Volkswagen Golf Hatchback (09 on) - Review

Review by David Ross on
Last Updated: 12 April 2012
As the old adage goes, 'if it isn't broke, don't fix it,' and that's certainly the path Volkswagen has followed with the Golf. This, the sixth-generation Volkswagen Golf, is technically an all-new car but shares much with the previous model - that's no bad thing as the previous generation model was a superb all-rounder. The latest car is even better with a more upmarket interior, impressive refinement and a great range of efficient engines that also offer good performance. In terms of styling the Golf is hardly revolutionary, but on the move it feels even more solid and well built than before thanks to excellent noise insulation. It's not quite as enjoyable to drive as a Ford Focus but leads the way for sophistication among small hatchbacks. There have been quite a few notable advancements on this model including a sizeable reduction in wind noise thanks to a new door design, revised window seal as well as a new, thicker windscreen. New engine mounts have also been fitted to make the car more refined. Also, buyers can opt for Volkswagen’s new Adaptive Chassis Control that allows the driver to select from normal, comfort or sport modes to change suspension, steering and accelerator response settings. The Golf is now available with Park Assist that steers the car automatically when parallel parking and it also gets a driver’s knee airbag, bringing the total number of airbags fitted as standard to seven. A new head restraint system designed to reduce whiplash injuries and optional rear seatbelt detection sensors are included along with stability control. There are three specifications: S, Match and GT, but buyers can also opt for BlueMotion Technology models for better fuel economy and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. The Mk VI Golf is slightly shorter and lower than its predecessor, but it is wider offering more room for five adults. Headroom and loadspace remains the same as before, however. It is available in three- and five-door hatchback bodystyles and for the full Volkwagen Golf review read on…

Company Car Costs

P11D Value

The price of the car excluding road tax and first registration fee. This is used to calculate company car tax.

CO2 g/km

The carbon dioxide emissions of the car, which decides the company car tax band into which the car falls.

BIK Band

The percentage band used to calculate company car tax, determined by CO2 emissions of the car.

20% Tax / 40% Tax

The annual amount of company car tax payable based on the drivers income tax level, either at the basic rate or the higher rate.

