The Volkswagen Golf VII (Type 5G) marks a major turning point for the brand with the inauguration of the modular MQB platform. Unlike the Golf VI which was a deep evolution of the V, the VII is 100% new. In terms of reliability, it corrects the catastrophic errors of the previous generation (notably the fragile timing chains of the EA111 TSI engines, replaced here by belts on the EA211 family). The 2017 facelift (often called Golf 7.5) brings new driving aids, digital gauges (Active Info Display) and the new 1.5 TSI Evo engine. It is one of the most homogeneous and reliable compact cars of its decade, provided you choose your transmission carefully (beware of the dry-clutch DSG7 DQ200 gearbox).
The Volkswagen Golf VII is an excellent used car choice, particularly with gasoline engines. It has successfully erased the flaws of the Golf VI. The top choice is the 1.4 TSI (125 or 150 hp) with a manual gearbox: it offers an outstanding performance/consumption/reliability ratio. The 1.5 TSI is also recommendable if the software update has been performed. GTI and R versions (2.0 TSI) are robust but require a significant maintenance budget (water pump, DSG/Haldex oil changes). The only real caveat concerns the DSG7 (DQ200) automatic gearbox on smaller engines: opt for a manual gearbox if you are buying a high-mileage model without a history of clutch or mechatronics replacement.