Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £11,945 to £20,460
Interior appearance and quality, good crash protection, image, diesel's economy, strong residual values.
Quality varies, less appealing for keen drivers, new model now available, mushy pedals, slightly claustrophobic interior.
A bit long in the tooth but still a desirable and reasonable choice.
The Golf's always one of the most desirable cars in this class, and with good reason, because it seems like it's one of the best built. The quality of the interior, in particular, is excellent and became a benchmark for other manufacturers to follow.
This review is of the fourth-generation car that was replaced by an all-new model early in 2004.
There are three- and five-door hatchbacks, an estate, and a cabriolet - which is actually based on the previous, third-generation Golf. The engine range is huge and includes some hot hatches - the GTI, V5, V6 4Motion and R32 - which are reviewed separately.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volkswagen Golf
wrote on 20 06 2007
wrote on 14 10 2006
wrote on 06 06 2006