Used 2018 Volkswagen Golf TSI SE Hatchback Review

Name: 2018 Volkswagen Golf Review
Brand: Volkswagen

More about the 2018 Golf

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 2018 Volkswagen Golf TSI SE Hatchback.

5 (60%)

4 (20%)

3 (0%)

2 (20%)

1 (0%)

4.2

5 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Excellent car! Highly recommend!

Steven Evans, Fresno, CA, 04/07/2020

2018 Volkswagen Golf TSI SE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

I bought my 2018 VW Golf SE March of 2019 with 220 miles on it. I was leasing a base model 2017 VW Jetta S that I loved but traded so I could have more of the tech and luxury features offered nowadays like Apple CarPlay, leatherette seats, sunroof and rain sensing wipers. The only thing I’ve had a problem with was the sunroof interior cloth shade. It was replaced under warranty because …

Fun, zippy car!

Chris, Fayetteville, GA, 05/16/2018

2018 Volkswagen Golf TSI SE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

This car is fun, fast and does a great job for your every day commuter. It’s comfortable, great sound system and quiet. If you and your other half or friend wanted to go on a road trip, no doubt you wouldn’t have a great time. The furthest I’ve gone so far non stop is about 100 miles and I was averaging 37-39 mpg

The best VW Golf Hatchback!

Madhu Aryal, Sunnyside, NY, 05/08/2023

2018 Volkswagen Golf TSI SE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

With its 1.8T engine, this model is still considered the best and most reliable Volkswagen Golf Hatchback, ever. I maintain it regularly and is run 15K since 2018 May, its flawless, quiet, smartly spacious and gracious driving. This is my second Golf after the same from 2015 model. My family drives BMW, Honda HR-V and Ford Escape but everyone wants to drive mine and they love its …

I liked my 2015 so much I got a 2017 AND a 2018

Ian Forsyth, 03/04/2020

2018 Volkswagen Golf TSI SE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

So, I’ve had a bit of experience with Volkswagens, my first car was a red ‘65 Beetle Convertible, followed by a ‘67 Beetle, a ‘75 Le Grande Bug (awesome car), a ‘64 Beetle, a ‘74 Superbeetle, in 2010 I bought a Tiguan which I liked a lot, then in 2015 traded Tiggy for a Mark 7 Golf Comfortline (mid-trim level one Canada) I loved that car, and drove it trouble free for almost 2 years when …

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Edmunds Summary Review of the 2018 Volkswagen Golf TSI SE Hatchback

What’s new

Wolfsburg Edition and SEL trims have been discontinued
New SE trim sits atop Golf range
Mildly revised styling
A few more standard features, including a new infotainment system
Part of the seventh Golf generation introduced for 2015

Pros & Cons

Pro:Squared-off hatchback design provides lots of room for cargo
Pro:Premium interior materials
Pro:Engine is powerful and fuel-efficient
Con:Automatic transmission doesn't shift as responsively or intuitively as we'd like
Con:Fewer luxury and convenience features offered than on rival hatchbacks

Full Edmunds Review: 2018 Volkswagen Golf Hatchback

byWill Kaufman^{Senior Editor and Content Strategist, CarMax
Will Kaufman has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles and reviews over the course of his career. Will is a senior editor and content strategist for CarMax at Edmunds. Will has been featured in the Associated Press and a number of major outlets on the topics of infotainment and vehicle data, vehicle subscription services and autonomous vehicles. Will started his career in online publishing by writing and editing standardized test guides, but he has a lot more fun writing about cars.}

What’s new

The Golf Wolfsburg Edition and SEL trim have been discontinued, and there's a new SE trim. That means there are just two trims for 2018: the S and the SE. Both get mildly revised styling, a few more standard features and new infotainment systems.

Vehicle overview

When it launched for the 2015 model year, this generation Golf was an outlier in the economy class. It offered higher-quality interior materials and more refined ride and handling characteristics than its competitors, along with the practicality of a hatchback. In many ways, the 2018 Volkswagen Golf is better than ever. This year, you get more standard features, including smartphone integration, LED running lights and taillights, automatic headlights and wipers, and the option of a new 8.5-inch infotainment touchscreen.

But even though the 2018 Golf retains its old charms and adds more features, the rest of the small-car field has evolved. The Honda Civic hatchback offers enjoyable performance and high fuel economy along with a roomy back seat and a slew of technology and safety features available across most of its lineup. Or you could check out the Mazda 3, which is engaging on the road and can be had with an even more upscale interior than the Golf.

It'll be worth your while to scout out these rivals, or even the redesigned Hyundai Elantra GT. Still, the 2018 Golf's positive attributes greatly outweigh its negatives.

