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Volkswagen Golf Estate (2013 – 2020) Review

2019 Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TSI 300 R 5dr 4MOTION DSG Volkswagen Golf
2.0 TSI 300 R 5dr 4MOTION DSG
£27,523
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Volkswagen Golf Estate (2013 – 2020) At A Glance

4/5

+Good looking and well thought out design. Probably the best compact estate car available. Volkswagen quality interior. Refined at speed.

-Not cheap. Five year 90k mile warranty costs £550 extra.

Insurance Groups are between 11–30
On average it achieves 79% of the official MPG figure

The load carrying version of the Golf offers the same excellent build quality, relaxed driving and high levels of technology as the hatchback, but with the added benefit of increased practicality thanks to a usefully large and well shaped load area.

From the driver’s seat it’s more or less impossible to tell the Golf Estate apart from its hatchback counterpart. Not only does it look the same but everything from the steering feel and ride quality to the comfort and performance is similar so there's no compromise for choosing an estate version. Even the engine range and trim structure is the same.

The differences only really become apparent when you open the boot, which has a capacity of 605 litres with the seats in place and 1620 litres with the seats folded forward. The boot floor is flat and low, so loading and unloading is very easy, plus there is a false floor to store items under and two storage bins for odds and ends.

The engine range kicks off with a 1.2-litre 85PS petrol, with a choice of a further three petrol engines up to 140PS. There are also four diesel engines ranging from a 90PS 1.6 TDI to a 150PS 2.0-litre TDI. The most efficient engine is the 110PS BlueMotion, which manages an official 85.6mpg with emissions of 87g/km.

The Golf Estate manages to combine everything that’s good about the Golf hatchback with all the advantages you’d expect of an estate, which makes it a compelling buy. However it is worth remembering that the SEAT Leon ST and Skoda Octavia estate offer a very similar package - in fact they're based on the same platform - but are both cheaper.

What do owners think of the Volkswagen Golf Estate (2013 – 2020)? Check out our Owners' Reviews from people who live with the car day in, day out.

Real MPG average for a Volkswagen Golf Estate (2013 – 2020)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

79%

Real MPG

34–68 mpg

MPGs submitted

317

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Reviews for Volkswagen Golf Estate (2013 – 2020)'s top 3 rivals

Volkswagen Golf
4/5
Plenty of second-hand choice, excellent cabin quality, efficient petrol and diesel engines.
Skoda Octavia
5/5
Saloon shape but actually a practical hatchback. Far superior interior quality than outgoing model. Very...
Peugeot 308
4/5
Sharp looks, efficient and flexible engine range, good standard specification, European Car of the Year...

Ask Honest John

The gearbox system has failed in my newly-bought 2017 car. Is the dealer liable?
"I need your advice, please. I purchased a 2017 Volkswagen Golf Estate 4 months ago from an independent dealer. The car had done 15,000 miles with an elderly lady and had been well maintained under the lease agreement with the dealer. Last week, the clutch suddenly failed on the A303, with a subsequent investigation by the garage finding the mechatronic system had failed so I have a huge bill for the repairs. Although the car is out of the VW standard 3-year warranty, do I have any form of redress with VW? Surely for this to happen after 24,000 miles seems extraordinary given that VW is a good quality brand. Grateful for any advice you have on this. Thank you."
The dealer that sold you the car is liable for the faulty gearbox. I think you have strong grounds to claim the gearbox problems were present or developing at the time of sale. Given that you've had the car for less than six months, the dealer should repair the car or give you a refund, minus a fair deduction for the use you've already had from the vehicle. For your consumer rights, see: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/problems-with-a-new-or-used-car-your-consumer-rights
Answered by Dan Powell
A car I'm interested in is registered as another model - is this a mistake?
"I've found a Volkswagen Golf Estate that seems a good buy in a car supermarket. I thought I would check the MoT history and it comes up as a Jetta. When I rang the dealer he says he’s not sure why that would be, and it can only be some kind of mistake. The MoT mileages seem to match up pretty well and everything else looks ok. Is it possible that an error like this could occur? Also, if I purchased it and it was proved to be dodgy, would I be entitled to a refund?"
It sounds like a mistake made somewhere between the dealer and the DVLA when registering the car, but I'd definitely want to see it in person before any money changes hands. Whether you could reject it would depend on what the hypothetical issue was. If it was a major issue, or the car wasn't fit for purpose then you could reject it under the Consumer Rights Act.
Answered by Georgia Petrie
Can you suggest a family car for London and occasional longer drives?
"We have a maximum budget of £14,000 for a reliable, used SUV or estate with good economy and lots of space. We were originally drawn to the Renault Kadjar having hired them a few times, liking the panoramic roof, the great sound system, driving comfort and huge boot. But living in London we really want to avoid diesel cars. The real MPG/economy of the petrol Kadjar engines raised concerns. Ok for driving around London but worried the much longer runs to we regularly do would cost more than other more economical cars. We're finding it difficult to find something that fits our needs. Thanks."
It's a tricky one, but don't write off a diesel Kadjar. It might make sense, as long as you take it for a good run every 300 miles or so for the diesel particulate filter (DPF) to regenerate. It'll be ULEZ compliant and more efficient than a petrol on your trips further afield. If you do want a petrol, you'll probably have to swallow worse fuel economy. An estate like the Skoda Octavia might be a good compromise. You could also look at a Volkswagen Golf estate if you'd prefer a slightly plusher interior. Also look at the Renault Megane.
Answered by Andrew Brady
My new car seems to have an issue with the paintwork - what can I do to rectify this?
"I have a new Volkswagen Golf Estate with metallic paint. I purchased the car on February 1 2020 and have covered 223 miles. Today is the first day the car has been out in prolonged sunshine and I have noticed that it has a very visible hologram in the back wing. On close inspection, I can see the impression of a rotary polisher and - where this can be seen - the paint is dull and has lost its shine. I have cleaned the car once with a running hose, soft sponge and microfibre cloth. I have emailed the garage and would be grateful if you would let me know what sort of response I should expect. Can this be rectified?"
This reads like the dealer has gone overboard with the pre-sale bodywork prep and damaged the paintwork. They might be able to fix it with a specialist paintwork polish. Otherwise the wing will need to be resprayed. For your consumer rights, see: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/how-to-reject-a-car-your-consumer-rights
Answered by Dan Powell
More Questions

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