Volkswagen Golf

Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual Style
“Volkswagen already had a near-class-leading model with the outgoing Golf, and it didn’t need to do a great deal to this new eighth-generation model to bring it right to the forefront of the competitive family hatchback class.”
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Score: 8 / 10
“The Mk8 Golf offers cleaner engines, an updated interior and the latest on-board tech, but it can’t quite reach the top of the class.”
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Score: 8 / 10
“The new Volkswagen Golf Estate is more practical than ever, but it still can’t match up to some of its rivals.”
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Model reviewed: GTE
“Performance, range and company car tax are all big plus points, although the Volkswagen Golf GTE does look a touch expensive versus its immediate rival plug-in hatchbacks.”
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Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid GTE hatchback
Score: 7 / 10
“The Volkswagen Golf GTE feels solid to drive and it’s a straightforward plug-in hybrid hatch that those new to electrification will get along with easily. However, it’s an expensive proposition, and Mercedes makes a plug-in A-Class that’s cheaper to buy, cheaper to tax and potentially cheaper to run.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Mk8 Volkswagen Golf offers cleaner engines, an updated interior and the latest on-board tech, but it can’t quite reach the top of the class.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol automatic Style
Score: 8 / 10
“The latest Volkswagen Golf brings worthy upgrades in lots of areas. The new mild-hybrid powertrain is exceptionally refined, the cabin materials and packaging are better than ever and even the geekiest buyer would find it hard to fault the gains in infotainment. But the tweaks to the chassis and cabin layout seem to have brought as many foibles as they have benefits.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Golf is a true benchmark, not just for Volkswagen but for the wider industry. More tech and engines will follow, but this latest Volkswagen Golf already has enough in its locker to make it one of the best compact hatchbacks you can buy.”
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Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid GTE hatchback
Score: 8 / 10
“For the most part, I think the Volkswagen Golf GTE hits its ideologically opposed brief pretty confidently. Plug it in frequently and it’ll be cheap to run; show it a good road and I’d wager it’d be able to put a smile on your face fairly quickly, too.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual Life hatchback
Score: 8 / 10
“For buyers with an aversion to paying extra for glitzy styling additions, needless equipment and more power than they’ll ever use, the Golf Life is a worthy buy that feels far more mid-spec than entry-level. But we suspect there’s a slightly happier balance of price and capability in Style spec.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic GTD hatchback
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen Golf GTD is not as engaging or as quick as the Golf GTI, but there’s real appeal in its punchy in-gear nature and relaxed cruising. It is an easy and undemanding car whose composed dynamics and impressive economy make it a very well-rounded option.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol (mild hybrid) automatic eTSI R-Line hatchback
Score: 8 / 10
“Depending on your circumstances, there may certainly be a strong case for picking the 1.5 eTSI R-Line if you’re after a premium five-door hatch. We would almost certainly take it over the 2.0-litre diesel Golf, not least because there’s only a 2% difference in company car tax.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic estate
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen Golf Estate is not particularly exciting, but what it lacks in dynamic flair, it makes up for in overall versatility and everyday usefulness. This is the automotive equivalent of a sensible pair of shoes: dependable in just about every situation without ever threatening to stand out in a crowd.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Just as with previous Golfs, it’s not necessarily the outstanding operator in any one area that may particularly interest you; not for premium feel, performance, efficiency, on-board technology or driver appeal. But being so strong in so many areas can leave it in only one lofty place among its peers.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual Life
Score: 8 / 10
“VW’s defining and dominant family hatchback looks and feels more youthful and modern than ever, although a few of its old strengths may have been dulled”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic
Score: 8 / 10
“New engine technology aims to restore credibility for TDI power, and the Mk8 Golf benefits handsomely.”
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Model reviewed: GTE
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswgen Golf GTE melds low emissions with hot hatch pedigree.”
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Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“An even more mature version of what came before, with a higher-tech and nicer built interior, loads more engine choices and a bit more sparkle to the handling.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf improves incrementally on the old one in most areas and has a smart new interior”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The VW Golf MK8 is an excellent family car that’s easy to drive, spacious and well equipped. Its looks won’t appeal to everyone, though, and some features are tricky to use.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual Life
“Price tag apart, the new Volkswagen Golf is a big step forward over the previous model, and worthy of the nameplate’s strong reputation.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual Style
“A high-class family hatchback with the latest tech, efficient engines and serious fleet appeal.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol automatic Life
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Volkswagen Golf is a little bit more precise in its handling but then since 1974 it’s always offered safe and dependable behaviour. Other cars might be more fun to drive, but few can beat the Golf’s all-round appeal.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual Style
Score: 7 / 10
“There’s not enough progress. As tested, the Golf Mk 8 is slightly slower, slightly heavier and no more efficient than that it replaces. The quality of some materials has been downgraded and the electronic dash is less attractive than the one on the previous car.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual 130hp Life
“The 1.5-litre manual offers everything a traditional fleet driver could ask for, but the Volkswagen Golf’s digital revelations in terms of layout and usability are sadly hit and miss. The mild-hybrid and forthcoming plug-in hybrid versions should suit the car more, however, and offer further fleet incentives.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
“The interior shows a significant reduction in cabin clutter, with almost all of the buttons from the dashboard being replaced with touch-sensitive controls.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5 TSI
“It’s got grip where you want it, is a bit nose heavy, and has an overly aggressive lane-keeper to make sure you don’t take the racing line, but apart from that it’s a Golf. And that means it’s brilliant.”
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Score: 9 / 10
“The Volkswagen Golf delivers a high-quality interior, efficient engines and is impressively refined.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9.2 / 10
“Volkswagen dials up the tech for new Golf”
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Model reviewed: 0
“Honestly, you won’t go far wrong with any Golf because… it’s a Golf. It’s brilliant. Of course it is.”
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Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 9 / 10
“The new Golf may not be hugely different to look at from the outside but it definitely has the wow factor on the inside, and it’s packed with the very latest technology.”
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Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid GTE hatchback
Score: 6 / 10
“The Volkswagen Golf GTE is a lovely and clever car that’s surprisingly difficult to recommend despite that. It’s very good in many ways, but it’s no sports hatch and you’ll get more for your money elsewhere.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol automatic Life
Score: 8 / 10
“VW has done just enough to keep the Golf near the top of its game. But beneath the surface, it no longer feels all-conquering; there’s a sense corners have been cut, particularly in suspension tuning and sound deadening; as a result, this is merely a good car, where the previous one was truly great.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual Style
Score: 8 / 10
“Forget the Golf 8 description, think of this as Golf 7.55 and you see a host of welcome upgrades and genuine innovation, although parts of the facia and the central touchscreen aren’t very easy to use and don’t seem very progressive.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“New eighth-gen Volkswagen Golf remains the lingua-franca of the hatch world. A finely polished machine.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Now in its eighth generation, the Golf has long been the definitive iconic family car, famous for combining smart looks, decent practicality and impressive driving dynamics.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6.9 / 10
“The latest Volkswagen Golf upholds the excellence of its forebears, while giving the model a youthful shot in the arm with its new all-digital cabin. The new control layout isn’t as intuitive as we’d have hoped, but this is a relatively small gripe in a car that is otherwise competent and well-rounded.”
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