Though Volkswagen had tinkered with the idea of diesel engines in its cars for many years, the Golf TDI (turbodiesel) was not mainstream in the United States until the mid-2000s. TDI models continued to be available until 2015. If you’re looking for a used Golf TDI, it may have been part of the massive forced buyback in which Volkswagen collected TDIs from their owners (paying hefty buyback penalties), fixed the notorious emissions cheat systems, and resold the cars. The Golf is a good choice for a compact hatchback, though the so-called efficiency of the turbodiesel powertrain is forever tainted in public memory.