Because my mind doesn’t always follow perceived logic, I’ve become inclined to compare the VW Golf to a crocodile or shark. Show me a picture of 200-million-year-old crocodile and I’d have no trouble identifying it. It’s the same with the Golf – although its ancestry can only be traced back 46 years – where each passing generation has brought us a more refined version of the last. It isn’t quite natural selection but it’s close.

And so, eight generations later here we are again. The Golf has always bridged the gap between mainstream family cars such as the Focus and Astra, and more premium models like the BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 but in an increasingly competitive world can the latest version of VW’s venerable hatchback still remain all things to all people?

I won’t spend too long discussing the exterior because, while there are many, many changes, the end result is that the mkVIII Golf looks like, well, a Golf. VW haven’t seen fit to radically change what is, after all, a winning formula in almost 50 years so it’s highly unlikely that would have suddenly changed for this generation.

Climb inside and, where once the Golf was once almost untouchable in terms of build quality and classy ambience, that is not quite the case anymore. Certainly and perhaps, unsurprisingly, it has been usurped by rival models from premium manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes and Audi but it has also fallen behind the more mainstream Mazda3, which has a classier feel to it. The Golf does, however, still stand more favourable comparison to other family hatchbacks including the Focus and Astra.

One thing you can be sure of, though, is that whatever shape or size the driver is, they will be comfortably accommodated. The seat adjusts for height, while the steering wheel adjusts for reach and rake, while the centre armrest slides back and forth to give the driver – or passenger, if they get there first – something soft to lean on.

Headroom in the back is very generous though the same can’t be said for legroom, particularly if the front-seat passengers need to slide their seats all the way back. It gets a bit snug with a third passenger on the rear bench too, while the raised centre line robs the middle passenger of space for their feet.

Boot capacity – 381 litres with the rear seats in place – is about average for the class but all Golfs have an adjustable floor that lets you create two separate compartments and, when it’s raised, gives you a totally flat floor when the 60-40 split-folding rear seats are lowered.

The view out the front and sides is good thanks to relatively narrow A-pillars but the rear three-quarter view is rather hampered by wide C-pillars. Front and rear parking sensors are included as standard across the range which should help with manoeuvring in tight spaces.

Powerful LED headlamps are standard but you can upgrade to LED ‘Plus’ or even IQ Matrix LED lights. The former can throw some light around corners while you can leave the latter on full beam because they’re clever enough to adjust their output so as not to blind other road users. Expect to pay a fair sum for that little party trick though.

Like a lot of manufacturers VW have been busy decluttering the dashboard. What that means is all the controls are now touch sensitive buttons or buried beneath menus on the infotainment touchscreen. Personally I find it fiddly, and a little unsafe, to have to operate even simple functions such as adjusting the cabin temperature via touch controls while on the move.

The touchscreen is a 10-inch landscape display and is mounted high enough so that, when you do have to glance at it, your eyes don’t have to stray too far from the road ahead. It’s bright and sharp too, and includes built-in sat nav as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You also get wireless phone charging.

Despite its good looks, the system isn’t the easiest to navigate, with a confusing arrangement of icons and, of course, an absence of shortcut buttons to quickly switch from one function to another. Well, apart from those easy to miss touch sensitive buttons of course which, in practice, are no more practical than trying to prod the display.

The 1.5TSI 150 petrol, with a healthy slug of 148bhp, should be about the sweet spot for most people. It delivers sprightly performance – the 0-62mph sprint takes a reasonably swift 8.5 seconds – and, while you might occasionally have to change down a gear to tackle a particularly steep incline or overtake, nipping around town and picking up the pace to join motorways will present no problems. The six-speed manual gearbox – a seven-speed dual-clutch auto is available but only with the eTSI 150 mild hybrid and 20. TDI 150 diesel – is slick and precise.

There’s a trio of suspension set-ups available: the “150” engines are equipped with a more sophisticated set-up than the standard fare but you can add Dynamic Chassis Control with adaptive dampers if you want the ultimate in comfort. Still, even without it the Golf deals with most major imperfections with relative ease. It can get a little unsettled at higher speeds, flitting from side to side in a slightly irritating fashion.

The steering is on the light side. It’s great for driving around town but for tackling tight and twisty roads at speed I’d prefer a little more weight. The optional Driver Profile Selection system – standard on R Line trim – adds a bit more heft but there’s still no real connection between driver and the driven wheels.

There’s also more body lean than you’d find in some of the Golf’s keener driving rivals. There’s certainly plenty of grip, but enthusiasm is dampened by the lack of driver engagement.

The Golf remains a highly desirable piece of machinery but it no longer occupies the rarefied space that it once did. It is solidly built and rides and handles with considerable panache. There are, however, cheaper rivals that are more spacious, better to drive, or both. It’s also facing greater pressure than ever from above, with premium rivals offering higher-grade interiors and better infotainment systems.

Golf Style 1.5-litre TSI 150PS 6-speed manual

Price: £26,095

As tested: £28, 355

Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Max power: 150PS

Max torque: 250Nm @ 1,500 – 3,500rpm

Max speed: 139mph

0-62mph: 8.5 seconds

Fuel consumption (WLTP) mpg

Low: 36.5

Medium: 49.7

High: 59.1

Extra High: 51.1

Combined: 50.2

Emissions (CO2): 125g/km

For more information visit www.vw.co.uk