The Volkswagen Golf is set to score more tech, luxury and power when the upgraded Mark 8.5 generation arrives in Australia in April, including new GTI and R flagship variants. The range opens with the Life offering.
It features 17-inch alloys, front and rear parking sensors, park assist, a rear view camera, LED headlights with light assist, keyless entry and alarm, surround lighting, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and single-zone climate control air conditioning.
There’s also 10.3-inch infotainment, DAB+ digital radio, a more powerful ventilated wireless smartphone charging and wireless App-Connect, as well as carpeted door pockets, a multi-tier adjustable centre armrest, vanity mirror lights and rear air vents.
Volkswagen’s advanced travel assist, incorporating adaptive cruise control and lane assist, as well as front assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, and side assist with rear cross-traffic alert, is standard.
New to the range, the luxurious Golf Style adds 18-inch alloy wheels with chrome exterior highlights, dark tinted privacy glass and LED Plus headlights. Inside, the larger and new 12.9-inch infotainment screen includes embedded navigation and IDA voice assistance.
There’s 30 colour ambient lighting, an ErgoActive 14-way electric driver’s seat with memory, and ArtVelours microfleece upholstery. Optional extras include a panoramic sunroof and a Sound & Vision package.
The latter incorporates Harman/Kardon premium audio, a head-up display and for the first time in a Golf, an ‘Area View’ 360-degree camera. The next step up is the R-Line, with 18-inch alloy wheels, driving profile selection and Sport mode.
It grabs progressive steering for sharper responses, and R-Line exterior and interior styling cues, including front sports seats. Vienna leather appointed upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and electric driver’s seat with memory are all standard.
All three variants are powered by a refined 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque, linked to a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission.
Things step up in the performance-focused Golf GTI and R, with the former scoring revised steering and adaptive chassis Control (DCC Pro), plus 15kW extra get up and go to take its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine to 195kW and 370Nm.
The GTI grabs a new 19-inch alloy wheel and tyre package as standard, along with a 12.9-inch infotainment system, metallic paint, fog lights, park assist plus, tri-zone climate control, LED Plus headlights and 30 colour ambient lighting.
The panoramic sunroof has been separated from the previous Luxury Package as a stand-alone option, allowing customers to select the iconic ‘tartan’ cloth interior with sunroof for the first time.
Conversely, the newly introduced Leather Package features Vienna leather, an electric driver’s seat and heated and ventilated front seats, and can be specified without a sunroof. A Sound & Vision package can be added.
This provides the previously mentioned Area View 360-degree camera, Harman/Kardon premium audio and head-up display. The Volkswagen Golf R also steps up, with 245kW as standard for the first time, up 10kW on the outgoing version.
LED Matrix headlights, premium LED tail-lights, Nappa leather, an electric driver’s seat with memory, heated and ventilated front seats, Harman/Kardon audio, Area View and 19-inch alloy wheels make it the standout model in the range.
A torque vectoring rear-wheel axle joins Sport ESC, and special drive modes such as Nurburgring (usable on road and track) and Drift (track only). The Golf R Black Edition will also feature alongside the regular variant, with brooding dark accents throughout.
The Volkswagen Golf, Golf GTI and Golf R will launch in Australia in April. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.
