Volkswagen Golf Estate Review 2024

In a world where everyone seems to want an SUV, traditional family wagons such as the Volkswagen Golf Estate are a dying breed. However, this sophisticated load lugger proves that an estate car can still be a great, one-car-fits-all choice.

The Volkswagen Golf Estate has been part of the Golf range for three decades, offering a more capacious alternative to the ubiquitous hatchback version. With a large boot and a classless image, the Golf Estate has established itself as the wagon of choice for those who want an upmarket car without a premium price tag. 

In this eighth-generation Golf guise, the estate is arguably better looking than the regular hatchback. Neat proportions mean it avoids appearing like a Golf with extra bodywork tacked on. We think it’s actually rather handsome. 

The latest Golf Estate’s smoother bodywork hasn’t come at the expense of interior space. The Golf Estate can carry 611 litres of luggage with the rear seats in place, or a very useful 1642 litres with them folded flat. Although this doesn’t quite match the closely related Skoda Octavia Estate, it does put the Volkswagen Golf Estate ahead of the Ford Focus Estate. Interior space for passengers is competitive with class rivals, too, even if the back bench isn’t hugely accommodating. 

Despite the clamour for electrification, Volkswagen has so far resisted offering the Golf Estate with a plug-in hybrid (or indeed fully electric) drivetrain. Instead, more traditional petrol and diesel engines remain the order of the day, but these suit the demands of the Golf Estate – and its likely owners – very well. 

For maximum performance, Volkswagen offers the Golf Estate in R format. This halo model comes with more than 320PS, and is unique and special enough to deserve its own review. 

There is also a diesel-only Golf Estate Alltrack, which brings increased ride height and standard all-wheel drive to the party. Think of it as a charming halfway-house between an estate car and an SUV. We’ve covered this model separately, too.

Other than the racy R version (read our Golf R review for more detail), the Golf Estate majors on comfort and refinement. Models with more powerful engines gain a more complex multi-link rear suspension setup, but even this doesn’t transform the Golf into a car you’d drive just for fun. A Ford Focus Estate, or even the SEAT Leon Estate, will satisfy keen drivers more.

Although more expensive than its rivals, the Golf Estate counters with Volkswagen’s generous level of standard specification. Satellite navigation, LED headlights and climate control air-con are all fitted as standard. It is just a shame that the interior itself can feel cheap in places, and that drivers are saddled with the frustrating Innovision infotainment setup. 

Despite the infuriating touchscreen media system (more on this later), and an interior that seems built to a cost, the Volkswagen Golf Estate still delivers on its promise of being a practical family car. Add in a refined driving experience and those classy looks, and the Golf Estate remains an appealing alternative to yet another small SUV.  

The Volkswagen Golf Estate’s handling is also partly dictated by engine choice. Smaller-engined models use simple torsion beam rear suspension, while more powerful versions get an advanced multi-link setup. 

Cars with the torsion beam benefit from a more comfortable ride, but are less engaging to drive. The multi-link suspension gives the Golf Estate better handling, with R-Line models slightly firmer still. None of this makes the Golf feel particularly sporty, but it isn’t intended to be. 

Instead, the Golf Estate provides sensible and predictable handling, but a Ford Focus Estate or SEAT Leon Estate will be more fun. The Golf’s steering is at least light and direct, and even the R-Line’s suspension manages to avoid feeling uncomfortable. 

Volkswagen offers Dynamic Chassis Control as a £955 option, allowing the driver to pick between Normal, Comfort, and Sport settings. Selecting Comfort mode makes the Golf Estate feel particularly plush, and suits its nature.

The Volkswagen Golf Estate engine range includes a choice of two petrol engines, plus a single diesel. Mild-hybrid technology is included on certain petrol models, combined with seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission. This ‘eTSI’ system aids acceleration, and is recharged under braking. 

Kicking-off the petrol range is a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that produces 110PS. It comes as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, and helps the Golf Estate accelerate from 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds. Although it never feels slow, even on the motorway, being fully laden does have a noticeable effect on performance.

Volkswagen offers its 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine in both 130PS and 150PS flavours. The former is available on Life and Style trim levels, and sees the 0-62mph time reduced to 9.6 seconds. Opting for the 150PS variant improves performance further, with a 0-62mph sprint in 8.7 seconds. Both make the Golf Estate feel suitably quicker, and better suited to carrying heavy loads. 

For those covering bigger mileages, or regularly making use of the Golf Estate’s load capacity, the 2.0-litre diesel engines make more sense. The 115PS version is likely to be the most popular choice with fleet managers, thanks to its combination of economy and flexibility. 

However, the 150PS diesel does feel far punchier on the road, and never overwhelmed when laden. A 0-62mph time of 8.7 seconds does not tell the full story, with a muscular 340Nm of torque helping this diesel engine feel effective whatever the circumstances.

When tested by Euro NCAP, the standard Volkswagen Golf was awarded a top five-star rating. This makes it one of the safest new cars around, with high scores for protecting both adult and child occupants.

A host of standard safety equipment means the Golf Estate should perform just as well at keeping everyone safe. Lane-keeping assist, a driver alert system and adaptive cruise control with emergency braking are all included. Volkswagen’s ‘Car2X’ system is also fitted, using an onboard data connection to warn the driver (and other cars) of potential hazards.

Volkswagen offers a towbar as a factory-fit option for the Golf Estate, knowing that it will appeal to caravanners. All versions can pull at least 1500kg, regardless of the engine fitted. 

The off-road-ready Alltrack is the most capable Golf Estate for towing: able to haul up to 2,000kg. 

Practicality is the Volkswagen Golf Estate’s main draw, with a large boot that will accommodate much more than the hatchback version. The headline figures are a luggage capacity of 611 litres with the rear seats in place, increasing to a fairly cavernous 1642 litres when the back bench is folded flat. 

