Volkswagen Golf used car guide: Does it live up to the reputation?

The Golf is so adaptable it can go up against anything from a Ford Focus to a Mercedes A-Class

There are a lot of Golfs to choose from so that means prices are sensible and parts are plentiful

The VW Golf in its many iterations is simply a constant on the road. Because it’s so adaptable it can go up against anything from a Ford Focus to a Mercedes A-Class and give a good account of itself.

Our choice would be the Mk6 version since that got a full five stars from the What Car? team. In contrast to the current model which gets a four-star rating.

It’s a very rounded vehicle, capable of a lot of tasks and demands. Handling is sharp yet the ride is extremely comfortable, which is the perfect combination. And to go with that is a wide range of engines, from petrol to diesel, frugal to performance.

Our choice would be the 2.0-litre 148bhp diesel because of its mix of performance and economy but, if you wanted a petrol version, then the 1.4-litre 122 engine has enough power and delivers it very smoothly.

There are a lot to choose from so that means prices are sensible and parts are plentiful. There shouldn’t be that many problems but, as with any diesel engine, do check the DPF (diesel particulate filter) as that can clog expensively if the car has just been doing short, low-speed runs. The auto gearboxes can cause problems too, so give it a good workout before handing over your money.

How much money? Because of the range of vehicles and ages, you could be looking anywhere from £3500 to £7000, although a GTI will start another grand up on that top price. With the diesels managing around 50mpg and plentiful parts, ownership shouldn’t be that expensive for what is still a premium car.