Volkswagen Golf

In the 1970s, Volkswagen began its transition away from its iconic Beetle to the Golf. More than 45 years later, the 2021 Golf continues as the brand's familiar hatchback. But this is pretty much the end of the line for the car, at least in the United States. Next year, only the redesigned Golf GTI and Golf R (reviewed separately) will make the trip from Germany to our shores. The regular Golf will be discontinued as Volkswagen figures most of us would rather buy an SUV.

There's no grand send-off for the 2021 car. It's still a practical and comfortable four-door hatchback. Remarkably, it remains available with a manual gearbox, if you're into that sort of thing. While there is a certain appeal to a Golf's cloak of invisibility, we think most small-hatchback shoppers would be happier with the Golf GTI or hatchback versions of the Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla. Find out why by reading our Expert Rating below.

Which Golf does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Golf comes only in TSI trim, so you'll just have to choose your transmission type and select from five exterior and two interior colors, as well any dealer-installed accessories. If you're seeking more than a standard Golf offers, consider the sporty Golf GTI, which adds plenty of power and personality to the car.

Choosing a 2021 Volkswagen Golf is easy. It comes one way, with TSI trim and a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder (147 horsepower, 184 lb-ft) engine. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and an eight-speed automatic optional. Both power the Golf's front wheels. Highlighted features include:

TSI Comes standard with:

16-inch alloy wheels
Automatic headlights
Rain-sensing windshield wipers
Panoramic sunroof
Keyless entry with push-button engine start
Simulated leather seats
Heated front seats
6.5-inch center touchscreen
VW's Car-Net connected services including onboard 4G Wi-Fi
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)