Summarize

Volkswagen's Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline has lifted this year's Gumtree’s Pre-Owned Car Award for two-year old hatchbacks available for under R260K. 

The Gumtree Awards go to the best pre-owned cars in twelve classes on the market, quite a pertinent award, considering that more than double the number of used cars sell for every new car to drive off the showroom floor. 

Gumtree’s specialist Pre Owned panel of judges considered the Audi A1 Sportback, Kia Rio, Renault Clio, Toyota Auris and Volkswagen Golf TSI — the five cars in the Sub R260K Hatch class that best retained their value versus their original showroom price according to Trans Union used car price data. 

It seems that the Jury concurred with our predictions that the Golf came out best against a bouquet of considerations that considered its used plusses alongside all the regular Car of the Year parameters.

The impressive little 81kW turbo-litre triple Golf has always impressed us — it comes into its own on the road, where that TSI engine is particularly agile, smooth and silent with performance to keep most rivals in check. The Golf also scores on practicality with a spacious cabin and the biggest boot by far among its class finalist rivals,

It also retained its new price well and while its short warranty covers an impressive distance, our two-year old Golf still has three years of service plan remaining. It may have been a close-run thing, but the Gumtree Pre Owned Jury concurred with our prediction that the Golf is pick of this bunch.

The Volkswagen stars in some areas, does most all else on the better side of good versus alcomers costing R260K or less to pluck that deserved Gumtree’s Pre-Owned Car Award. – Michele Lupini