Volkswagen Golf completed 50 years of career, during which it became the most successful model of the German manufacturer. Eight generations and over 37 million units later, is the Golf 8 facelift the benchmark for compact hatchbacks?
Earlier this year, Volkswagen launched a major update to the popular compact model, which has topped the sales charts for new cars in Europe for over a decade.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Golf, and on this occasion we tested the updated model that has become synonymous with the Volkswagen brand for many people around the world. I had at my disposal a Golf 8 facelift in R-Line equipment, equipped with a 1.5-liter mild-hybrid engine and an automatic gearbox with seven ratios and double clutch.
What has changed on the outside?
For 2024, the Volkswagen Golf received new bumpers which, in the case of the R-Line version I drove, give the car a more aggressive look. Also, the headlights with full LED technology are thinner, and the taillights benefit from a new light signature.
The Golf facelift also gets an illuminated front logo. It will come standard on cars equipped with at least LED Plus headlights. Matrix LED headlights are also available as an option, which also include dynamic signals.
Returning to our copy, the R-Line package also includes the more aggressive thresholds, as well as the logos that we can find on the doors and in the front grille of the car. Customers now have a choice of new wheel designs that go up to 18 inches in diameter, just like our test car had.
The shape of the car has remained virtually unchanged, but these subtle changes make the eighth-generation Golf look better, less round, but retaining that consistent dose of maturity for which the German brand is known.
The Golf didn’t sacrifice space for shape
Since the first generation, the Golf has prioritized space, not appearance, and the eighth generation keeps the square proportions, which offer passengers enough space, including for luggage.
Four adults can travel comfortably on board the Golf, and the boot measures 381 litres, big enough for the needs of a young family. Even if it is not the largest in its class – the Opel Astra offers up to 422 liters in the trunk – it is well compartmentalized.
Cabin ergonomics are generally good, with intuitively placed controls and handy storage spaces. I still can’t quite get to grips with the touch controls for the lights and feel a physical wheel would have been more useful, nor the touch sliders for volume and climate. Fortunately, with the facelift, they are backlit, making them much easier to find at night.
Volkswagen has also chosen to bring back the physical buttons on the steering wheel, something many customers have complained about in the past. From the multifunction steering wheel we can control the adaptive autopilot, the audio system, but also the fully digital dashboard.
New technologies have made their way on board the car
And this brings us to the new screens that the Volkswagen Golf 8.5 has inside. Each model comes standard with a digital dashboard and a new, larger 10.4-inch central screen. The car we tested was equipped with the top center screen, which measures 12.9 inches diagonally.
Both are high-resolution panels, and the dashboard is highly configurable, with information being displayed as desired across three individual zones. In addition, because we live in the age of artificial intelligence, the Volkswagen Golf 8 facelift is the first model in the German manufacturer’s range to benefit from ChatGPT in the infotainment system. This is the basis of the voice assistant that the occupants can access inside the new Golf.
What engines are available?
The new Golf offers a comprehensive range of engines, from petrol and diesel engines to plug-in hybrids or sports models such as the GTI or R.
The basic engine is now represented by 1.5 gasoline, in four cylinders, which develops 115 HP and is linked to a manual transmission with six steps. This engine replaces the 1.0 unit in the range, which was the basis of the pre-facelift model.
For those looking for diesel engines, the 2.0-liter unit remains available on the Golf, with outputs ranging from 115 hp to 150 hp. Those looking for a PHEV will have two such engines at their disposal, with 204 or 272 HP.
At the base of both is the 1.5-liter gasoline engine, coupled with an electric motor and a 19.7 kWh (net) battery, which the manufacturer says can provide a purely electric range of over 140 km.
For our test, we had the 1.5-liter mild-hybrid engine available, with 150 HP and 250 Nm maximum torque. This is mated to a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission, a configuration that can propel the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds, on to a top speed of 224 km/h.
How is it driven?
Once I got behind the wheel of the car, I was able to quickly find the right position and the seats, which at first glance may seem uncomfortable due to the sporty appearance, offer very good support and do not put stress on the spine even over long distances.
Instead, if you choose the R-Line trim level, the car will be equipped with a lower and slightly stiffer suspension. In combination with the 18-inch rims and the tires with a thin bead, the potholes on the Romanian roads will be felt quite strongly by the occupants.
Yes, the stiffer suspension and progressive power steering that come as standard on the Golf R-Line help improve the dynamic character, but if you prefer a more comfortable road attitude, this trim level might not be to your advantage.
However, if you like the feel of a stiffer car, then this variant is for you. In addition, it gets clamshell seats upholstered in fabric and suede, which provide good support when cornering.
And when you don’t want to attack the curves, the 1.5-liter mild-hybrid engine offers very good fuel consumption. The manufacturer declares an average consumption of 5.4 liters/100 km. After several hundred km driven in various traffic conditions, I managed to achieve an average of 5.7 liters/100 km.
The gearbox plays an important role here, especially since the car can coast at certain times, disconnecting the transmission from the engine. In addition, the electric motor regenerates energy when it senses a car in front, a useful aspect in the urban environment, because you don’t have to use the traditional brakes as much.
ConCluSIonS
The Volkswagen Golf remains one of the safest choices for those looking for a compact hatchback in 2024. It’s roomy enough for the needs of a young family, and for those looking for more but find the Passat too big, there’s the Golf Variant or even the sister of the group, Skoda Octavia.
The range of engines is wide enough to satisfy a wide range of customers. The road holding is comfortable, but the R-Line equipment could be too rigid for the roads in our country, which is why I recommend the equipment with more permissive suspensions and smaller rims with tires with a higher bead.
The new technologies implemented inside will keep it current for years to come, but the touch controls are still harder to use than the classic buttons. Also, the interface of the multimedia system can be slightly confusing and it takes time to learn some of the controls integrated into it.
All this brings us to the price of the car, which now starts at 24,002 euros including VAT. For this amount of money you get a Golf in the Life trim level, with the 1.5-liter gasoline engine that develops 115 hp and is linked to a six-speed manual transmission.
An example like the one we tested, in R-Line equipment, 1.5-liter mild-hybrid engine, 150 HP and automatic transmission, plus several optional packages, ends up with a list price of 35,715 euros including VAT.
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Source: www.promotor.ro
