The legendary MK8 Volkswagen Golf gets a makeover

Ever since the first Volkswagen Golf rolled off the production line in 1974, its cemented itself as a cornerstone of reliable transport for the common man. Its unquestionable value took the industry by storm–leading to a million units built just two years later.

Eventually, seven generations followed alongside hot-blooded variants like the zippy GTI and hardcore R models. These were heralded as some of the prime choices to get your blood boiling on a twisty backroad without breaking the bank.

When the eighth-generation was unveiled in 2019, its futuristic inspirations and faithfulness to Volkswagen’s devotion to technology were immediately apparent. It paid proper homage to its predecessors by continuing to provide efficiency, safety, and practicality without compromising style or your wallet. 

However, this same eight-generation Golf did face some criticism–mostly due to an interior layout that isn’t intuitive for everyday use. Volkswagen heard all these complaints and decided to address the issue, alongside other tweaks in a bid to put its Golf back on top.

The first change directly resolves the ever-popular gremlin with the interior. The infotainment system has been revamped, both on a hardware and software level, to be easier to operate on a daily basis. While the pleas for volume knobs and buttons have fallen on deaf ears, Volkswagen promises that the controls for climate settings and drive modes are more accessible than ever. 

In addition to that, the brand has also installed the IDA voice assistant. This intelligent virtual assistant is capable of not only changing A/C settings and triggering options within the vehicle, but can also access online information to provide answers on questions regarding the weather–among other general information. It also mimics human logic courtesy of ChatGPT integration, assuring you that it isn’t just another addition to the spec sheet. 

Drivers will also find it less cumbersome to park due to new assist features. As you drive by a spot, the vehicle can sense if the space is large enough. If it is, then it will begin the parking process and can take full control over the throttle, braking, and steering. Other features like Park Assist Pro and Area View guarantee that even beginners won’t struggle to put their vehicles in tighter spaces.

Step outside and you’ll also find the exterior styling to have been updated. A revamped rear and front light design includes a now-illuminated VW logo, newly-designed LED headlights, and IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights/taillight clusters for select models. 

Things get better under the hood too. The new plug-in hybrid boasts more power and a range bump by about 100 km. Topping it up is less of an arduous wait now, thanks to a revolutionary DC quick-charging function. Meanwhile, the peppy Golf GTI also gains a power upgrade to better compete with its rivals.

With all these improvements, this is what Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, had to say: “The Golf has been at the heart of the Volkswagen brand for half a century now, offering affordable mobility for all at the highest technical level. This is precisely what we are now building on with the new evolutionary stage – with even higher efficiency, comfort and quality and a new operating concept. The Golf does not get any better than this.”

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