Volkswagen is giving its iconic compact automotive a facelift. To stay aggressive in a section dominated by crossovers, the Mk8.5 Golf spices issues up with a sharper exterior design, a new infotainment system, and a few much-needed mechanical enhancements. While the US will solely get the GTI and Golf R, the usual Golf will nonetheless be obtainable in hatchback and wagon physique types all through Europe.
VW is exhibiting the up to date Golf in a number of flavors. The hatchback is available in eHybrid and GTE plug-in hybrid types, in addition to the America-bound GTI. The extra sensible Variant property is proven within the R-Line guise. The solely ones lacking from the lineup are the all-wheel-drive R and the GTD performance diesel.
The largest modifications on the surface are the redesigned LED lighting fixtures, with the costlier Golfs that includes a full-LED headlight setup with an illuminated VW badge. At a further value, clients will be capable of go for a extra refined matrix LED setup with a excessive beam nearly twice as highly effective because the common excessive beam. At the rear, the fancier taillights characteristic 3D-like graphics with three selectable patterns – just like what Audi gives on a few of its fashions.
With the Golf facelift, VW is including 4 new metallic paints (Crystal Ice Blue, Anemone Blue, Oyster Silver, Grenadilla Black) and 5 alloy wheel designs starting from 16 to 19 inches. Each trim stage obtainable (Golf, Life, Style, R-Line, GTE, and GTI) will get discreetly up to date bumpers, and all fashions from the Style grade above have a black roof.
Mirroring the pre-facelift Golf, the extra sensible of the 2 physique types will not be provided in eHybrid, GTE, and GTI specs. Hopefully, the Golf R Variant efficiency wagon will proceed.
VW already confirmed the up to date cabin earlier this month at CES. Yes, the recent hatch is reverting to traditional buttons on the steering wheel, and it ought to be the identical story with the Golf R. It’s essential to notice the lesser Golf Mk8 fashions offered in Europe got here with conventional controls with solely the pricier ones receiving the irritating touch-sensitive keys.
2024 Volkswagen Golf Variant R-Line facelift (European mannequin)
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI facelift (European mannequin)
The largest change inside is the next-generation infotainment system with a big tablet-style display screen that measures 10.4 inches on the cheaper Golfs and 12.9 inches on the costlier fashions. The dreaded sliders for controlling the air con system are nonetheless there, however they’re (lastly!) illuminated. An non-obligatory head-up show may also be obtainable.
The entry-level Golf will probably be geared up with a 1.5 TSI gasoline unit rated at 113 or 148 horsepower, each sending energy to the entrance axle through a six-speed handbook gearbox. A light-hybrid model of the identical engine, dubbed 1.5 eTSI, has the identical outputs however comes completely with a seven-speed, dual-clutch computerized transmission.
Should you want extra oomph, there is a larger 2.0 TSI with 201 hp and a seven-speed DSG. Interestingly, there is not any point out of the smaller three-cylinder, 1.0 TSI engine that was provided on the most affordable pre-facelift Golf.
On the diesel facet, the tried-and-tested 2.0 TDI goes to have 113 hp and a six-speed handbook or 148 hp and a seven-speed DSG. Both variations of the oil burner are solely front-wheel drive.
2024 Volkswagen Golf eHybrid facelift (European mannequin)
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTE facelift (European mannequin)
Those who do not desire a diesel can nonetheless get the eHybrid with 201 hp, a six-speed DSG, and front-wheel drive. The electrified mannequin makes use of a much bigger lithium-ion battery pack (from 10.6 kilowatt-hours to 19.7 kilowatt-hours) good for as much as 62 miles (100 kilometers) of electrical vary. The earlier Golf eHybrid had most vary of fifty miles (80 kilometers).
The plug-in hybrid mannequin now helps AC charging at 11 kilowatts (as a substitute of three.6 kilowatts) and might take DC charging at as much as 50 kilowatts, by which case it will need 25 minutes to juice up the battery from 10% to 80%. With the battery fully charged and a full tank of fuel, VW estimates you can cowl as much as 621 miles (1,000 kilometers) earlier than having to refuel.
As for the extra thrilling variations, the Golf GTE has a mixed output of 268 hp delivered to the entrance axle through six-speed DSG. Much just like the common eHybrid, it switches from the outdated 1.4 TSI engine to the 1.5 TSI unit that includes variable turbocharger geometry. Compared to its predecessor, the electrified hatch packs an additional 27 hp.
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI facelift (European mannequin)
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI facelift (European mannequin)
Saving one of the best for final, it is the up to date GTI with its Alfa Romeo-styled wheels. Sadly, the recent hatch has misplaced its handbook gearbox instead of a seven-speed DSG, which routes 261 hp to the entrance wheels – or 20 extra hp than the pre-facelifted mannequin.
VW additionally had a more potent Clubsport version in Europe earlier than this facelift, making 296 hp, nevertheless it’s a no-show in the interim. The automotive VW dropped at CES could have been a Clubsport, alluding to the automotive’s launch within the United States.
The Golf R is prone to break cowl later this yr whereas a return of the GTD is unsure seeing as how diesels have fallen out of favor within the aftermath of the VW Group’s messy scandal.
We may be trying on the ultimate important replace for the VW Golf within the inner combustion period, after half a century in the marketplace and about 37 million models produced. The ninth era of Europe’s best-selling automotive ever has been confirmed strictly as an electric model on the VW Group’s Scalable Systems Platform. It will enter manufacturing close to the tip of the last decade in Wolfsburg, Germany the place it will be assembled with different SSP-based automobiles.
It stays to be seen whether or not the 2 will peacefully coexist earlier than VW decides to go EV-only. One factor is for certain – the German model has pledged to provide solely electrical automobiles in Europe from 2033, so the ICE Golf’s days are numbered regardless.