Rating

Quick Summary

Recommended. Volkswagen has upped the anté with the mk6 Golf. Excellent composure, refinement and superior quality make it one of the best cars in its class.

Road Test

At first glance it may be difficult to tell the difference between this new Golf and its predecessor. It's the same size car as before so there's no extra legroom or space in the boot, but then this was never a problem in the previous car anyway. The facelift has given the Golf much sharper looks though, as it takes on some of the design features from the Scirocco. Inside, the Golf benefits from an updated dashboard and additional soft-touch materials around the cabin, and although there are few obvious changes, the build quality is superb. Volkswagen has gone to exceptional lengths to improve the Golf's soundproofing by fitting an additional layer in the windscreen and ultra aerodynamic wing mirrors to ensure the mk6 Golf is quieter than ever. And it's noticeable too. The level of refinement is such that the Golf feels like a much larger car and certainly deserves a place towards the premium end of its class.

The Golf is an effortless car to drive, and feels composed and solid on the road. Bumps are handled with very little drama and the car's handling is competent - the chassis has remained largely unchanged from the mk5 Golf.

There is a wide and decent range of engines on offer from the entry-level 1.4-litre 4 cylinder petrol unit, up to the 2.0-litre TDI 140. The real peach of the range is the 1.4 TSI petrol engine - both turbocharged and supercharged - available in 122 and 160bhp variants. Both feel responsive and also brisk; the 122bhp version offers only slightly less performance than the TDI 140 and both 1.4 engines will return an impressive 45mpg. Ultimately it will depend on personal preference as to which engine fits the bill, but none will disappoint.

The only downside to the Golf is that with refinement and quality there is usually a price to pay, and certainly if you're looking for mid-spec equipment levels together with one of the higher powered TSI or TDI engines the premium can get quite steep. That said, CO2 is less than 150g/km on most models (bar the 1.6-litre petrol) so running costs should be pretty decent.

The Golf has always set the benchmark for quality and refinement and, as other brands have edged ever closer, Volkswagen appears to have moved the goalposts once more. The Golf isn't the most dynamic car in its class, but the ease of driving, and its ability to rack up mileage whilst providing the sort of comfort and refinement of a car in the class above, makes it very easy car to recommend.

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