1. Five of the Best Family Hatches for £15,000
2. Toyota Auris
3. Ford Focus
4. VW Golf
5. SEAT Leon

So to the VW Golf, the car that seemingly all car makers want to beat in this market segment, despite the fact that the current generation has been on sale since 2004. There's something about the Golf name that makes buyers desire it in a way that the likes of the Vauxhall Astra has never managed. Of the current crop, only the Focus now achieves that elevated position.

As with the Focus, the VW Golf is not cheap. With £15,000 to spend, you'll only be able to afford the basic 'S' trim level, though you may manage to bag a 105PS TDI version, which is a very good car. Inside the Golf, you'll appreciate why buyers associate the name with quality; it's nearly on a par with BMW and Audi in that respect.

However, rumour has it that VW actually loses money on every Golf it sells, so all this quality comes at a price. We expect to see a replacement towards the end of this year. Let's hope VW doesn't compromise its image in an attempt to regain profitability from this model.

• More news and reviews from Volkswagen
• Buying Guide : All models Volkswagen
• New & Used Car : all offers Volkswagen
• Picture Gallery Volkswagen
• More motoring news
• Message Boards - Talk about it

More pictures

Related Videos for porsche