Updated VW Golf range priced for Oz

VOLKSWAGEN Australia has priced its updated generation 8.5 Golf range.

The updated Small segment passenger car range is due in dealerships from next month (April) priced from $38,690 plus on-road costs.

The range will open with the Golf Life, an entrant VW says will include as standard 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, Park Assist, reversing camera, LED headlights with Light Assist, keyless entry, alarm, and surround lighting.

Inside, highlights include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, single-zone climate control, and a 10.3-inch infotainment array featuring DAB+ digital radio connectivity, wireless device charging, and wireless App-Connect.

Further, the Golf is now set to offer Volkswagen’s Travel Assist adaptive cruise control technology including Lane Assist, as well as Front Assist (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detections, and Side Assist with rear cross-traffic alert, again as standard fare.

The German importer will also introduce the Golf Style (from $43,690) to its range from April, the variant taking the place of the former Golf Highline, and adding “significant enhancements”.

These include 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior garnishing, rear privacy glass, and LED Plus (adaptive) headlights.

Inside, the variant boasts a larger 12.9-inch infotainment screen with native sat nav and voice assistance, 30-colour LED ambient lighting, ergonomic seating with 14-way powered driver seat adjustment, and ArtVelours microfleece upholstery.

Style customers may further option a panoramic sunroof and a Sound & Vision package incorporating harman/kardon premium audio, head-up display, and 360-degree camera system.

The Golf R-Line (from $47,990) will continue as part of the generation 8.5 range, again offering a panoramic sunroof and a Sound & Vision package as an option.

As standard, the variant includes 18-inch alloy wheels, driving profile selection including Sport mode, progressive steering for sharper responses, R-Line exterior and interior styling including front sports seats, plus newly standard Vienna leather appointed upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and electric driver’s seat with memory.

Golf Life, Style and R-Line variants continue to be powered by Volkswagen’s familiar turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine developing 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque. The unit is paired as standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Further up the line the Golf GTI (from $58,990) and R (from $70,990) will step into 2025 with more features and more power (+15kW).

The 2025 Golf GTI will now feature as standard Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC Pro), revised steering, and a more powerful 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, now outputting 195kW and 370Nm.

Additional standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, metallic paint, front fog lights, LED Plus headlights, Park Assist, tri-zone climate control, and larger 12.9-inch infotainment array.

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 featuring Vienna leather, electric driver’s seat and heated and ventilated front seats can be specified without a sunroof.

Customers may also opt the aforementioned Sound & Vision package on GTI variants.

For the flagship Golf R we find a power bump of 10kW, taking the total output to 245kW.

Additional features include LED Matrix headlights, premium LED tail-lights, Nappa leather, electric driver’s seat with memory, heated and ventilated front seats, harman/kardon audio, Area View (360-degree camera system), and 19-inch alloy wheels

Importantly, the high-performance variant also includes a torque-vectoring rear axle, Sport stability control setting, and special modes including Nürburgring (usable on road and track) and Drift (track only).

A Black Edition variant will be available optionally, adding what VW describes as “brooding dark accents” throughout.

Optionally, the Golf range is available with metallic paint ($800 on Life, Style, and R-Line grades, standard on GTI and R), premium paint ($300 on R-Line, standard on GTI), premium metallic paint ($300 on GTI, standard on R), a panoramic sunroof ($1900 on Style, R-Line, GTI, and R), Style & Vision package ($2000 on Style, R-Line, and GTI, standard on R), and Vienna Leather package ($3900 on GTI only).

Sales of the Volkswagen Golf finished 2024 down 18.5 per cent with sales of just 2929 units. Competing in the Small segment over $40K category, the Golf ranked in second place behind the MG 4 (6934 units), and ahead of the related Audi A3 (2375 units) in third place.

Mainstream Small passenger rivals sold in far higher numbers, those in the sub-$40K category achieving almost 10 times the number of sales achieved by the Volkswagen Golf.

Across 2024, the Toyota Corolla led the Small segment with 24,027 unit sales ahead of the Kia Cerato (15,502 units), and Hyundai i30 (12,682 units).

2025 Volkswagen Golf pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.