Volkswagen Golf Hatchback (04-08) - Review

Review by Dan Harrison on
Last Updated: 28 September 2009
With an excellent drive, roomy interior and a five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating, the Volkswagen Golf is one of the best hatchbacks around. It's improved in every area over the car it replaced - it can carry four adults in comfort, is enjoyable and comfortable on the road and has most of the equipment you'll ever need. There's also an excellent range of engines that mix performance and economy. The best are the 1.4-litre TSI with 140bhp or 170bhp, or the excellent 2.0-litre TDI diesel, but all of them are more than up to the job. There's also an eco-friendly model - badged Bluemotion - which offers low emissions and superb economy. Hot hatch fans are well catered for too with the 200bhp Golf GTI and 240bhp R32, both of which are covered in separate reviews.

Facts & Figures

S

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1.4 S 3d

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1.4 S 3d (AC)

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1.4 S (80ps) 3d (AC)

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1.4 S 5d

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1.4 S 5d (AC)

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1.4 S (80ps) 5d (AC)

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1.4 S FSI 3d

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1.4 S FSI 3d (AC)

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1.4 S FSI 5d

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1.4 S FSI 5d (AC)

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1.4 S TSI (122ps) 3d (AC)

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1.4 S TSI (122ps) 5d (AC)

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1.4 S TSI (122ps) 5d DSG (AC)

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1.6 S FSI 3d

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1.6 S FSI 3d (AC)

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1.6 S FSI 5d

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1.6 S FSI 5d (AC)

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1.6 S FSI 5d Auto

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1.6 S FSI 5d Auto (AC)

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1.9 S TDI 3d

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1.9 S TDI 3d (AC)

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1.9 S TDI 5d

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1.9 S TDI 5d (AC)

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1.9 S TDI 5d (DPF) (AC)

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2.0 S SDI 3d

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2.0 S SDI 3d (AC)

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2.0 S SDI 5d

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2.0 S SDI 5d (AC)

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BlueMotion S

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1.9 BlueMotion S TDI 3d (DPF)

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1.9 BlueMotion S TDI 5d (DPF)

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Sport

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1.4 Sport TSI 3d

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1.4 Sport TSI 5d

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1.4 Sport TSI 5d DSG

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1.6 Sport FSI 3d

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1.6 Sport FSI 5d

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1.6 Sport FSI 5d Auto

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1.9 Sport TDI 3d

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1.9 Sport TDI 5d

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1.9 Sport TDI 5d DSG

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2.0 Sport TDI 3d

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2.0 Sport TDI 5d

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2.0 Sport TDI DPF 5d

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2.0 Sport TDI 4MOTION 5d

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2.0 Sport TDI 5d DSG

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2.0 Sport TDI DPF 5d DSG

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SE

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1.6 SE FSI 3d

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1.6 SE FSI 5d

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1.6 SE FSI 5d Auto

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1.9 SE TDI 3d

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1.9 SE TDI 5d

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1.9 SE TDI 5d DSG

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GT

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1.4 GT TSI 3d

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1.4 GT TSI 5d

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1.4 GT TSI 5d DSG

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2.0 GT FSI 3d

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2.0 GT FSI 4MOTION 3d

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2.0 GT FSI 5d

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2.0 GT FSI 4MOTION 5d

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2.0 GT FSI 5d Auto

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2.0 GT TDI 3d

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2.0 GT TDI 4MOTION 3d

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2.0 GT TDI 5d

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2.0 GT TDI DPF 5d

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2.0 GT TDI 4MOTION 5d

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2.0 GT TDI 5d DSG

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2.0 GT TDI DPF 5d DSG

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2.0 GT TDI (170ps) 3d

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2.0 GT TDI (170ps) 5d

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2.0 GT TDI (170ps) 5d DSG

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GT Sport

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1.4 GT Sport TSI 3d

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1.4 GT Sport TSI 5d

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1.4 GT Sport TSI 5d DSG

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1.4 GT Sport TSI (170ps) 3d

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1.4 GT Sport TSI (170ps) 5d

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1.4 GT Sport TSI (170ps) 5d DSG

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2.0 GT Sport TDI 3d

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2.0 GT Sport TDI 5d

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2.0 GT Sport TDI DPF 5d

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2.0 GT Sport TDI 5d DSG

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2.0 GT Sport TDI DPF 5d DSG

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2.0 GT Sport TDI DPF (170ps) 3d

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2.0 GT Sport TDI DPF (170ps) 5d

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2.0 GT Sport TDI DPF (170ps) 5d DSG

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BlueMotion Match

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1.9 BlueMotion Match TDI 5d (DPF)

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Match

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1.4 Match TSI (122ps) 5d

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1.4 Match TSI (122ps) 5d DSG

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1.6 Match FSI 5d

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1.6 Match FSI 5d Auto

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1.9 Match TDI 5d

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1.9 Match TDI 5d (DPF)

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1.9 Match TDI 5d DSG

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1.9 Match TDI DPF (7) 5d DSG

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GT Sport [Lthr]

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1.4 GT Sport L TSI 3d

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1.4 GT Sport L TSI 5d

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1.4 GT Sport L TSI 5d DSG

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1.4 GT Sport L TSI 170 3d

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1.4 GT Sport L TSI 170 5d

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1.4 GT Sport L TSI 170 5d DSG

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2.0 GT Sport L TDI 3d

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2.0 GT Sport L TDI 5d

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2.0 GT Sport L TDI DPF 5d

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2.0 GT Sport L TDI 5d DSG

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2.0 GT Sport L TDI DPF 5d DSG

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2.0 GT Sport L TDI (170) DPF 3d

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2.0 GT Sport L TDI (170) DPF 5d

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2.0 GT Sport L TDI (170) DPF 5d DSG

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