Volkswagen Golf Review 2024

The Volkswagen Golf has long been the obvious choice for anyone in the market for a no-nonsense family hatchback. But rivals like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are better than ever - while the Golf even faces competition in-house from the SEAT Leon and Skoda Octavia. A number of our original criticisms have been addressed with the latest 2024 Volkswagen Golf facelift - but has VW done enough to tempt buyers back to its original family favourite?

Volkswagen's had 50 years to perfect the Golf, but it's fair to say it's not had an easy time over the years. While it generally enjoys a reputation as one of the best family cars you can buy, there have been a few duds over its eight generations. Unfortunately, it was looking like the latest model - launched in 2020 - could have been one of them.

Original reviews complained about the buggy, hard-to-use infotainment system, while eyebrows were also raised over the quality of materials used in the Golf's cabin. It's not that it felt cheap, but it wasn't quite up to the standard we expected from one of the most expensive cars in its class.

Fortunately, most of the concerns we had over the latest Volkswagen Golf have been addressed with a facelift in 2024. The big change is a new infotainment system, based on VW's latest operating platform. It's more intuitive to use than before, while our initial impressions suggest it's going to be less buggy than the old system.

Elsewhere, it's pretty much business as usual for the Volkswagen Golf. It feels solid and built to last, while it's also very comfortable and fairly spacious - if not quite as roomy as rivals like the bigger Skoda Octavia. You also get plenty of equipment for your money, even on the most affordable trim levels.

There's also a range of engine options to suit pretty much every need, from the affordable 1.5-litre petrol that punches above its weight, to ultra-frugal diesels, to high-tech plug-in hybrids (now with a longer range) and fast and fun GTI models. The best all-rounder is the excellent 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, which will meet most people's needs.

Volkswagen asks for more money for the Golf than its platform-sharing sibling models, the SEAT Leon and Skoda Octavia. For that you don't just get a more upmarket image, you also get more kit as standard, such as digital instruments, wireless phone charging and ambient lighting, and a classier interior.

While we liked the current Volkswagen Golf when it arrived in 2020, the latest updates mean it's an easier car to recommend in a very competitive class. Read our full 2024 Volkswagen Golf review to find out if it's the family hatch for you.

The latest Volkswagen Golf is a practical family car. However, if a big boot and plenty of passenger space is one of your key requirements, you might be better looking at the Skoda Octavia or an SUV alternative (such as the Volkswagen Tiguan) instead.

Getting comfortable is very easy up front. The seats are plushly bolstered even in the base model, there's loads of adjustment in the seats and the steering wheel, and all-around visibility is good. You could happily while away hours at the wheel and get out without complaining of aches and pains.

Base Life and Match trims also get lumbar adjustment as standard, although they aren't the most figure hugging seats around. Mid-spec Style trim brings more supportive sports seats, while R-Line models are more sportily bolstered still with integrated headrests. However, electrically adjustable seats are optional across the range, whereas a number of rivals make them standard on higher grades. 

Things aren't so impressive in the back. Sure, there's still plenty of headroom and a decent amount of legroom for two adults, and three can fit without too much of an issue for short journeys. But sit in the back of the SEAT Leon or Skoda Octavia and you'll realise both have more generous knee room because they have a longer wheelbase than the Golf. You do get a centre armrest (front and rear) in every model at least, whereas base model Leons don't.

The boot capacity is about average for the class, but it certainly isn't the biggest at 381 litres with the seats up. That's about the same as a Ford Focus and Seat Leon, but the Honda Civic and Skoda Octavia both offer substantially more space. You do get a height-adjustable boot floor on every model except the hybrids, though, allowing you to remove the step when sliding items out and have a secure storage area underneath. 

Previous generations of the Golf have set the benchmark for cabin quality: Volkswagen always seemed to spend that little bit extra on the materials and finish that made it feel like a more expensive car than rivals. 

Broadly speaking, that's still the case with the latest Golf. But not only have rivals like the Honda Civic really caught up in the last few years, the Mk8 Golf has also seen some sneaky cost-cutting.

For the most part it feels well-finished, and a noticeable step up over its Seat and Skoda siblings, as well as cars such as the Ford Focus. The minimalist design makes it easy on the eye, while what switchgear there is feels nicely damped and built to last. The fabric door trims are also more upmarket than the rather cheap plastic items in the Leon, and the neat adjustable cupholders are a nice touch. 

But whereas the old Mk7 Golf had no weak points whatsoever, feeling plush and solid even down on the bits you rarely touch, there are some cheaper elements in the Mk8. For example, the lower half of the door cards feel a bit flimsy, while some of the plastics on the centre console and upper dash aren't as nice to touch as you might expect. We'd like more splashes of colour, too. 

