upgrades in refinement and comfort.
The Golf was given a comprehensive mid-life update in 2024, which sharpened its exterior styling and upgraded the in-car tech experience with a new infotainment system and ChatGPT voice assistant.
Available as a hatchback, estate, plug-in hybrid or hot hatch, there is something for everyone here. But the Golf faces stiff competition from the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Upmarket hatchbacks like the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class are also strong alternatives.
Does the Golf have what it takes to tackle all these challenges head on? Read our review to find out.
Verdict: is the Volkswagen Golf a good car?
A comprehensive family hatchback that holds its own against the best cars in its class, the Volkswagen Golf is an excellent all-rounder. Good to drive, comfortable and offered with a strong range of efficient engines, the Golf is a solid and sensible choice.
Pricing, specs & rivals
In 2025, pricing for the Volkswagen Golf starts at £27,760 for the entry-level Life model with the 113HP 1.5-litre petrol engine. That is over £2,000 more than a Vauxhall Astra petrol, but almost £3,000 less than the starting price point of the Toyota Corolla petrol hybrid.
Standard equipment on the Golf is generous, with all versions getting automatic LED headlights and taillights, alloy wheels, keyless start, front and rear parking sensors and touchscreen infotainment.
That said, we’d suggest spending a few hundred pounds more on the Golf in Match trim which adds tinted rear glass, 17-inch alloy wheels, rear view camera and high beam assist (which automatically switches from main to dipped beam when an approaching vehicle is detected).
The base price for the Golf Match increases to £29,076 for the 148HP version of the 1.5-litre petrol engine, while the 2.0-litre TDI diesel starts at £29,730.
The mild hybrid 148HP 1.5-litre eTSI starts from £30,665 while the plug-in hybrid 201HP plug-in eHybrid is available from £36,140.
The Golf is offered with a comprehensive range of optional extras, but these can quickly add up and push the list price into the costly £40,000 premium car tax band.
There is no longer an electric version of the Golf, with Volkswagen ditching it in 2019 to focus on its all-electric ID range. The closest thing you can get to a new Volkswagen e-Golf these days is the ID.3.
Rivals
The Volkswagen Golf has a lot of competition from other family hatchbacks, with hybrid versions of the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla being two efficient alternatives. If you want something a bit more stylish, the Mazda 3 is worthy of consideration along with the SEAT Leon.
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class and BMW 1 Series are all upmarket rivals that are worthy of consideration, too.
Volkswagen Golf: Interior comfort, quality & technology
The interior of the Volkswagen Golf is a calm and comfortable place to while away the miles. Even base spec models have the air of a premium car, with high quality materials and excellent soundproofing that keeps road and wind noise to a minimum. The clean and minimalist dashboard design adds to the sense of style and simplicity.
R-Line trim adds sports seats in the front with large side bolsters. You also get stylish headrests that are integrated into the seat housing. However, while the sporty R-Line cabin looks swish, we think the seats in the Match are the most comfortable in the model range.
No matter your size or height, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a comfortable driving position. The front seats across all the trim levels are supportive and comfortable, with lots of height and lumbar adjustment. You also get a padded central armrest and lots of steering wheel adjustment, while the large front doors make it easy to get in and out. Forward visibility is broadly fine, although like its rivals the door pillars are quite thick. The large door mirrors and rear window make it easy to see out the back, although most versions of the Golf are fitted with a reversing camera and parking sensors.
As with many of its rivals, Volkswagen has incorporated the majority of the in-car controls into the infotainment system. There are a few manual controls for key functions, with the temperature and audio volume operated by a pair of touch sliders on the dashboard which are backlit (on models from 2024 onwards) but not as intuitive as traditional dials.
You do get physical buttons on the steering wheel, which makes it easy to change a radio station or adjust the audio volume with the flick of a thumb. The Golf also gets a 10-inch digital instrument binnacle behind the steering wheel, which can be customised with maps and driving data.
Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity
The large touchscreen infotainment screen dominates the dashboard of the eighth generation Golf. A 10-inch display was fitted as standard from 2020 – 2022, while a 13-inch touchscreen was introduced in 2024 as part of the mid-life model update.
The 13-inch infotainment system (shown below) is by far the better of the two, with a slicker operation and faster screen changes. The quality of the display is also higher, which makes it easier to read maps and directions at night.
You can use voice control to change the temperature or set a destination for the navigation system, while ChatGPT (added in 2024) can answer any questions you may have about your destination or the greater universe.
As with many of its rivals, the Golf’s infotainment system is fully compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – which means you can mirror your phone’s display on the in-car screen and access apps from your phone.
How practical is the Volkswagen Golf?
Measuring 4.28m long and 1.78m wide (excluding the door mirrors), the eighth generation Golf is roughly the same size as the seventh-gen model – which is handy if you have a limited parking or a narrow garage.
The Golf is also smaller than the Honda Civic, which is 4.55m long and 1.80m wide. The Corolla hatch sits between the two at 4.37m in length and 1.79m wide.
Despite its compact dimensions the Golf has plenty of head and legroom in the front. Passengers in the back should also be comfortable, with space for two large adults (or three at a squeeze).
Storage and boot space
Both the Golf hatchback and Golf estate offer roughly the same boot space as their predecessors, with a respective 381- and 611-litre capacity (with the rear seats in place).
If you need more storage from your family hatchback, the Honda Civic (415-litres) might be a better option.
The Golf’s boot opening is wide and there is plenty of space for the weekly shop and a folded child’s buggy. Most versions of the Golf get a height adjustable boot floor, too.
If you are considering the eHybrid or GTE hatchback then it is important to note that boot space drops to just 273-litres to accommodate the hybrid powertrain.
The Golf provides lots of useful cabin storage, with large pockets in the front doors for water bottles and a pair of cup holders in the centre console. There is a hidden space for loose change within the central armrest and a compartment for your phone with a charge pad below the touchscreen.
The rear seats fold completely flat with a 60/40 split. You also get a handy ski hatch.
Performance & drive: What is the Volkswagen Golf like on the road?
The Volkswagen Golf is an enjoyable car to drive. The steering is light but engaging and the body control is always composed, which makes it easy to build confidence behind the wheel.
The four-cylinder 1.5 TSI petrol engine with 148HP is the sweet spot in the range, striking a good balance between performance and refinement. It is cheaper to buy new than the mild hybrid 148HP eTSI, but performance is broadly the same. Acceleration to 0-62mph takes 8.6 seconds and the 1.5-litre engine will hum along the motorway at 70mph with ease.
There is a 113hp version of the 1.5 TSI, which is sufficient for daily driving but can feel a little strained when carrying a full load of passengers and luggage on the motorway. If you do cover a lot of miles, you may want to consider the four-cylinder 113hp 2.0-litre diesel.
The all-electric e-Golf is no longer available, with Volkswagen focusing on its ID range of EVs. But the eighth generation Golf is offered with two plug-in hybrid powertrain options, with combine the 1.5 TSI petrol engine with a 19.7 kWh battery.
The 201hp eHybrid has an advertised range of 88 miles while the sporty GTE delivers 268hp and covers up to 82 miles on pure electricity. This range compares very favourably to the 52 miles you get with the A-Class A250e and 39 miles with the Astra Plug-in Hybrid.
Power, 0-62mph times
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI : 113hp/ 9.9 secs
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI : 148hp/ 8.6 secs
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 eTSI : 113hp/ 9.9 secs
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 eTSI : 148hp/ 8.4 secs
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 eTSI : 201hp/ 7.2 secs
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 eTSI : 268hp/ 6.6 secs
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI: 113hp/ 10.2 secs
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI: 148hp/ 8.0 secs
Ride and handling
Easy to drive, comfortable and refined, the Golf is an laidback car to live with. If you want your Golf to provide optimum comfort, choose the Match or Life trims as these run on 17-inch wheels and standard suspension that soaks up most lumps and bumps in the road.
