Review: Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf Review
The Golf is a household name. Central to the Volkswagen brand for decades, it’s a car which has a classless feel, as happy sitting in the streets of Chelsea as it is hacking through the countryside, The latest eighth-generation Golf arrived and missed the mark in a few years, which is why Volkswagen hasn’t wasted any time in delivering a new, revised version - which we’re looking at today.
Available in five-door hatch and estate guises, this facelifted Golf aims to address some of the issues of the previous version. However, has it been successful? We’ve been finding out.
What’s new?
As mentioned, the previous Volkswagen Golf caught some flak in a few key areas. It was all largely centred around the car’s infotainment system, which didn’t deliver the user-friendly experience that you’d expect from a Volkswagen. With cluttered menus and unintuitive buttons, it just wasn’t on the money - and that’s expected to change with this facelifted version.
The exterior of the car has been tweaked, too, including new features such as an illuminated Volkswagen logo - something we’ve seen on other recent cars from the brand - as well as the usual ‘facelift’ treatment such as sharper headlights and more alloy wheel designs to choose from.
What’s under the bonnet?
As with the previous iteration of the VW Golf, you’ve got a good variety of engines to choose from with this refreshed version. There’s the choice of petrol, diesel, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrids, so there really should be a powertrain to suit all types of drivers.
Our test car was powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine - and ever-popular option - which is available ith both manual and automatic gearbox choices. Available in either 114bhp or 147bhp outputs, it’s a good combination of efficiency and performance. You’ll have to opt for the automatic to get some mild-hybrid assistance, mind you, and when equipped you should get just over 50mpg combined alongside CO2 emissions of 122g/km.
How does it drive?
There were few complaints about how the previous Golf drove, so it’s pleasing to see that Volkswagen hasn’t switched things up too much in this department. The 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine feels more than up to the task of getting the Golf up to speed in good enough time and though the automatic gearbox can be a little hesitant at times - particularly when you’re looking to make a quick takeaway - it’s smooth and clean-shifting when you’re up to speed.
Overall refinement is great, mind you, with road and wind noise being well suppressed - even at motorway speeds. As is usually the case with the Golf, visibility is great all-round and there’s plenty of support to be found from the standard seats. There’s plenty of adjustment, too, so it’s not tricky to get comfortable.
How does it look?
The eighth-generation car brought a recognisable evolution on the typical Golf recipe and this version only finesses it a touch further. You might want to check out the Golf’s sister car - the Seat Leon - if you’re looking for a more conversation starter design-wise, but this is still one good-looking Volkswagen to our eyes.
The rear of the car is where you might notice the most prominent changes, where the fake exhaust tips have been removed in favour of a large chrome-effect strip. There’s also a new rear diffuser which lends a sportier feel to the Golf overall. It’s a subtle update, that’s for sure, but one that does strengthen the Golf’s overall look.
What’s it like inside?
Volkswagen has aimed to boost the level of quality that you’ll encounter inside the Golf. How has it done this? Largely through the fitment of more high-quality materials, which the main screen is now larger at 12.9 inches and is joined by a 10.2-inch instrument cluster which Volkswagen calls ‘digital cockpit pro’. The main screen is easier to control than before, which the infuriating touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel have been replaced by proper physical ones and make interacting with the car much easier.
The cabin is well thought out, however, and there are lots of well-sized cubbies alongside deep door bins which help to boost this car’s practicality. In terms of boot space, the 381 litres offered by the Golf might not be as much as what you’d get from the Honda Civic - which has 410 litres - but the rear seats do fold completely flat to help boost that space a little further. There’s also some handy underfloor storage for those smaller items that you want to keep safely out of sight.
What’s the spec like?
Much the same as the Golf’s list of engines, there are plenty of specifications available to peruse. Life, Match, Style, R-Line and Black Edition trim levels are all there to choose from, with a top-level GTE available on plug-in hybrid versions. Switch to the estate and though the number of specifications does fall, it’s still respectably broad with Life, Style and R-Line trims there to choose between.
Our test car came finished in popular R-Line trim level which adds a variety of sportier touches such as its own body kit, redesigned bumpers, sports seats and a sporty steering wheel. It adds a little more impact to the Golf’s design, though if you’re after some more features then Black Edition - which factors in a range of gloss black touches - could be a good direction to head in.
Verdict
The Volkswagen Golf still covers a lot of bases. It’s comfortable, spacious and will prove affordable to run while the sheer variety of engines and specifications should ensure that any would-be buyer can find a combination that’ll work for them.
While the driving experience might not offer the out-and-out involvement that you’ll get from rivals, the Golf counters with its assured style and comfortable setup. They’re features which will ensure the Golf remains one of the go-to options in the family hatchback segment.
