SUVs are so popular in today’s market because of the flexibility they offer. Designed to be comfortable and roomy, SUVs are hard to beat when it comes to versatility. Can you get that level of functionality without an SUV? You can, with the VW Golf. The 2021 Volkswagen Golf is an impressive hatchback. It offers a roomy interior, generous cargo space, and a quality build for a truly great value.

The cons of the Volkswagen hatchback

The Volkswagen Golf’s quality interior

The cons of the Golf are pretty obvious. It lacks power, has just one trim, and this is the last year of the VW Golf in the American market. While overseas drivers in Europe and other markets will continue to get new and redesigned Golf models, only the sporty Golf GTI will continue to be sold in the USA. However, the many pros of the Volkswagen Golf more than makeup for its disadvantages.

The interior of the 2021 Volkswagen Golf earned it a spot on the U.S. News list of the 12 most comfortable cars of 2021. Its cabin is crafted from quality materials to give it an upscale vibe. Furthermore, it has a lot of passenger space, particularly in the back seat, and a generous amount of cargo space.

The latest Golf seats up to five people, and there are 22.8 cubic feet of space behind the back seat. When you fold that down, you get up to 52.7 cubic feet of space. For a compact car, that’s very impressive. 

The interior features faux leather upholstery with heated front seats that can be manually adjusted. There’s faux leather wrapped around the steering wheel too. In the front, the seats offer great support and are comfortable for longer trips. Meanwhile, the back seats offer good visibility and a great amount of both head and legroom.

Unfortunately, one bad point is the infotainment system, a dinosaur with mediocre graphics on its 6.5-inch touch screen that also produces a lagging response. However, there are plenty of good standard infotainment features through the system, including Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Drivers also get a sunroof, proximity keyless entry, Bluetooth functionality, a USB port, and a six-speaker audio system.

Furthermore, the Volkswagen Golf has standard active safety features, like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and rear cross-traffic alerts. There’s also a rearview camera and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

2021 Golf vs. Golf GTI

While the Golf sits in the GTI’s shadow, it has a lot to offer. For one, it certainly has a better price and better fuel economy.  You might want to get in on its value now, as this is its final year.

The standard Golf isn’t as well-equipped as its GTI cousin and not as powerful. Sure, it has a spacious back seat and plenty of cargo room, but not a lot of power. Furthermore, it also has a boxier shape that some might find less appealing than some of its peers.

However, if you’re looking for a compact hatch, it’s hard to do better than the 2021 Volkswagen Golf. It’s not the rambunctious GTI, granted. However, with its impressive transmissions, plenty of cargo space, and dexterous handling, the latest Golf is more than worth a look.