The latest iteration of one of the world’s best selling cars is on sale now.
The eighth generation Volkswagen Golf is available to order from this month, with prices starting at £23,785.
Buyers will initially be available to choose from two trim levels and four engine/gearbox combinations.
The entry-level Life model is expected to be the biggest seller in the UK, with standard equipment including 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights and parking sensors for the front and rear. Ambient lighting in 10 different colours is also standard, as is a 10.25-inch digital instrument display. There’s also a 10-inch infotainment system with navigation.
Style specification adds 17-inch alloy wheels and LED ‘plus’ headlights, while the interior features sports comfort seats. There are also wooden inserts and three-zone climate control. Prices for this model start at £25,470.
A sporty R-Line model will join the two starting trim levels at a later date, as well as Estate, GTE, GTI, GTD and R variants.
At launch, the petrol engine line-up is made of a 1.5-litre petrol available with 130 or 150bhp. Both are combined with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Diesel options include 115 or 150bhp 2.0-litre units, the former with a six-speed manual transmission. The more powerful diesel comes with a seven-speed DSG transmission as standard.
Later in the year, the line-up will be expanded to include a 1.0-litre petrol, and 1.0- and 1.5-litre mild-hybrid powertrains.
There’s some clever tech onboard and Volkswagen is calling the new Golf its most connected car to date, thanks to Car2X technology, which allows the vehicle to “talk” to other Car2X-equipped vehicles and see obstacles in the road better, allowing the car to avoid hazards more easily and warn of approaching emergency vehicles, for example.
Pricing for other variants, such as the estate and hot hatch models, will be released closer to their on-sale date.
jmckeown@thecourier.co.uk