VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

 You can’t have a list of best hatchbacks and not include the VW

Golf. For £4000 you’ll be hard-pressed to secure a Mk7 model without taking a gamble on Cat N or high-mileage examples, which leaves us looking at the Mk6 or earlier. And when talking Mk6 Golf there’s an elephant in the room we need to address; look beyond ‘dieselgate’ and you’ll find that the Mk6 Golf is still a cracking second-hand buy. Available in three trim levels (S, SE, or GT) the Mk6 Golf was offered with four petrol units (ranging from 79bhp to 101bhp) and two diesels (108bhp or 138bhp).

Of course, there was the GTI model too, but in Mk6 guise that’s outside of our budget. On that note, however, more performance-orientated versions of earlier models such as the Mk5 GTI and Mk4 R32 can be found within budget for those looking for more of a thrill-seeking experience.

Instead, our pick for £4000 would be the Mk6 2.0-litre TDI – despite all the media fuss surrounding emissions cheating. Or for those doing long journeys looking for the most frugal option, the Bluemotion model with its 103bhp 1.6-litre TDI engine offers 74mpg.

Inside, you’ll be rewarded with VW’S solid and well-built interior and simple, well thought-through layout; everything just feels right and is where you’d want it to be. The quality feels more premium than other cars on this list.

In fact, the whole car has a very solid and durable feel to it. A point backed-up by the fact that – other than the emissions campaign – there have only been two recalls for the Mk6; one for a software glitch on early DSG cars, and one for fuel leaks on pre-2011 TDI models.

If there is a downside, it’s that the TDI models we’d pick do require a cambelt change every four years, costing around £300-400. Regular servicing costs are what you’d expect to pay, with prices ranging from £150 to £300 for minor and major services.

Despite the well-publicised emissions campaign, the Golf remains in demand, yet can be picked-up for as little £2000.