Refreshed VW Golf Elevates Driving Experience: Continuously Improving and Exceeding Previous Standards
Despite the rise in electric vehicles popularity in Europe, excluding a temporary downturn, the Volkswagen Golf, powered by a combustion engine, remains the undisputed king. It remains Volkswagen's top-selling car in Germany for this year. It's time to give its eighth generation a subtle facelift. While no major changes have been made, some nagging problems have been addressed by the engineers.
The irritating touch surfaces on the steering wheel have been replaced with classic buttons that provide tactile feedback. It's a delight! The Wolfsburg team has resisted the temptation to move central controls such as mirror adjustment to the touchscreen menu. Not everything that's trendy is necessarily good. The joystick in the left door remains, making it easy to use.
The menus have been significantly overhauled. It's not just about the fresh new look; the menus are now much faster and more user-friendly. It's a pleasure to see how easy it is to disable annoying features like lane vibration and speed limit alerts. The touchscreen, up to 13 inches in size, is also quite impressive. To avoid constantly diving into menus for everyday adjustments, the basics of the climate control system remain easily accessible on the monitor, which works well.
The Golf is an engineer's car at its core.
Despite the screen's lively appearance, the Golf remains fundamentally practical. But it's not just about practicality; it's also about exceptional engineering and quality. You can feel the engineering expertise in the first facelift model you drive, a Variant with a 1.5-liter eTSI engine and 150 PS plus E-Boost. The 48-volt system kicks in even before the car comes to a stop, or whenever the Otto engine isn't needed (saving fuel). It does so seamlessly, almost unnoticeable, unless you're watching the tachometer. That's what we call engineering artistry.
The four-cylinder engine isn't exactly thrilling, but it runs smoothly and never leaves you wanting for power (accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds and reaching a top speed of 224 km/h). The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission works perfectly with the mild hybrid system, adding to the comfort.
Golf Variant drivers enjoy ample space in the front and back, as well as a generous 1642-liter boot (perfect for a trip to the hardware store). That's quite impressive in its class.
Next up, the plug-in hybrid model must impress. It's not without precedent, as there was a dual-motor version before, but the GTE version, priced at 47,895 euros, is significantly more powerful with 272 PS system power. And so, the top hybrid delivers a strong impression with its full power, nearly as forcefully as its classic GTI predecessor (reaching 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds and hitting a top speed of 230 km/h). It even boasts the iconic checkered sports seats.
Prefer the GTI over the GTE
However, Volkswagen has thought of everything and has also brought along the original. And if you're not planning to drive more than 100 kilometers entirely on electric power with a fully charged 20 kWh battery (which can be charged with 40 kW of direct current) or if you can't do without the reduced company car tax (0.5 percent), then you should opt for the GTI.
The "people's car," as it were, is a solid choice at 45,655 euros, a rarity among competitors. The GTI is enjoyable even without the need for excessive power. Here, the renowned 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with the EA888 designation only needs to produce a modest 265 PS for sports car-like performance. It's more than enough. The 1.5-ton vehicle has enough grip to keep the smiles on your face while driving on the Lower Saxon country roads around Baddeckenstedt (where the driving premiere is taking place). It only takes 5.9 seconds to reach highway speed.
Of course, 250 km/h is achievable at top speed. And even the few curves in this area, the classic compact handles them sportively. And that, without rolling excessively over potholes. The standard limited-slip differential keeps tire slip in check. Plus, the Wolfsburg team has also tuned the GTI's acoustics in a harmonious way (not overly so).
Are you already considering which one of the countless Golf variants you want to configure? You should know two more things. Firstly, the revised Golf starts at 28,330 euros, thus remaining under the 30,000 euro mark. And secondly, please definitely order the "IQ" Light for an extra 1,215 euros: This not only brings variable LED matrix lighting into the Golf, which is especially recommended on nighttime country roads, but it also provides an illuminated brand logo in the radiator grille. After all, even the old Golf needs a bit of coolness factor, as an entire generation was named after it.
The Golf's variants, including the GTI, are primarily motor vehicles, designed for road use. To ensure driver comfort and convenience, many of these models come equipped with advanced features, such as touchscreens and user-friendly menus, in their motor vehicles.