Bluemotion

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

1.6 TDi (105bhp) BlueMotion 3d

£18,805

99

13%

£489

£978

£489

£978

1.6 TDi (105bhp) BlueMotion 5d

£19,390

99

13%

£504

£1,008

£504

£1,008

Twist

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

1.4 Twist 3d

£13,430

149

15%

£403

£806

£403

£806

1.4 Twist 5d

£14,015

149

15%

£420

£840

£420

£840

SE

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

1.4 TSI SE 3d

£17,250

144

15%

£517

£1,035

£517

£1,035

1.4 TSI SE 5d

£17,835

144

15%

£535

£1,070

£535

£1,070

1.4 TSI SE 5d DSG

£19,195

138

15%

£575

£1,151

£575

£1,151

1.6 TDi (105bhp) SE 3d

£18,160

119

13%

£472

£944

£472

£944

1.6 TDi (105bhp) SE 5d

£18,745

119

13%

£487

£974

£487

£974

1.6 TDi (105bhp) SE 5d DSG

£20,105

123

18%

£723

£1,447

£723

£1,447

1.6 BlueMotion TDI (105bhp) SE Stop/Start 3d

£17,640

107

13%

£458

£917

£458

£917

1.6 BlueMotion TDI (105bhp) SE Stop/Start 5d

£18,225

107

13%

£473

£947

£473

£947

1.6 BlueMotion TDI (105bhp) SE Stop/Start 5d DSG

£19,030

106

13%

£494

£989

£494

£989

1.6 TDi (105bhp) BlueMotion Tech SE 3d

£18,570

107

13%

£482

£965

£482

£965

1.6 TDi (105bhp) BlueMotion Tech SE 5d

£19,155

107

13%

£498

£996

£498

£996

2.0 TDI (110bhp) SE 3d

£17,270

128

18%

£621

£1,243

£621

£1,243

2.0 TDI (110bhp) SE 5d

£17,855

128

18%

£642

£1,285

£642

£1,285

2.0 TDI (140bhp) SE 3d

£19,370

126

18%

£697

£1,394

£697

£1,394

2.0 TDI (140bhp) SE 5d

£19,955

126

18%

£718

£1,436

£718

£1,436

2.0 TDI (140bhp) SE 5d DSG

£21,250

138

18%

£765

£1,530

£765

£1,530

S

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

1.2 TSI (85bhp) S 3d

£15,810

129

15%

£474

£948

£474

£948

1.2 TSI (85bhp) S 5d

£16,395

129

15%

£491

£983

£491

£983

1.2 TSI S 3d

£16,560

134

15%

£496

£993

£496

£993

1.2 TSI S 5d

£17,145

134

15%

£514

£1,028

£514

£1,028

1.2 TSI S 5d DSG

£18,665

134

15%

£560

£1,120

£560

£1,120

1.4 S 3d

£14,700

149

15%

£441

£882

£441

£882

1.4 S 5d

£15,285

149

15%

£458

£917

£458

£917

1.4 TSI S 3d

£17,060

144

15%

£511

£1,023

£511

£1,023

1.4 TSI S 5d

£17,645

144

15%

£529

£1,058

£529

£1,058

1.4 TSI S 5d DSG

£19,065

138

15%

£572

£1,144

£572

£1,144

1.6 S 3d

£14,755

166

15%

£442

£885

£442

£885

1.6 S 5d

£15,340

166

15%

£460

£920

£460

£920

1.6 S 5d DSG

£16,810

157

15%

£504

£1,008

£504

£1,008

1.6 TDi S 3d

£17,225

118

13%

£447

£895

£447

£895

1.6 TDi S 5d

£17,810

118

13%

£463

£926

£463

£926

1.6 TDi (105bhp) S 3d

£17,970

119

13%

£467

£934

£467

£934

1.6 TDi (105bhp) S 5d

£18,555

119

13%

£482

£964

£482

£964

1.6 TDi (105bhp) BlueMotion Tech SE 5d DSG

£20,515

109

13%

£533

£1,066

£533

£1,066

2.0 TDI (110bhp) S 3d

£16,490

128

18%

£593

£1,187

£593

£1,187

2.0 TDI (110bhp) S 5d

£17,075

128

18%

£614

£1,229

£614

£1,229

Match

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

1.4 TSI Match 3d

£18,345

144

15%

£550

£1,100

£550

£1,100

1.4 TSI Match 5d

£18,930

144

15%

£568

£1,136

£568

£1,136

1.4 TSI Match 5d DSG

£20,350

138

15%

£610

£1,221

£610

£1,221

1.6 TDi (105bhp) Match 3d

£19,255

119

13%

£500

£1,001

£500

£1,001

1.6 TDi (105bhp) Match 5d

£19,840

119

13%

£515

£1,031

£515

£1,031

1.6 TDi (105bhp) Match 5d DSG

£21,260

123

18%

£765

£1,530

£765

£1,530

1.6 TDi (105bhp) BlueMotion Tech Match 3d

£19,665

107

13%

£511

£1,022

£511

£1,022

1.6 TDi (105bhp) BlueMotion Tech Match 5d

£20,250

107

13%

£526

£1,053

£526

£1,053

1.6 TDi (105bhp) BlueMotion Tech Match 5d DSG

£21,670

109

13%

£563

£1,126

£563

£1,126

2.0 TDi (140bhp) Match 3d

£20,465

126

18%

£736

£1,473

£736

£1,473

2.0 TDi (140bhp) Match 5d

£21,050

126

18%

£757

£1,515

£757

£1,515

2.0 TDi (140bhp) Match 5d DSG

£22,405

138

18%

£806

£1,613

£806

£1,613

2.0 TDi (140bhp) BlueMotion Tech Match 3d

£20,875

114

13%

£542

£1,085

£542

£1,085

2.0 TDi (140bhp) BlueMotion Tech Match 5d

£21,460

114

13%

£558

£1,116

£558

£1,116

GTD

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

2.0 TDi (170bhp) GTD (Leather) 3d

£24,480

134

18%

£881

£1,762

£881

£1,762

2.0 TDi (170bhp) GTD (Leather) 3d DSG

£25,835

142

18%

£930

£1,860

£930

£1,860

2.0 TDi (170bhp) GTD (Leather) 5d

£25,065

134

18%

£902

£1,804

£902

£1,804

2.0 TDi (170bhp) GTD (Leather) 5d DSG

£26,420

142

18%

£951

£1,902

£951

£1,902

2.0 TDi (170bhp) GTD 3d

£24,465

134

18%

£880

£1,761

£880

£1,761

2.0 TDi (170bhp) GTD 3d DSG

£25,760

142

18%

£927

£1,854

£927

£1,854

2.0 TDi (170bhp) GTD 5d

£25,050

134

18%

£901

£1,803

£901

£1,803

2.0 TDi (170bhp) GTD 5d DSG

£26,345

142

18%

£948

£1,896

£948

£1,896

GT

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

1.4 TSI (160bhp) GT (Leather) 3d

£21,140

145

15%

£634

£1,268

£634

£1,268

1.4 TSI (160bhp) GT (Leather) 5d

£21,725

145

15%

£651

£1,303

£651

£1,303

1.4 TSI (160bhp) GT (Leather) 5d DSG

£23,145

139

15%

£694

£1,388

£694

£1,388

2.0 TDi (140bhp) GT (Leather) 3d

£21,775

126

18%

£784

£1,568

£784

£1,568

2.0 TDi (140bhp) GT (Leather) 5d

£22,360

126

18%

£805

£1,610

£805

£1,610

2.0 TDi (140bhp) GT (Leather) 5d DSG

£23,715

138

18%

£853

£1,707

£853

£1,707

2.0 TDi (140bhp) BlueMotion Tech GT (Leather) 3d

£22,185

114

13%

£576

£1,153

£576

£1,153

2.0 TDi (140bhp) BlueMotion Tech GT (Leather) 5d

£22,770

114

13%

£592

£1,184

£592

£1,184

1.4 TSI (160bhp) GT 3d

£20,985

145

15%

£629

£1,259

£629

£1,259

1.4 TSI (160bhp) GT 5d

£21,570

145

15%

£647

£1,294

£647

£1,294

1.4 TSI (160bhp) GT 5d DSG

£22,930

139

15%

£688

£1,376

£688

£1,376

2.0 TDI (140bhp) GT 3d

£21,620

126

18%

£778

£1,556

£778

£1,556

2.0 TDI (140bhp) GT 5d

£22,205

126

18%

£799

£1,598

£799

£1,598

2.0 TDI (140bhp) GT 5d DSG

£23,500

138

18%

£846

£1,692

£846

£1,692

2.0 TDi (140bhp) BlueMotion Tech GT 3d

£22,030

114

13%

£572

£1,145

£572

£1,145

2.0 TDi (140bhp) BlueMotion Tech GT 5d

£22,615

114

13%

£588

£1,176

£588

£1,176