More than a comeback, Golf exorcises woke VW ghosts
The Volkswagen Golf is back. Best of all, not only does it return to local roads, but it’s also rid of some of the dubious devices its makers foisted on the poor previous Golf. So dire were some of its useless interface and overbearing nanny features, that they even had us concerned about Volkswagen’s future as a carmaker.
Happily, however, a palace revolt and an urgent purge of senior Wolfsburg design staff has seen to a complete cockpit rethink and the dumbing down of those overpowering systems. So not only has that rid the car of most of our urgent pre-facelift concerns, but it’s once again made this popular model what it always was. The hatchback king.
Now available in Life, Life Plus, R-Line and this R-Line Plus equipment lines, this 110 kW 250 Nm 1.4 TSI also returns a regular Golf range to the local market. The GTI was the only model last time. Now there’s once again a full range of this engine size. too
The biggest new Golf news in inside
The biggest news is inside. Now featuring a far more intuitive, simpler and easy to use operating concept for its 10.3-inch next-generation wireless app connect infotainment system, radio and 6-speaker audio, the change is how you work it all, Gone is that beautiful looking but awful to operate and impossible to use touch-interface multifunction steering.
In its place is a new heated Progressive multifunction wheel with shift paddles. And beautiful, functional and easy to figure real buttons neatly laid out on the stalks. Now a human can work the Golf again! Hooray!
We’d have scored this change 100 percent had Volkswagen had gone all the way and replaced those albeit far improved sliders and much better haptic control screen touching with real temperature, fan, volume and tune knobs on the dash. But they didn’t. They do work better now. But we still want our knobs!
Golf is fast approaching 50 years in SA
The point is the touchscreen is there, and those who like it, can use that. But those millions of drivers like us who like real, intuitive and functioning buttons and knobs, are forced to use that alien touch system. Come on VW. Go all the way!
For the rest, the keyless entry 30-colour ambient lit space with Art-velours sports comfort power adjustable driver’s and heated and cooled integrated head rest front seats smacks of typical Volkswagen class. As do the 10-inch digital cockpit and brushed stainless steel pedals; driver profiles, allergen filter 3-zone Climatronic with rear controls, and rear view camera with park assist and park distance control.
Fast approaching fifty years in South African, the comeback generation 8.1 Golf is set apart over the pre-facelift model sold in other markets by sharper front and rear end design,18-inch Leeds alloys and sports suspension. Our flagship R-Line Plus sampler featured splendid 500 metre range active main beam IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights with DRLs, a grill bar LEDs and even a lit VW badge.
Impressive performance, economy too.
The1.4TSI engine mated to an 8-speed Tiptronic transmission delivers impressive 8.5 second 0–100 km/h performance and lives running hard, although it could be called a touch wanting when tugging in the lower ranges. Good for a frugal claimed 6.3 litres per 100 km, we had no trouble matching that, so fuel consumption and range are good too.
Best of all perhaps, was how much attention this car demanded in and around the Cape. They all think it’s a Golf R. Accurate because of the R badges that don’t say Line. And fitting because it’s actually more aggressive than the pre facelift R. One Hermanus local even crawled under to try figure what engine was inside! We’d go so far to say that this humble Golf drew more loving looks than anything we’ve driven this year!
Being a Volkswagen, Golf has all the backing of a broad and fully established dealer boy. It comes standard with a 3-year 120 000 km warranty and 5-year 90 000 km service plan with 15 000 km service intervals. All of which seems to justify its quite premium R688K asking price.
Thanks for listening Volkswagen!
Best of all, the Volkswagen Golf is not just back in South Africa. Its back in great style too. Never mind rid of the issues that so concerned us so in the GTI-only pre-facelift. It’s a damn good middle of the pack option too. Thanks for listening, Volkswagen. Your Golf is now back where it always belonged. Right on top! – Michele Lupini
Images & test data: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI R-Line Plus
Engine: 110 kW 250 Nm 1.4-litre turbo petrol I4
Drive: 8-speed automatic FWD
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 3.96 sec
0-100 km/h: 8.33 sec
0-120 km/h 10.46 sec
0-160 km/h 19.29 sec
400m: 15.8 sec @ 149 km/h
80-120 km/h: 6.33 sec
120-160 km/h: 8.83 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 216 km/h
Fuel: 6.3 l/100 km
CO2: 143 g/km
Range: 800 km
Warranty/Service: 3y 120K/5y 90K km
LIST PRICE: R688K
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