Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

I basically just want a comfy reliable family car so defaulted to the Golf, was suprised how much of premium they command over similar cars.

Worth looking at a Seat Leon if you're set on that particular hatchback shape/style or Skoda Octavia if open to something a little different/roomier. Both have same underpinnings as Golf, interior fit and finish between the three is a toss up IMO, with the Seat and Skoda usually having more equipment as standard and you also save yourself the Golf premium.