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.
4 out of 5

Other Volkswagen reviews

4.5 out of 5

Safety

This generation Golf was the first Volkswagen to achieve a top five-star Euro NCAP crash test result. In addition, every car has twin front airbags passenger, driver and front passenger side airbags, head airbags, anti-whiplash protection, five three-point seatbelts and Isofix child-seat anchor points. All cars have an alarm, immobiliser and a stereo that's unique to the car, as well as a key that's difficult to copy.

NCAP Test

Euro NCAP logo Euro NCAP

Provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe.

Visit Euro NCAP for more info

  • Adult Occupant Rating

    5 out of 5

  • Child Protection Rating

    4 out of 5

  • Pedestrian Test Rating

    3 out of 5
4 out of 5

Reliability

There were a handful of minor teething problems, which have been cleared up under warranty. Aside from that, this Golf is proving to be very reliable.

Car check problem points

Body

No problems reported.

Engine/Gearbox

No problems reported.

Other

No problems reported.