Look around you on any street and it won’t be long before you spot a Volkswagen Golf.
It might be the obvious choice, but that’s because it’s so good. The VW Golf is the benchmark for the car industry, which rivals try to keep pace with. A wide range of engines, several different body styles, a premium-yet-intuitive interior and a completely solid driving experience are just some of the reasons why the Golf is still so popular.
Read our Volkswagen Golf review or shop used Volkswagen Golf cars for sale.
Types of Volkswagen Golf
These days, the Golf is available as a five-door hatchback or as an estate model with a nearly class-leading amount of boot space. There are a wide range of engines, from economical entry-level petrols through to impressive plug-in hybrids and a group of fast hot hatches.
In the past, the VW Golf has also been offered as a three-door hatchback and as a convertible.
You’ll also find used examples of the Volkswagen Golf SV (short for Sports Van), which is taller and more spacious than the Golf hatchback. Previously called the Golf Plus, the Golf SV is a rival to small MPVs like the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and Mercedes B-Class.
Volkswagen Golf trim levels
- Life – entry-level model that means you get the Golf’s solid feel without spending too much
- Match – one of the best VW Golf models, because Match adds lots more equipment to Life trim but doesn’t cost much more
- Style – mid-range trim level that balances extra equipment with refined styling
- R-Line – a sporty-looking model that looks like the R range-topper but has much more reasonable running costs. Read our full guide to VW’s R-Line trim here
- GTI – a hot hatch icon that isn’t the most powerful, but it’s still fun and still very easy to live with
- GTI Clubsport – a GTI with extra oomph. Remains front-wheel drive to give a different character to the Golf R
- GTD – a diesel-powered hot hatch that offers quick acceleration and long-distance fuel economy
- GTE – a plug-in hybrid hot hatch. From 2024, the GTE became capable of up to 82 miles on electric power
- R – the flagship Golf, with a huge power output and grippy four-wheel drive for rapid acceleration on any road
VW Golf models by year
Mk8 – 2020-present
- Latest model with a greater focus on infotainment – facelift models are much improved
- Model code: CD1
- Facelifted in 2024
- Available as five-door hatchback and estate
- Much broader range of hybrid options
- ‘Always online’ with range of connectivity features for infotainment and safety features
- Originally criticised for confusing screens and lower quality
Mk7 – 2012-2020
- ‘Peak Golf’ for many enthusiasts – and you’ll still find some for sale at Motorpoint
- Model code: 5G
- Facelifted in 2016
- Versions include e-Golf and two-seat limited-run Clubsport S hot hatch
- VW’s R-Line trim introduced
- Available as three and five-door hatchback, and estate
- Adaptive cruise control fitted to all but the most basic model
Mk6 – 2008-2012
- A more modern-feeling take on the Mk5, with updated styling and a more premium interior
- Model code: 5K
- Bluemotion diesel promised 74mpg
- Hill-hold assist, park assist and Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) all introduced
- Available as three-door hatchback, five-door hatchback, estate and convertible – you could even get GTI and R convertibles
- Convertible model’s roof mechanism lives on in the T-Roc Cabriolet
Mk5 – 2003-2008
- Return to form for the Golf
- Model code: 1K
- Range-topping R32 used a 3.2-litre V6 engine
- Available as three-door or five-door hatchback, plus estate
- 2007 marked 25 million Golf sales
Mk4 – 1997-2003
- Mk4 Golf went upmarket with higher quality and a robust feel
- Model code: 1J
- First Golf with electronic traction control and optional sat nav
- First Golf with direct injection, six-speed manual gearbox, and dual-clutch automatic gearbox (in R32)
- GTI Edition 25 set the tone for subsequent anniversary hot hatch editions
- Normal GTI was a poor relation – it even came with a diesel option
- Available as three-door or five-door hatchback, plus estate and Mk3-based convertible
Mk3 – 1992-1997
- Once a familiar sight on UK roads, but rust has claimed many
- Model code: 1H
- First Golf to get an estate model
- The range opened with a 1.9-litre non-turbo diesel engine, producing a heady 64hp
- First Golf to get airbags, cruise control, six-cylinder engine and catalytic converters
- Available as three-door or five-door hatchback, plus estate and convertible
- Fully electric CityStromer model trialled in Germany
Mk2 – 1984-1992
- Sometimes overlooked Mk2 was much more practical than Mk1
- Model code: 19E/1G
- First Golf to get an all-wheel-drive model, called the Syncro
- Raised 4x4 Golf Country predicted the SUV craze
- Available as three-door or five-door hatchback, plus Mk1-based convertible
Mk1 – 1974-1983
- Pioneering first-gen Golf is now over 50 years old
- Model code: Type 17
- Popularised front-wheel drive for family hatchbacks
- Replaced the Beetle
- A million Golfs sold in two years
- Available as three-door or five-door hatchback, plus convertible
What is the fastest Volkswagen Golf model?
The Volkswagen Golf has a long and storied history of fast models and motorsport. That goes back all the way to the original Mk1, where the GTI model stood out above other versions with a 1.6-litre petrol engine pushing out 110hp at the top of the rev range. Doesn’t sound like much – a VW Up GTI is quicker – but it made a difference when the rest of the range made 50-70hp. And the Mk1 GTI weighs just 810kg.
Fast forward to today, and the fastest Volkswagen Golf model you can buy is the Golf R. Since 2024, the R has boasted 333hp. With so much power and grippy four-wheel drive, the Golf R hits 0-62mph in just 4.6 seconds.
But it’s not the fastest Golf ever. That goes to the Golf W12-650 concept, which looks like a Golf sat upon a Lamborghini Aventador. There are serious vents down the sides, four chromed exhausts and gaping air intakes – which are necessary to cool down the 6.0-litre W12 engine borrowed from a Bentley Continental GT. The 650hp engine sits in the middle of the Golf W12, and enables a 0-62mph time of just 3.7 seconds. Oh, and the top speed is 202mph. In a Golf!
What is the best Volkswagen Golf model?
Ask 10 people this question and they’ll all probably come up with different answers. The Golf is incredibly popular, and there are enthusiasts for every generation of VW’s hatch.
We’d go for either the Mk7 or Mk8, in their facelift guises. And that’s not just because they’re the ones we sell at Motorpoint. The Mk7 offers a superb blend of tactility, luxury and usability, which wasn’t entirely retained for the Mk8. But the 2024 facelift righted a lot of wrongs – there’s a new touchscreen with configurable shortcut icons, and the return of physical steering wheel buttons. The latest Golf, in eHybrid guise, even manages up to 88 miles on a full charge of the battery.
Read our Volkswagen Golf review or shop used Volkswagen Golf cars for sale.