If you want a more engaging driving experience, you can add sports suspension and 18-inch wheels to upgrade the handling. But this will sacrifice some ride comfort on less than perfect roads. The optional DCC adaptive dampers improve the ride comfort significantly, so add this if you do want to fit larger wheels.
Noise and refinement
The Golf is a car that majors on refinement, with excellent sound proofing that provides low road and wind noise on the motorway. Road roar is a little noticeable on cars fitted with larger wheels and sports suspension, but the ride quality always stays on the firm side of comfortable.
Euro NCAP: is the Volkswagen Golf a safe car?
The Golf was awarded a maximum five-star rating by Euro NCAP when it was assessed in 2022, which puts it on par with the Honda Civic and Mazda 3.
During crash testing, the Golf was awarded 88% for adult occupant and 87% for child occupant. Active safety assist tech was marked at 82%, while safety for vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) was 74%.
Most versions of the Golf come with adaptive cruise control, which automatically controls your speed on the motorway. You also get a road sign display system, which will display the local speed limits and no overtaking zones on the dashboard.
Style trim gets a better level of active safety tech, which includes a Rear Traffic Alert system that warns you of approaching traffic when reversing out of a driveway or parking space.
Running costs and fuel economy
Most buyers will choose their Golf hatch with the four-cylinder turbocharged 1.5 TSI petrol engine.
The most efficient petrol derivative is the mild hybrid eTSI, which returns a claimed 53.3mpg and available in two outputs – 113hp or 148hp – with both mated to a seven-speed DSG dual clutch automatic transmission.
If you want a manual gearbox you’ll need to specify the non-hybrid 1.5 TSI, which returns slightly lower fuel economy (50-52mpg).
We think the non-hybrid 148HP 1.5 TSI strikes a better balance between performance and efficiency. It matches the 148HP 1.5 eTSI for torque but costs significantly less to buy new.
If you cover a lot of miles. the 113HP 2.0-litre diesel will appeal with official figures claiming 62.8mpg. A 148HP TDI is also available but only with Volkswagen’s DSG automatic gearbox and returns an official 60.1mpg.
The 1.5 TSI petrol eHybrid and GTE return a respective 941mpg and 706mpg. It is important to note that Volkswagen’s advertised fuel figures are based on the battery being fully charged on a regular basis, which means real world fuel economy could be significantly lower if you do not have access to an electric vehicle charger.
Unless you are choosing one of the hybrids or GTI models, the Golf’s base price won’t qualify for the £40,000 expensive car supplement. However, the optional extras can quickly add up – so bear this in mind if you want to avoid the most expensive car tax bands.
How much does the Volkswagen Golf cost to insure?
A mid-spec Golf 113HP 1.5 TSI in Match trim sits in insurance group 17. You’ll pay more to insure the 148HP 1.5 TSI, with the insurance group climbing to 21. R-Line trim pushes the insurance grouping up to 22 – 24, depending on which 1.5 TSI derivative you choose, while the powerful eHybrid sits in group 26.
In comparison, the Toyota Corolla 1.8 hybrid petrol starts in group 15 and climbs to 17 for mid-spec model with the 1.2 petrol or 1.8 hybrid. Only the 2.0 hybrid ventures into group 21.
Volkswagen Golf FAQs
Is the Volkswagen Golf a good car?
The Volkswagen Golf is a good car thanks to its low running costs and practical interior. Its clever design provides a comfortable space for a family of four. The Golf is also easy to drive and well-equipped as standard.
Is Volkswagen discontinuing the Golf?
The Golf has been on sale for more than 50 years and Volkswagen has no plans to discontinue it. The eighth generation Golf went on sale in 2020 and more than one million cars have been sold since then.
What is Volkswagen’s best-selling car?
The Golf is Volkswagen’s best selling car. To date, more than 37 million Golf models have been sold in 70 counties around the world.