Notably, we picked the 2018 Volkswagen Golf as one of Edmunds' Best Used Cars.

2018 Volkswagen Golf models

The Volkswagen Golf is a four-door small hatchback available in two trim levels. The base S is pricier than other base compact cars but comes standard with some nice upgraded features, while the SE trim adds a few luxuries and active safety features. The Golf comes standard with a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder (170 horsepower, 184 pound-feet of torque) and a five-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic is available and bumps the Golf's torque up to 199 lb-ft if so equipped.

The base S comes standard with halogen headlights, LED daytime-running lights and taillights, automatic rain-sensing wipers, heated side mirrors, and 15-inch alloy wheels. Inside, you get a leather-wrapped steering wheel, manually adjustable seats with lumbar adjustment and power recline, cloth upholstery, cruise control and a rearview camera.

Infotainment in the Golf S is handled by a 6.5-inch touchscreen system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an eight-speaker sound system.

Upgrading to the SE adds heated washer nozzles, 16-inch alloy wheels and a sunroof. Inside, the SE upgrades to simulated leather upholstery, heated front seats, and keyless entry with push-button start. You also get blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. Pedestrian recognition will be added to the collision mitigation system later this year.

The SE's infotainment system is upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen that adds a CD player and satellite radio, along with VW's Security & Service app.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Volkswagen Golf SE (turbo 1.8L inline-4 | 6-speed automatic | FWD).

Driving

7.0

Handling and steering are exceptional, but a strange brake pedal feel imparts the sensation that you are learning to use the brakes for the first time, every time. Likewise, the Golf's engine feels reasonably powerful, but the transmission's slow, deliberate shifting hurts daily drivability and outright acceleration.

Acceleration

6.5

The Golf's turbocharged engine produces more power than most vehicles in its class, and acceleration while moving feels brisk. Passing on the highway is effortless too. But the Golf accelerates slowly from a stop, mostly because of the lethargic reactions of its transmission. Our timed 0-60 mph run took a leisurely 8.6 seconds.

Braking

5.5

There's bite from the brakes when you initially press the pedal, but there's little extra effectiveness as you gradually increase pressure. Combined with a lack of feedback from the pedal, it makes it difficult to stop smoothly. More often than not, you'll crunch to a stop and dip the front end. Also, every downshift along the way causes a lurch. Our panic stop from 60 mph lasted 129 feet, which is slightly longer than average in this class.

Steering

8.5

Steering effort is light with a slight increase in resistance at higher speeds. Although the vehicle seemingly starts turning as soon as you steer away from center, the Golf is never darty. Overall, the car's response to steering inputs feels very natural and intuitive.

Handling

9.0

Easily one of the best-handling cars in the segment. Body roll is well-controlled in sweeping corners; you'll really only feel it in quick and tight left-right transitions. It feels like VW started with the sporty Golf GTI and worked backward to make the standard car rather than the other way around.

Drivability

6.5

The automatic transmission is not overly eager to upshift, so the engine is responsive if you quickly apply the gas pedal. Driving in S keeps revs too high, even with light pedal pressure. The transmission feels clunky when climbing the gears, hesitating momentarily between each and every shift.

Comfort

7.5

Even though it is one of the better-handling vehicles in the class, the Golf rides smoothly on city streets. The seats hold up well over long distances, too. At higher speeds, the cabin is slightly quieter than other compact hatchbacks.

Seat comfort

8.0

Both front seats are height-adjustable and feature manual fore/aft and power recline adjustment. The seats are comfortable overall, but the seat bottom is a little flat. There's also not much lumbar adjustment. The rear seatbacks and bottoms are set at comfortable angles, but the bottom is short.

Ride comfort

8.5

Perhaps due in part to the smallish 16-inch wheels, the Golf's ride quality is comfortable on most surfaces. It glides over broken pavement, but you'll feel the typical high-frequency vibrations on washboard roads. Uneven road dips can cause the body to lean heavily to one side.

Noise & vibration

7.5

The cabin is well-insulated from outside noise at a stop, but you will hear the engine idle. Engine noise is also apparent at low to moderate speeds, but it's nearly unnoticeable while cruising on the highway. Road noise is muted at all speeds. There's some mildly intrusive wind noise at highway speeds.

Climate control

7.0

The Golf's manual climate control system is as basic as it gets. There are no rear vents for backseat passengers. Heated front seats get comfortably warm rather than truly hot. Even though the shade is perforated, the sunroof does not let heat radiate into the cabin.

