With an excellent drive, roomy interior and a five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating, the VW Golf is one of the best hatchbacks around. It's improved in every area over the car it replaced - it can carry four adults in comfort, is enjoyable and comfortable on the road and has most of the equipment you'll ever need. There's also an excellent range of engines that mix performance and economy. The best are the 1.4-litre TSI with 140 or 170bhp, or the excellent 2.0-litre TDI diesel, but all of them are more than up to the job. There's also an eco-friendly model - badged Bluemotion - which offers low emissions and superb economy. Hot hatch fans are well catered for too with the 200bhp Golf GTi and 240bhp R32, both of which are covered in separate reviews.