Used Volkswagen Golf cars for sale ...

The Focus also offers more head- and legroom for rear seat passengers. Up front, though, there are no such complaints. Build quality is excellent - at least on this generation of Golf, the VW’s classy interior still leads the way. The Golf driver gets a good deal, too, thanks to big, comfortable, easy-to-adjust seats and steering that adjusts for both rake and reach. As a long-distance cruiser, the Golf is right in its element and it rides well on the motorway. It’s not so impressive on country roads, where there’s too much bounce and body roll, but things improve with a little weight on board - no bad thing in an estate. Finally, safety is good, with a four-star Euro NCAP rating and decent security.

Running Costs
Tracking down a good example may a take a little while, as the Golf estate never got close to matching the hatchback in terms of popularity. For that reason, it can be cheaper to buy than the hatch, but it will still be more expensive than a Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra estate. Service intervals are every 12 months or 10,000 miles, which is par for the course, but you may well find the work more expensive. At a VW dealer, you’ll find that their hourly rates are slightly above the class average. Independent experts are a little more expensive than their Ford counterparts, too. At least robust security helps keep the Golf’s insurance costs down. Only the 1.8 turbo and 2.3 V5 could be classified as expensive, attracting group 14 and 15 ratings. The V5 can be expensive to fuel, as it returns only 27mpg in auto guise. The most economical model in the range is the 56mpg 110bhp TDI; the 130bhp version still offers a very respectable 51mpg.

Hatchback
This version of the Golf may not look that different to previous models, but there’s been a revolution under the skin. For a start, no Golf has ever had so much room up front, so the driver is guaranteed a comfortable time, and it’s better still for rear-seat passengers. There’s enough room for two adults or three children in the back seat, and the boot is a generous size. Second, and perhaps most surprising, this Golf is also a cracking drive. Other than some clatter from the diesel engines at idle, refinement is excellent at all speeds and the car is composed and stable on the motorway. What’s most impressive is the sharp handling through the bends, making this a car you can really enjoy driving. It’s just a shame that, although the power steering does weight up as the speeds increase, it never really gives enough feedback.

Running Costs
A Golf is an expensive option compared with its rivals and, with the likes of the Vauxhall Astra and Ford Focus now coming much closer in terms of quality, it can be difficult to justify that extra. On the other hand, you’re certainly buying more prestige with a Golf, and costs for fuel and insurance are no worse than on its rivals. For the best fuel economy, you’ll naturally need to go for one of the diesels, where you can expect the best part of 50mpg. However, even the 1.6 FSI petrols can return over 40mpg and, with the price premium attached to diesels, these petrol models can make more sense financially unless you plan to cover above average miles. However, avoid the 4Motion models, which suffer a significant penalty in fuel economy.