The latest Volkswagen Golf's infotainment system received a lot of flack when it first went on sale in 2020. While it looked the part - with its 10.0-inch display - we found it irritating to use, not helped by the lack of physical shortcut buttons. There were quite a few glitches and gremlins that came apparent the longer you spent with the car, too. And on top of that, the touch-sensitive slider panel for adjusting the temperature of the climate control was annoying, especially as it wasn't backlit so using it at night was almost impossible.

Fortunately, the infotainment was one of the key improvements for the 2024 Volkswagen Golf facelift. A bigger 12.9-inch display is now standard, powered by Volkswagen's newer, slicker operating system. It's more responsive than before and also a great deal easier to use. The annoying touch-sensitive sliders remain, but at least now they're illuminated for easier operation in the dark.

Wireless phone charging is standard, while you can also connect your phone wirelessly to use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. DAB radio is also standard across the Golf range, as well as navigation with European mapping.

Volkswagen Golf prices start from around £27,000 for the entry-level Life trim level with the basic 1.5-litre petrol engine. The Golf Match is only slightly more expensive, while the Style trim is nearly £30,000. The desirable Volkswagen Golf R-Line starts from a little more than £30,000, while the Black Edition is another £1000 on top of that.

The Volkswagen Golf has always been slightly more expensive than its competitors, and you'll certainly get more for your money with a SEAT Leon or Skoda Octavia. That said, the Volkswagen Golf leads on quality, and strong residual values ought to help reduce the monthly finance payments.

There isn't a single version of the latest Volkswagen Golf that could be considered thirsty: even the performance models are pretty respectable. 

The (now dropped) 1.0 TSI petrol manages between 48.0-52.0mpg on the WLTP test cycle, which should be fairly achievable. However, the auto-equipped eTSI, with its mild hybrid system harvesting energy, boosting the engine and improving the stop/start function, improves those figures by around 5%. 

The figures from the 1.5-litre TSI are pretty similar, so you're not really going to lose out by buying a Golf with the bigger engine. Officially the 115PS model retusn up to 51.4mpg (or 53.3mpg with the automatic gearbox), while the 150PS version manages 50.4mpg (or 53.3mpg with the DSG transmission).

The 2.0-litre diesel is slightly more efficient, returning up to 62.8mpg with the manual gearbox, or 60.1mpg as an auto. In the real world, a diesel Golf is likely to be very efficient on the motorway, but we wouldn't recommend it for regular urban driving.

Take the 941.6mpg figure for the Golf eHybrid with a pinch of salt. Of more importance is its impressive electric range of 88 miles - that means you can easily cover the school run and/or commute under electric power alone, saving the petrol engine for long-distance trips at the weekend.

The traditional family hatchback pecking order always said that the Ford Focus was the fun one, and the Volkswagen Golf was the comfortable one. That continues to be the case, but the Golf is much better to drive than you might expect. 

It's a world away from the roly-poly handling of the Mk4 Golf of the late nineties. Body control is pretty good, the steering is precise and direct and grip levels are very strong. It lacks the ultimate sharpness and balance of a Focus still, and the more stiffly sprung SEAT Leon changes direction more eagerly, however. 

But, the Golf's ace up its sleeve remains, because it's the easiest to drive and most comfortable car in its class. How much ride comfort there is depends on your spec, but it gets the basics right, while light yet slick controls, a decent turning circle and good all-round visibility. 

The standard suspension on Life, Match and Style models is very compliant, soaking up the worst potholes Britain's rough roads have to offer without feeling too floaty or loose in the bends. Life models in particular, with their 16-inch wheels and chunky sidewalls, are remarkably cossetting. 

R-Line models receive sports suspension with a lower ride height. These are noticeably firmer, but with good damping they let you feel the road surface without being jostled around or crashing into sharp bumps. It's a decent compromise, although the Golf is at its best with the optional Dynamic Chassis Control fitted. 

This brings adaptive dampers, tightening the car's body control in Sport mode and slackening it off in Comfort mode. You'd spend most of your time in Comfort, where the Golf really impresses.

Refinement is excellent regardless of which model you go for, although larger wheels increase road noise. Aside from that, it's commendably quiet, with very little wind noise.

If you're looking for a used Volkswagen Golf, you'll notice that some are powered by an 110PS 1.0-litre petrol engine. With this little three-cylinder motor, the entry-level Golf isn't exactly fast, but it never feels truly out of its depth.

Still, most buyers opt for the bigger 1.5-litre engine, which is why the 1.0-litre was dropped in 2024. The entry-level engine is now a 1.5 petrol with 115PS, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. You can get the same engine with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox and a small amount of electrical assistance (making it a mild hybrid). It won't run around under electric power alone, but it will turn the engine off when coasting to help fuel economy.

