Used VW Golf cars for sale

Volkswagen Golf buying guide

About the Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf is, for many, the definitive family hatchback. It's easy to drive and easy to use, with a certain timeless style. There's space for adults in front and back, and enough room to wrestle your offspring into their child seats. If you don't have big hobbies, the five-door hatchback should provide plenty of room, or you can pick the far more capacious Golf Estate with a substantially larger boot.

What versions of the Volkswagen Golf are there?

Modern Golfs come in two forms – a five-door hatchback and a slightly more practical five-door Golf Estate. You can also get an MPV called the Golf SV, which uses the same parts and engines but gives you a slightly larger cabin and boot.

For pre-2020 Golfs, entry-level cars come in S trim, which gets a few choice features including air conditioning and DAB radio. SE is more popular, however, and adds some neat extras. Match is a popular mid-range trim available on pre-2020 Golfs, or you can also get the popular Match Edition, which upgrades the package with more tech. GT and GT Edition add more styling upgrades and some luxury touches.

For newer Golfs from 2020 onwards, Life is the entry-level model, followed by Style with more kit and R-Line, which gets sporty-looking upgrades inside and out.

Volkswagen Golf interior and technology

If you’re in the market for a Golf, you might well be looking at both later versions of the seventh-generation Golf sold until 2020, and early versions of the eighth-generation Golf, sold from 2020 onwards. Whichever version you pick, you get a reassuring feeling of solidity from every button, switch and panel in the cabin.

Pre-2020 Golfs use a touchscreen infotainment system in the middle of the dashboard. This system is relatively advanced, with the option to mirror your smartphone’s screen via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Aside from all the typical infotainment functions, a party-piece here is the screen’s ability to detect when your finger is close, bringing up previously hidden options for you to click on, helping to declutter the screen.

2020 and onwards Golfs take an already neat cabin concept and tidy it up, removing even more buttons and moving the centre touchscreen higher up towards the driver's eyeline. Both eighth and seventh-gen Golfs can be equipped with a digital dashboard replacing the traditional dials in front of the driver, but this feature is standard across all eighth-gen versions.

There is good head and legroom for two rear-seat passengers, though they’ll find their elbows bump if you try to fit three across the back row. Boot space is also more than adequate, able to accommodate suitcases, pushchairs, or a small dog with ease.

Volkswagen Golf engine range explained

(Most popular!) Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI EVO petrol

Among the most popular engine choices in the Golf lineup is the 1.5-litre TSI. This turbo petrol unit comes in 130 or 150hp versions and can run on half its cylinders to reduce energy consumption – as denoted by the EVO part of its name. This is a great all-round engine with a good blend of performance and efficiency.

Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI petrol

Many entry-level Golfs are powered by the company’s 1.0-litre TSI unit. That might sound small for this size of car but, thanks to a turbocharger, this engine is enough to help the Golf get around town without feeling lazy. It might feel a little more strained at overtaking speeds, but will still be plenty for most buyers.

Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI diesel

If you regularly take longer trips, you might want to look at the 1.6-litre diesel fitted to some entry-level and mid-range pre-2020 Golfs. Average fuel economy for this engine is as high as 69mpg if you drive with a light right foot, and there’s still decent enough performance that it won’t feel slow.

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI diesel

If you want the long-legged cruising ability of diesel, but would like a little more performance for motorway overtaking, the 2.0-litre diesel makes a great choice. This 150hp unit is noticeably more brawny than the 1.6, making it a better choice especially if you will do some occasional towing.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance 2.0 TSI 245

As the Golf is an icon among hatches, it makes sense that the Golf GTI is an icon among hot hatches. The latest version uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that’s widely featured across the VW Group lineup but, in this form, has 245hp. The 0-62mph sprint is completed in around six seconds regardless of whether you pick the six-speed manual or slick DSG automatic gearbox.

Volkswagen Golf GTD 2.0 TDI

If you fancy hot hatch thrills but still have long motorway journeys to cover, consider the Golf GTD. This keeps the high-performance kit from the GTI but swaps in a meaty 2.0-litre diesel that makes 184hp in pre-2020 models and an even 200hp in newer versions. Strong acceleration remains but efficiency jumps to just shy of 60mpg.

Volkswagen Golf R 2.0 TSI

This is the ‘papa bear’ choice in the Golf lineup – the meanest and most powerful engine you can buy. R models use the familiar 2.0-litre petrol found elsewhere in the lineup but, this time, with the wick turned all the way up to 11. Pre-2020 Golf Rs have 300hp while newer versions up this to a mighty 320hp, meaning you can hit 62mph from rest in a supercar-baiting 4.7 seconds.

How safe is the Volkswagen Golf?

Put simply – very safe. Every single Golf model tested by Euro NCAP since 2009 has earned a full five-star safety rating, even as the tests have become more challenging over the years. The most recent model was tested in 2022, where it earned 88% and 87% respectively for adult and child occupant safety respectively.

Is the Volkswagen Golf a good car?

You don't become the byword for family hatchbacks without some level of raw quality, and the Golf readily demonstrates why Volkswagen has such a strong reputation for building sensible cars. It's easy to drive and easy to live with, and has enough space for a small family at a pinch. It also has a fun side, too, with hot hatches like the Golf GTI and Golf R packing plenty of punch under their bonnets. Read our full Volkswagen Golf review.