VW Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is 38 and like the rest of us, it just keeps getting better with age.On the road, the new model is composed and responsive. Steering is beautifully weighted and it is a joy to drive. The new technology and lighter weight pay dividends for fuel economy and the very frugal 1.6 TDi is capable of 74.3 mpg on a combination of city and motorway driving. Engine options include three petrol engines and two diesel. The 1.4 TSI with Active Cylinder Technology is a petrol engine well worth considering. The Golf GTi arrives later this year with a 227bhp two-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged engine.
Starting Price: €19,995
Our opinion: The Mk7 Golf is a refined, smarter and polished version of its predecessor. Thirty-eight years and 29 million cars later, the seventh generation Golf is the car by which all other hatchbacks should be measured.