This is a larger boot than the previous (Mk7) version of the Golf Estate, although the VW Golf Estate still lags behind the equivalent Skoda Octavia Estate in this regard. That car offers 640 litres with the rear seats up, swelling to 1700 litres. At least the Golf Estate benefits from a variable-height boot floor, with various lashing points and LED lighting found throughout the cargo area. A stowable load cover can keep valuables out of sight, too.  

The rest of the VW Golf Estate is just like the hatchback model. It has plenty of space for driver and passenger in the front, with generous levels of headroom and legroom. Space in the back seats is a little tighter, with the Golf working best as a four-seat car. 

n the past, A Volkswagen Golf Estate would have boasted class-leading interior quality. But the world has moved on, and almost every manufacturer wants to pitch itself as a premium brand these days. 

For the Golf Estate, this means an interior that is merely par for the course. Certain trim parts can feel a little cheap, but others still exude a sense of class. A standard leather-wrapped steering wheel helps lift the cabin, as does the ambient lighting. 

Everything feels like it should meet the demands of an active family, just without the upmarket feel found in previous Golfs. 

Perhaps the greatest drawback to buying a new Golf Estate is that it comes fitted with Volkswagen’s Innovision infotainment system. This includes a 10.25-inch driver display, with multiple different view modes, along with a 10.0-inch central multimedia touchscreen. 

As per the current trend, Volkswagen has opted to use the central screen to control almost every interior function. From the climate control to the radio and vehicle settings, nearly everything requires diving into multiple menus and sub-menus. Nothing feels intuitive, and familiarity hardly seems to make the process any easier.

There are touch-sensitive sliders beneath the touchscreen to adjust the cabin temperature and audio volume, but even these are a frustrating experience, not least due to a lack of backlighting at night. Some physical buttons can be found lower down the dashboard, but these only act as shortcuts to other menus. 

To complete the experience, R-Line Golf Estates come with haptic touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel. These, frankly, do not make interacting with the car any easier. 

At least all Golf Estates come with satellite navigation, DAB radio and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility as standard.

At the time of writing, prices for the Volkswagen Golf Estate start at just under £28,000 for the Life model with a 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine. This is around £3,000 more expensive than an equivalent SEAT Leon or Skoda Octavia. 

Moving further up the model range sees the fancier Style version priced from just over £30,000, while the sporty R-Line costs closer to £32,000. Given the popularity of the Volkswagen Golf, you are also likely to find discounts on nearly-new and pre-registered models.

Volkswagen knows the Golf Estate is likely to be purchased by cost-conscious fleet managers, so it has worked hard to ensure the car can be run on a budget. This obviously benefits private buyers, too.

For maximum economy, the 2.0-litre diesel engine is the best choice. In Life trim, the 115PS version can achieve an official WLTP fuel consumption figure of up to 62.8mpg, regardless of whether you pick a manual or DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Volkswagen expects this to be the top-selling Golf Estate model. 

Opting for the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine sees the potential for 54.3mpg with the DSG auto transmission, or 51.4mpg if you shift gears yourself with the manual. Honest John readers can offer you their views on how achievable these numbers are in the real world.

When it comes to annual VED (more commonly known as road tax) the Golf Estate should not provide too many shocks, provided you are careful with trim levels. Most versions produce less than 131g/km of CO2, meaning owners will have to pay a first-year VED rate of £210. Those that do creep above the 131g/km mark, including higher-spec models with the 1.5-litre petrol engine, will have to pay £255 instead. After the first year, all versions will be liable for a £180 VED charge.

Servicing costs for the Golf Estate should be manageable, with Volkswagen offering a fixed-price deal to cover the first two services. A three-year or 60,000-mile warranty is included as standard across the Golf range. 

The Volkswagen Golf Estate range starts with Life trim, although this certainly isn’t bargain-basement spec.

Golf Estate Life cars come with automatic LED headlights, LED tail lights, a set of 16-inch ‘Norfolk’ alloy wheels and black roof rails. A black finish is used for the front grille, but the rear spoiler, side mirrors and door handles are all body-coloured. There are front and rear parking sensors, too.

On the inside, the Golf Estate Life comes with seats finished in ‘Maze’ cloth trim, with Nature Cross Brushed decorative inserts on the dashboard and front door panels. A leather-wrapped steering wheel is also standard, and is adjustable for both height and reach.

Ambient lighting with a choice of 10 colours, single-zone climate control, and keyless start are other benefits inside. All Golf Estates come with the 10.0-inch Innovision multimedia touchscreen, combined with a 10.25-inch digital dashboard. 

Satellite navigation is integrated into the infotainment system, along with DAB radio and wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity. Android Auto is available through a wired USB-C connection, with wireless smartphone charging included as well.  

Moving up to the Volkswagen Golf Estate Style version brings a more upmarket feel. This starts with 17-inch ‘Belmont’ alloy wheels, along with chrome trim surrounding the lower window edges. Upgraded LED Plus headlights feature a cornering function, with high beam assist included.

Style trim also sees sports seats fitted, with Art Velours and microfibre upholstery. Matt aluminium details are found on the steering wheel, with Luxury Brown Wood dashboard inserts and illuminated footwells. The climate control is upgraded to a three-zone setup, with the ambient lighting options boosted to 30 colours. 

Topping the range is the Golf Estate R-Line, with 17-inch ‘Valencia’ alloy wheels, a bespoke R-Line bodykit, tinted rear glass and sports suspension.

Its sports seats come with R-Line branding, plus you get a heated sports steering wheel, stainless steel pedals and black headlining. LED footwell lighting, R-Line door sill protectors and ‘Carbon Grey’ dashboard trim complete the sporty makeover.