Every Volkswagen model on sale ranked: which is best?
August 06, 2025 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
Volkswagen makes some of the best all-rounders on the market, but which model from this German brand is best, and are there any you should avoid?
A VW badge is a desirable one to have on the bonnet of your car. For decades it’s been known to make comfortable, practical and posh-feeling cars which are better value for money than alternatives from BMW or Mercedes.
It currently sells 22 different models in the UK. Some are class-leading, some are decent and others are fairly forgettable, and we’re going to rank every Volkswagen model from best to worst to help you sort the wheat from the chaff.
Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.
Every Volkswagen model ranked:
- ID7 Tourer – 9/10
- Golf R – 9/10
- ID Buzz – 9/10
- Tayron – 9/10
- ID7 – 8/10
- Passat – 8/10
- Tiguan – 8/10
- Multivan – 8/10
- T-Cross – 8/10
- Golf – 8/10
- Golf Estate – 8/10
- Polo – 8/10
- ID3 – 8/10
- T-Roc Cabriolet – 7/10
- Golf GTI – 7/10
- California – 7/10
- Touran – 7/10
- ID4 – 7/10
- Taigo – 7/10
- T-Roc – 7/10
- ID5 – 6/10
- Touareg – 6/10
1. Volkswagen ID7 Tourer – 9/10
We reckon the Volkswagen ID7 Tourer is the best car the brand sells right now. We’ve actually lived with one for an extended period of time, and it proved to be a relaxing cruiser with a lovely interior.
The infotainment system is a little bit of a faff to use, but the ID7 Tourer’s cavernous practicality more than makes up for this. Rear legroom is palatial, and the boot is big enough to give most SUVs a run for their money. It makes an excellent case for the good old estate car.
2. Volkswagen Golf R – 9/10
From a massive electric estate to a bonkers hot hatch – the Volkswagen Golf R is one of the most fun family cars you can buy. Its powerful 333hp engine can launch it from 0-60mph in just 4.6 seconds, and the excellent four-wheel drive system gives you bags of grip through the corners.
The Golf R can get quite pricey with options, and the touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons are a pain to use, but this car’s ability to haul the kids to school before taking on a track day makes it a truly brilliant all-rounder.
3. Volkswagen ID Buzz – 9/10
The Volkswagen ID Buzz is perfect if you want something massively spacious, but don’t want to blend into the sea of grey SUVs which frequent supermarket car parks these days. It looks fantastic, especially if you go for one of the bright two-tone paint jobs.
The van-like shape does mean that this electric car doesn’t have the best range on a charge, and the interior material quality maybe doesn’t match the £60,000 price tag, but the ID Buzz is lovely to drive and far more practical than any SUV.
4. Volkswagen Tayron – 9/10
The new Volkswagen Tayron replaces the old Tiguan Allspace as the brand’s seven-seat SUV, although it is still heavily based on the latest Tiguan under the longer body. It uses the same range of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines, but you get a much larger boot and that all-important third row of seats.
The Tayron is a bit more expensive than some alternatives, such as the mechanically-similar Skoda Kodiaq, but the VW’s interior is properly posh and it’s a handsome-looking thing as well.
5. Volkswagen ID7 – 8/10
Our first 8/10 goes to the Volkswagen ID7, the swoopy stablemate to the ID7 Tourer. It’s still a brilliant and hugely spacious electric car, it just loses a point for not being quite as practical as its estate-bodied stablemate.
6. Volkswagen Passat – 8/10
The Volkswagen Passat is a big, practical petrol-powered estate car which proves that you don’t necessarily need an SUV to get maximum interior space. It’s lovely to drive and has a nice cabin, but the Skoda Superb Estate is a smarter buy thanks to its cheaper price tag and equally relaxing driving experience. The Skoda is also available with a diesel engine, something the Passat does without.
7. Volkswagen Tiguan – 8/10
Being so similar to the Tayron, the Volkswagen shares many of its good and bad traits. It’s got a posh-feeling interior, it’s comfortable to drive and there’s loads of standard equipment, but it’s more expensive than other comparable SUVs out there and it’s not as practical as its larger counterpart.
8. Volkswagen Multivan – 8/10
You can think of the Volkswagen Multivan as being an ID Buzz for people who aren’t ready to switch to a pure EV. You can have it with a choice of petrol and plug-in hybrid engines, and the interior is hugely versatile.
You can have up to seven seats, or remove all the rear chairs if you need to use your Multivan as, err, a van. It is on the pricey side, and the suspension can be a bit jiggly over bumps, but this is one of the most practical family cars you can buy.
9. Volkswagen T-Cross – 8/10
The Volkswagen T-Cross is actually based on the Polo, but we like it a bit more than that car thanks to the added practicality of that square SUV bodywork. You can also get the T-Cross in an eye-catching bright yellow, which cheers things up nicely.
In fairness, it does need a bit of spicing up with a bright paint job because this isn’t the most exciting small SUV in most other respects. A Peugeot 2008 is more of a head-turner, and a Ford Puma is more fun to drive, but the T-Cross is comfortable, practical and quite charming.
10. Volkswagen Golf – 8/10
When you think of Volkswagen, the Golf is probably the first car which springs to mind. It’s the most iconic model from this German brand, and it’s built a reputation for being a really solid all-rounder.
You get plenty of cabin space, a good range of efficient engines, a posh-feeling interior and it’s really comfortable to drive. The standard Golf isn’t a car you’d necessarily buy with your heart, unlike the spiced-up Golf R, but buy it with your head and you’ll have a lovely daily driver which is super-easy to live with.
11. Volkswagen Golf Estate – 8/10
Fancy a Golf but need a bigger boot? Buy the Golf Estate. It only ranks slightly below the hatchback because this wagon isn’t available with that car’s plug-in hybrid system, which can do up to 88 miles on electric power alone.
12. Volkswagen Polo – 8/10
As small cars go, the Volkswagen Polo is a cracker. It drives like a car from the class above, which is to say it’s really comfortable and refined, and it’s surprisingly spacious inside. A Seat Ibiza is more fun on a twisty road but the Polo is simply a solid small car which could make an ideal candidate for those looking to downsize from a Golf.
13. Volkswagen ID3 – 8/10
The Volkswagen ID3 is essentially an electric equivalent to the Golf, and it’s similarly spacious inside. You get up to 350 miles of range, quick charging speeds and it’s comfortable to drive as well.
It’s plagued with the same annoying touch sensitive climate controls as almost every other Volkswagen, and the mechanically-similar Cupra Born is more exciting to look at, but the ID3 is still a compelling option.
14. Volkswagen T-Roc R – 8/10
If you fancy the thrills of a Golf R, but in a slightly more practical body, the T-Roc takes the heart of that hot hatch and places it in a small SUV. The taller ride height does mean it’s not as fun as the Golf, but it’s still great to drive. It’s just a shame that the interior quality isn’t great.
15. Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet – 7/10
Here’s something you don’t see very often – a two-door convertible SUV. Since the Range Rover Evoque Cabriolet was axed a few years ago, the T-Roc Cabriolet has had this market all to itself.
It’s a novel concept, and this is a really likeable car, but with your thinking cap on it doesn’t make a huge amount of sense. It’s not very practical thanks to a small boot, nor is it as fun to drive as a proper convertible sports car. But if you’re after something comfy to enjoy the fresh air, this could be ideal.
16. Volkswagen Golf GTI – 7/10
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is a bit of a legend, with a long and illustrious history as one of the best hot hatches ever made. You’re probably wondering why it’s so far down the list, and it’s because the latest car has just lost a bit of its sparkle.
The standard Golf GTI doesn’t feel special enough to drive, especially when compared to the Golf R, which is a lot faster and not much more expensive. The Clubsport version does remedy this, but it’s also a lot of extra cash just to make your GTI into the car it probably should’ve been in the first place.
17. Volkswagen Touran – 7/10
Here’s a car you’d probably forgotten about – the Volkswagen Touran. It’s a boxy MPV which has been around for a very long time, but you can still buy a new one and there are a couple of good reasons why you should.
It’s just such a simple family car. It won’t turn any heads or raise the hairs on the back of your neck, it’s just roomy, economical and comfy. We appreciate its honesty in a world of flashy SUVs.
18. Volkswagen ID4 – 7/10
The Volkswagen ID4 is a perfectly adequate electric SUV, it’s just hard to see why you’d buy one over the cheaper and more practical Skoda Enyaq. You do get a decent amount of rear legroom, and up to 347 miles of range, but the ID4 is bland to look at and the interior is a sea of grey and black plastic.
19. Volkswagen Taigo – 7/10
The Volkswagen Taigo is basically a T-Cross with a sloping roofline, so it’s a coupe version of the SUV version of the Volkswagen Polo. Confusing, right? It ranks pretty low on this list because there’s little reason to buy one over the much more practical T-Cross.
20. Volkswagen T-Roc – 7/10
The R and Cabriolet versions of the Volkswagen T-Roc are interesting in their own ways, but the standard car is really starting to show its age now. It’s been around since 2017, and it’s just not as nice to drive as something like a Toyota C-HR.
An all-new replacement is due this year though.
21. Volkswagen ID5 – 6/10
Taking the already rather unremarkable ID4 and robbing some boot space and rear with a sloping roofline was never going to be a great recipe. In fairness, it does look more sporty and interesting than the ID4, but like with that car you should just buy a Skoda Enyaq instead.
22. Volkswagen Touareg – 6/10
Finally we come to the Volkswagen Touareg, the worst car VW currently sells. It’s priced to compete with cars like the BMW X5, one of the few 10/10 cars on Carwow, and the Audi Q7, but it has a pretty cheap-feeling interior for the money and it’s just not as nice to drive as other big, posh SUVs out there.
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