Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £11,945 to £18,505
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 Golf Mk 5 has scored the full five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests, with a good three stars for pedestrian safety and four in the new child protection test - an excellent result all-round. Its torsional rigidity has been improved by no less than 80 percent, which not only aids handling precision but ensures a stiffer, stronger structure. The all-new floorpan has more sophisticated reinforcements and impact force distribution, and all the panels and pillars are tougher.
Standard specification includes ABS anti-lock brakes, ESP electronic stability programme, active front head restraints, three rear three-point seatbelts, ISOFIX child seat mounting points, front and side airbags and full-length 'curtain' head 'bags, with rear side 'bags optional in five-door versions.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volkswagen Golf
wrote on 20 06 2007
wrote on 14 10 2006
wrote on 06 06 2006