Golf still simply the best selling VW after 50 years
What can be said about VW's iconic Golf? Quite a lot, actually. It has been around since 1974 and has achieved runaway success, enduring for decades thanks to its combination of quality, practicality, and reliability, along with a number of technical advancements. The Golf continues to thrive, even as VW expands its electric ID range.
It remains a desirable vehicle, providing premium features in a mainstream market, such as a head-up display, adjustable ambient lighting, the ability to use a mobile phone as a vehicle key, and hatchback practicality in an era dominated by SUVs and crossovers.
In fact, it is VW's best-selling model for 2024, with 32,370 registrations that place it sixth in the overall market.
This achievement comes as the model celebrates its 50th anniversary. Even amidst the push for electric cars, the Golf still offers various options: petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and, in this instance, the mild hybrid 1.5-litre eTSI petrolThe latest upgrade to the eighth generation includes design tweaks and introduces a first for the brand. It is unmistakably a Golf but features sharper styling.
Notable improvements include LED headlights, a horizontal LED strip in the radiator grille, and, for the first time, an illuminated VW logo on the grille. The rear showcases the word "Golf" emblazoned on the boot, reflecting the company’s confidence in its product.
The Style variant additionally offers 17-inch alloy wheels, (optional 18-inch on this model), front sports seats, high-end soft-touch interior trim, adaptive cruise control, climate control, door mirror puddle lights, and LED headlights with a cornering function and ‘Style’ exterior badging. An upgraded infotainment system (MIB4) features a free-standing touchscreen and illuminated touch sliders for temperature and volume control.
It also includes an enhanced multi-function steering wheel and an IDA voice assistant, which is ready to integrate with ChatGPT. This mid-range model is powered by a 150PS TSI petrol engine paired with the excellent seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. It offers both strong performance and impressive fuel economy, achieving around 50 mpg.
Acceleration is quick, hitting 60 mph in just over eight seconds and can reach a top speed of 139 mph. It also provides good levels of torque for smooth overtaking on the motorway or quick starts around town. However, push the accelerator too hard and can be prone to front wheel spin. The suspension handles road conditions expertly, ensuring stability while cornering and the ride is comfortable as always.
Practicality is also a strong point, comfortably seating five passengers and offering 381 litres of luggage capacity, which increases to 1,237 litres with the rear seat backrest folded down. While not the largest in its class, this capacity is adequate for most needs. Safety is a priority, with a full complement of active and passive measures, including a complete set of airbags. Notably, it features Park Assist Pro, which allows the vehicle to be manoeuvred into and out of parking spaces using a smartphone operated from outside the car.
The Area View option provides a 360-degree bird's-eye view of the vehicle and its surroundings for easier manoeuvering.
Other standard features include emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane and traffic jam assist, oncoming vehicle braking during turns with swerve support, and rear traffic alert. It also comes standard with front and rear cameras equipped with parking sensors
.After half a century, this is the best Golf yet. As Ralf Brandstätter, CEO of VW Passenger Cars, stated not so long ago: “A Golf always remains a Golf because the underlying concept is timeless.” There is no reason to doubt him.
Factfile
Volkswagen Golf Style 1.5 e-TSI
Price: £32,150
Mechanical: 150PS, 1,498cc, four cylinder turbo charged mild hybrid petrol engine driving front wheels via seven-speed DSG auto transmission
Max speed: 139mph
0-62mph: 8.4 seconds
Combined mpg: 50.2
Insurance: 22E
CO2 emissions: 121g/km
BiK rating: 29%
Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles
