Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £11,945 to £20,460
Image, strong residual values, all-round competence, the hatch to aspire to.
Engines a bit noisy, slightly uninvolving and remote-feeling, conservative styling and character, minor cabin quality short-cuts.
The Mk 5 Golf sets the benchmark again in this class for sheer all-round desirability, though the Focus is the sharper drive.
The largest cost in running any new car is always depreciation, and the Golf consistently returns the highest residual values in the class, second-hand demand is so strong.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volkswagen Golf
wrote on 20 06 2007
wrote on 14 10 2006
wrote on 06 06 2006