If you want your Golf to have a bit more punch, the 1.5-litre engine is also available with 150PS. Again, this is available with a choice of a manual gearbox or as a mild-hybrid with a seven-speed DSG transmission. The former accelerates to 62mph in 8.6 seconds, while the latter manages it in 8.4 seconds (compared to 9.9 seconds for the 115PS model).

You can also get the Volkswagen Golf with diesel power. While this is out of fashion, the Golf's 2.0-litre TDI engine promises to be extremely frugal, especially for drivers who cover a lot of out-of-town motorway miles. If you want a diesel Golf, you get the choice of 115PS with a six-speed manual gearbox, or a more powerful 150PS engine with a seven-speed automatic gearbox.

Looking to make the step towards electric power? The Volkswagen Golf is available with two plug-in hybrids. One is the sporty Volkswagen Golf GTE which we've covered elsewhere, while you can also get a 204PS eHybrid model. This pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to produce 204PS. It's pretty swift, accelerating to 62mph in 7.2 seconds.

The Volkswagen Golf is one of the safest cars in its class. Euro NCAP gave it a five-star rating in 2019, with impressively high adult occupant and child occupant protection ratings. Its safety assist score was decent, too.

Adaptive cruise control is standard fitment across the range. While that isn't to everyone's tastes (some prefer to adjust the cruise manually on busy motorways, where the adaptive system struggles), it also brings Front Assist. That can detect an impending collision, warning you or priming the brakes. If you don't react, the (again standard) autonomous emergency braking system will step in. 

Also fitted on every VW Golf is lane keep assist, a driver fatigue monitor and traffic sign recognition. There's also new tech called 'Car2X', which uses the car's on-board data connection to warn of imminent traffic hazards. It'll become cleverer in future, being able to communicate with other cars and even warn of approaching emergency service vehicles. 

The Volkswagen Golf isn't really designed to tow heavy loads or caravans - the Volkswagen Tiguan SUV is better in that respect - but it will do so if required. 

Depending on spec, the maximium towing capacity is between 1300kg and 1800 kg, a respectable figure. We don't recommend towing anything but a small caravan, however, because the Golf's low kerbweight makes it less safe and stable. Generally, the rule is you should never tow anything heavier than you're own car, and ideally you'd want your load to be no more than 85% of the car's kerbweight. 

Standard equipment on the Volkswagen Golf Life includes 16-inch Norfolk alloy wheels, automatic climate control (Climatronic), enhanced multi-function steering wheel, Dynamic Road Sign Display, cruise control system, and parking sensors at the front and rear. The new MIB4 Discover infotainment system, wireless App-Connect (wireless integration of smartphone apps with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), mobile phone interface, Digital Cockpit, new LED headlights and LED tail light clusters, and adaptive cruise control (ACC) are also fitted as standard.

The Volkswagen Golf Match adds details such as an exterior chrome package, 17-inch Nottingham alloy wheels in silver, rear tinted glass from the B-pillar backwards, keyless locking and starting system, Keyless Access with SAFELOCK, High Beam Assist and automatic sensing for switching between dipped and main beam. There’s also a rear-view camera as well as a leather multi-function steering wheel and adaptive cruise control (ACC) as standard.

The Volkswagen Golf Style is characterised by 17-inch alloy wheels, individualised bumpers in Style design with chrome strips, and performance headlights with illuminated Volkswagen logo at the front. Inside, the equipment is enhanced by sports comfort seats with ArtVelours covers, plus decorative dashboard and front door panel inserts in New Brushed Dark Metal. Interior ambient lighting with 30 colour options, Air Care Climatronic (three-zone) with rear air conditioning control panel, Rear Traffic Alert and lane change system, alongside an exit warning system, are also fitted as standard.

Outside, the sporty Volkswagen Golf R-Line differs from the Golf Style by distinctive bumpers in the R-Line design and numerous elements in high-gloss black, including the side sill trims. These features are complemented by black 17-inch alloy wheels with diamond-cut outer surfaces. There’s also the addition of sports suspension here. The interior is differentiated from the Golf Style by a leather and heated multi-function sports steering wheel with shift function (for the versions with automatic DSG), driving profile selection and premium sports seats with R-Line fabric seat covers.

The head-turning Volkswagen Golf Black Edition sits between R-Line and the performance models. Features in addition to those on R-Line include larger 18-inch Leeds alloy wheels, black exterior mirror housings, and heated front seats as part of the Winter Package. A lighting upgrade encompasses Matrix LED headlights with automatic headlight control, advanced dynamic light assist, plus poor weather light and entry lighting. There are also LED rear tail lights with dynamic turn signal, cornering and poor weather lights, an illuminated line between the headlights, and illuminated door handle recesses.