General News
25 February, 2025
VW tees-off new Golf range
VOLKSWAGEN has revealed details of the new Golf range, including the GTI, but no prices as yet.
The upgraded Mark 8.5 generation is due to arrive in April with more technology, more luxury and more power for GTI and R flagship versions.
The new Golf Life opens the range with comprehensive equipment, including 17in alloys, front and rear parking sensors, park assist, rear view camera, LED headlights with light assist, keyless entry and alarm, surround lighting, leather-wrapped steering wheel, single-zone climate control airconditioning, 10.3in infotainment, DAB+ digital radio, more powerful ventilated wireless smartphone charging and wireless App-Connect as standard.
New to the range, the Style includes 18in alloy wheels with chrome exterior highlights, dark tinted privacy glass and LED Plus headlights. Inside, the larger and new 12.9in infotainment screen includes embedded navigation and IDA voice assistance, while 30 colour ambient lighting complements luxurious seating – ErgoActive 14-way electric driver’s seat with memory and ArtVelours microfleece upholstery throughout the five-person cabin seating.
Style customers can also option a panoramic sunroof and a sound and vision package incorporating Harman/Kardon premium audio, head-up display and, for the first time on a Golf, area view 360-degree camera.
The popular Golf R-Line continues, with the availability of a sunroof and the sound and vision pack.
R-Line features include 18in 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 continue with the 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 250Nm and 110kW of power, linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Often accounting for more than half of Volkswagen Golf sales, the performance-focused GTI and R icons step up in 2025 with more features and more power.
The GTI also comes with revised steering and Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC Pro), plus 15kW extra –195kW and 370Nm of torque from the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol GTI, including a new 19in alloy wheel and tyre package as standard, replacing the previous 18s.
A new 12.9in infotainment screen is standard, along with metallic paint, fog lights, new park assist plus, tri-zone climate control, LED Plus headlights and 30 colour ambient lighting.
The panoramic sunroof is a stand-alone option, allowing customers to select the iconic ‘tartan’ cloth interior with a sunroof for the first time.
The newly-introduced leather package features Vienna leather, electric driver’s seat and heated and ventilated front seats without a sunroof.
The sound and vision package adds area view 360-degree camera for the first time, in addition to Harman/Kardon premium audio and head-up display.
The flagship Volkswagen Golf R also steps up with 245kW as standard for the first time, up 10kW on the outgoing series.
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 and 19in alloy wheels are included in the R specs.
In New Zealand, a GTI Mk 8.5 base model with similar specifications is $NZ69,990 drive away, converted to $AUD63,400. An R is $NZ82,990 or $AUD75,173.
Currently in run-out mode and available for some months, the Aussie GTI Mk 8 is $59,990 with luxury and sound and style packs (the standard GTI was $59,990).
Interestingly, the Skoda Octavia RS Mk 8.5 wagon is $NZ73,990 in NZ or $AUD67,020, yet in Australia it is $AUD64,490.
You would expect that Australia’s Golfs would be a lot cheaper considering we have a much bigger market and cheaper shipping costs.
Will VW Australia be fair or greedy? In the past the Octavia RS wagon has always been $2200 cheaper than the GTI, so will we see a $66,690 GTI?
I hope not, it should be cheaper than the Kiwi GTI.
