2021 Volkswagen Golf review

What We Like

Hatchback versatility: With up to 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space, the Volkswagen Golf can hold more than the Mazda3 or Toyota Corolla hatchbacks. Only the Honda Civic hatchback can carry more, and only by a few cubic feet. The rear seats fold flat into the floor and also offer a convenient center pass-through for longer objects, giving you more flexibility for cargo and passengers.

Smooth ride and quiet cabin: The Golf's ride quality is notable for its ability to smooth over road imperfections with ease. At the same time, it has a composed and confident demeanor on the highway and is not overly soft or floaty. Helping to further reduce driver fatigue, the cabin remains pleasantly silent, with barely detectable levels of road or wind noise.

Interior layout: The Golf’s uncluttered dash and easy-to-reach controls are welcome nods to the car’s Germanic heritage. Previous Volkswagen owners will be immediately familiar with the steering wheel controls, and the learning curve isn’t so steep that newcomers won’t get the hang of it quickly. The upright and boxy styling results in excellent visibility.

What Needs Improvement

Lacks some features: The Golf's outdated 6.5-inch infotainment screen is small when compared to rivals' and, unfortunately, there's no way to upgrade to the larger displays found in other Volkswagen vehicles. Compounding matters is that there's only one USB port for the entire car, leaving passengers without a way to charge phones. The Golf is also missing a few driver-assist features such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance.