Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Volkswagen Golf review - Practicality & boot space

Plenty of room for four adults but there are more spacious alternatives

Carbuyer Rating

4.1 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.0 out of 5

Read owner reviews
Practicality & boot space Rating

4.0 out of 5

It might be new but the Mk8 Golf is based on the same MQB platform as before, so interior space is almost identical. Just like before, it's average for the class, with plenty of room for adults and a fairly average-size boot.

Volkswagen Golf interior space & storage

One virtue of the Golf has always been a highly adjustable driving position, and that certainly hasn't changed. The steering wheel has a good range of movement for reach and rake, and the seat can accommodate adults of all shapes and sizes, even those well over six-feet tall. There's just about enough room for three adults in the back, although it's better suited to four people as there's a transmission tunnel running through the middle of the car. If you need more space the Skoda Octavia still rules to roost, but the Ford Focus also has more generous room for rear passengers, with a more comfortable middle position for a fifth passenger.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Visibility is excellent, with a better view out than the more sporty Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1 Series, both of which have a more low-slung shape. Standard front and rear parking sensors help judge distances, but you'll need to pay extra for a rear-view camera, which is standard in some rivals.

Most of the interior storage is also well thought out – as you’d hope for a car in its eighth generation. The phone charging cubby is angled so your phone won’t move around while driving, and the glovebox is deep and useful. The central cubby isn’t as large as the Astra’s, however, and the narrow slot to the left of the gear selector isn’t big enough to be of much use.

Boot space

Boot space is virtually unchanged at 381 litres, even in the eTSI mild-hybrid version, which has its battery pack hidden under the passenger seat. Fold the rear seats down and there's 1,237 litres of space. This is slightly bigger than the Ford Focus (375 litres), on a par with rivals like the Kia Ceed, but the Honda Civic (478 litres) and Skoda Octavia (590 litres) are much bigger.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best?

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.0 TSI Active 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £24,995

Most Economical

  • Name
    1.0 TSI Active 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £24,995

Fastest

  • Name
    2.0 TDI 150 Style 5dr DSG
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £32,175

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Volkswagen Golf review – almost perfect, but less intuitive
Volkswagen Golf Black Edition front 3/4 tracking
In-depth reviews
26 Mar 2024

Volkswagen Golf review – almost perfect, but less intuitive

Top 9 most economical cars 2024
Most economical cars
Best cars
13 Mar 2024

Top 9 most economical cars 2024

Most Popular

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?
Polestar 4 Prototype drive front quarter
News
22 Mar 2024

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
22 Mar 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
The best electric cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024