We analyze the most interesting aspects of the Volkswagen Golf, its strengths and weaknesses, with a view to a future purchase: engines, equipment, price…
In February 2020, Volkswagen presented the eighth generation of its popular hatchback and one of the most iconic cars in automotive history: the Volkswagen Golf. A car that kept the usual recipe, but improved. More than two and a half years later, let’s see its strengths and weaknesses, in the face of a possible purchase.
The Volkswagen Golf arrived with important innovations, both in equipment and in the exterior and interior design of the car. But, as usual in the German brand, the model retains all the attributes and characteristics that have made it a benchmark in the C segment for almost half a century.
The eighth generation Golf is built on the same MQB platform as the previous model and, like this one, is available with two body types: a five-door hatchback and a family car.
Strong points of the Volkswagen Golf: design
The Volkswagen Golf has a quickly recognizable design. This is how they want it in Wolfsburg, a design that has become an icon generation after generation.
However, the eighth generation adds some details that differentiate it from the Golf VII and the previous ones, especially on the front. The new Golf adopts a new format for the light clusters, straight at the top and more elaborate at the bottom, providing a more modern image.
The GTI version of the Golf also includes some aesthetic novelties, thanks to a very sporty bumper, a large front grille, side skirts and a large rear diffuser with dual exhaust outlets.
It also changes the interior of the Golf. Without being revolutionary, we can say that it is a notable change compared to the previous generation, with a greater presence of digital screens and the disappearance of physical buttons.
Polyvalence
One of the strengths of the Volkswagen Golf is its versatility. It is still a C-segment vehicle, but it is a car that fully covers the basic needs of most families.
It is not the largest in its category, nor the most spacious nor the one with the largest trunk, but it passes with flying colors in all these aspects. It has a dynamic driving feel, but is not uncomfortable in everyday driving and on road trips. In short, a round product. Therefore, it is the benchmark that everyone wants to imitate.
Engine offer
The Volkswagen Golf has always stood out for offering a wide range of engines and the eighth generation is no less. The offer is large and varied, with petrol, diesel, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.
There are three gasoline engines: a three-cylinder 1.0 TSI with 110 hp and a 1.5-liter TSI with 131 or 150 hp. These engines can carry a light hybridization system. The diesel offer is made up of a single 2.0 TDI engine with 116, 150 and 200 hp in the GTD variant. Depending on the version, the change can be manual or automatic DSG.
At the top of the range is the Golf GTI with a 245 hp 2.0 TSI engine, the GTI Clubsport with 300 hp and the Golf R with 320 hp.
On the other hand, the plug-in hybrid version corresponds to the Golf GTE, with 245 hp and a 13 kWh battery that gives it an electric range of 65 kilometers.
complete equipment
A section that can justify the purchase of a Golf is its equipment. As standard, it is quite complete and can be expanded with a huge catalog of options.
The standard equipment includes elements such as 17-inch wheels, Matrix IQ.Light LED headlights with Dynamic Light Assist high beam assistant, LED pilot lights, the Digital Cockpit panel, ambient lighting in 30 colors, the three sports shooting or the leather-wrapped steering wheel with touch controls and gear shift paddles in the DSG versions, among other elements.
Weak points of the Volkswagen Golf: price
Logically, everything described up to here has to be paid for. The Volkswagen Golf has a list price of 30,700 euros with the Life finish and the 110 hp 1.0 TSI engine, linked to a six-speed manual gearbox.
It is a clearly higher price than that of its rivals, but it is the price to pay for being the reference and having above-average equipment. In addition, it is a vehicle with a high build quality.
interior and trunk
Another weak point of the Volkswagen Golf is that habitability has not improved, compared to the previous generation. It cannot be said that the interior is small, simply that it maintains the same dimensions as the previous model.
Neither has the capacity of the trunk improved, which, with 380 liters, is in the segment average. But, who needs more volume, there are many options that beat the Golf and much cheaper.