Interior

8.5

There's not as much legroom as in class leaders, but a tall roofline ensures easy entry and exit, along with plenty of headroom for adults. The driving position is fantastic thanks to a clear view out and plenty of steering wheel and seat adjustment. Narrow pillars make for excellent visibility.

Ease of use

8.5

Most physical controls are within reach and easy to understand. The only exception is those on the steering wheel; it will take some time to figure out what all 17 buttons do. The touchscreen's user interface features a logical menu layout and numerous buttons to access high-level functions easily.

Getting in/getting out

8.5

The Golf's tall, flat roofline provides easy entry for all passengers. The high doorsills hamper egress slightly; you'll have to pull your feet closer to your body than in rivals as you exit the vehicle. The grab handles are large, sturdy and don't require much force to close.

Driving position

8.5

The standard height-adjustable front seats and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel provide a generous range of motion. The instrument panel is easy to see no matter how you position the wheel. But the armrests aren't close enough to the wheel to plant your elbows on them.

Roominess

8.0

The Golf has abundant headroom for tall passengers front and rear, even with the SE's mandatory sunroof. The rear seat is a little tight for adults, and the narrow middle seat and intrusive transmission tunnel mean that three-across seating should only be attempted occasionally.

Visibility

9.0

The thin front pillars and tall windows provide an expansive view forward and to the side. The long rear doors allow for plenty of glass in the rear three-quarters view, helping eliminate blind spots. The rear pillar is slightly wider than average, but it's still very easy to see out the back.

Quality

7.0

Soft-touch plastics and faux-leather door trim give the Golf's interior a high-quality look, but the center console's hard plastic looks a little low-rent. Turn up the bass and you'll notice the speakers rattling. We could hear some panels in our test car rattling against each other.

Utility

8.5

Whether the rear seats are up or down, the Golf can carry more than its chief competitors. Despite the Golf's tight packaging, it has many places to store small items.

Small-item storage

9.0

The Golf makes excellent use of its limited interior space. The tall, long front door pockets will each hold a pair of water bottles, while the rear door pockets will hold one water bottle each. And there's additional storage beneath the center console, under the armrest and in the sizable glovebox.

Cargo space

8.5

The cargo area is wide and flat and has an adjustable load floor. It's also massive, with 22.8 cubic feet of space with all seats in use. Folding the rear seats flat requires moving the front seats forward a bit, but it's worth the effort. The cargo area then measures 53.7 cubes, one of the largest in the segment.

Child safety seat accommodation

8.0

Two Isofix anchors are located on each of the outboard rear seats; they are concealed under removable plastic covers that are easy to access. Attaching a strap to either of the seatback tethers requires removing the cargo cover. The cramped back seat might make installing a rear-facing car seat difficult.

Technology

8.0

VW's latest infotainment system improves upon its predecessor in a number of ways, including quicker response times and a larger screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but there's only one USB port. Some advanced safety features aren't available. There's no onboard navigation either.

Audio & navigation

8.5

We liked the Golf's previous infotainment system, and the new version (paired with a larger, 8-inch touchscreen) is even better. High-definition graphics complement an easy-to-operate user interface. Thoughtful touches, such as virtual buttons that fade away as you move your hand from the screen, further enhance its appeal. We like that you can preview artist and song info before switching radio stations. Audio quality isn't great, but it is on par with those in competitors' midtier models.

Smartphone integration

8.5

The Golf supports multiple physical media inputs for listening to audio files. A CD player and SD card reader are located in the glovebox, while an auxiliary input and USB port reside under the center console. Many competitors offer multiple USB ports. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard.

Driver aids

7.0

Our SE tester came with a rearview camera, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision system with automatic braking. The BSM works well but is a little too slow to react to vehicles entering the blind spot. Rivals offer a more comprehensive set of aids.

Voice control

7.0

The voice control system is quite good at identifying names in your contact list. If you're in the correct radio band, it's also easy to switch radio stations. Switching stations on different bands — between satellite radio and FM, for example — is more difficult. Natural speech detection is minimal.

Edmunds Insurance Estimator

The Edmunds TCO^® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2018 Volkswagen Golf in Ohio is:

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Used 2018 Volkswagen Golf TSI SE Hatchback Review

Most helpful consumer reviews

Excellent car! Highly recommend!

Fun, zippy car!

The best VW Golf Hatchback!

I liked my 2015 so much I got a 2017 AND a 2018

Edmunds Summary Review of the 2018 Volkswagen Golf TSI SE Hatchback

Which Golf does Edmunds recommend?

Full Edmunds Review: 2018 Volkswagen Golf Hatchback

What’s new

Vehicle overview

2018 Volkswagen Golf models

Trim tested

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Edmunds Insurance Estimator

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