The Volkswagen Golf hatchback has been rated as the best used car of the last 10 years by British car buyers. According to the filing, Automotive marketplace CarGurus asked 1,000 drivers aged 27 and over about their used car buying preferences since 2016. The questions included picking their favourite used car of the past decade, with the Volkswagen Golf emerging as the top choice.
Despite the rise of SUVs in recent years, more than a quarter of those surveyed chose a hatchback as their preferred used car. However, when combined, small- and medium-sized family SUVs accounted for more than a third of the cars chosen.
The BMW X3 claimed second place in the CarGurus ranking. Chris Knapman, CarGurus UK editorial director, said: “Over the past decade, the Volkswagen Golf has consistently proven itself to be one of the nation’s favourites. It offers the perfect mix of reliability, practicality, design and affordability, and shows that the long-standing popular models continue to be exactly that.
Reliability was the most important factor for 60 percent of those surveyed, followed by running costs for 54 percent. Comfort, and a preferred type of body style, both mattered to 40 percent of respondents. New technology was also an important part of the used car experience, with 360-degree cameras a favourite with 30 percent of drivers.
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Parking aids were also sought by 28 percent of those surveyed. At the opposite end of the spectrum, gesture control technology was important to just seven percent of respondents, while only eight percent considered over-the-air updates a key feature.
In comparison to other used car surveys, the emphasis on reliability and practicality is consistent with past trends. The Volkswagen Golf’s enduring popularity can be attributed to its well-rounded features and affordability. Some 83 percent of those surveyed said they look for the same attributes in a used car that they valued a decade ago, albeit with a greater focus on modern technology.
CarGurus conducted the survey to understand used car buying preferences. They found that the Volkswagen Golf’s popularity endures.