It’s mid-life update time for the Volkswagen Golf, but at first glance, you might not know it. Yep, it’s another one of those blink-and-you-’ll-miss-it facelifts, but that’s OK, as there are some important changes you can’t see from the outside that’ll make the car a whole lot easier to live with.
Yep, we’re talking about the removal of those fiddly haptic touchpad things affixed to the steering wheel of the pre-facelift Golf 8, which have been replaced with actual buttons. Meanwhile, there’s a new touchscreen infotainment measuring up to 12.9 inches (depending on trim/options).
We’ve used this unit before in the ID.7 – it runs VW’s newer MIB4 software and is a big step up from the system it replaces. Sadly, you do still need to use it for the climate control settings, but the temperature shortcut keys on the bezel are at least backlit this time around, fixing one of the most bizarre omissions of the Golf 8.
Of course, we already knew all of this from previous teasers, but what we didn’t know was that the Mk8.5 Golf GTI is in line for a reasonable bump in power, going from 242bhp to 261bhp. The result is that the hot hatch will now sprint to 62mph in a healthy 5.9 seconds, a drop of 0.2 seconds over the old, DSG-equipped car. Top speed remains an electronically-limited 155mph.
Volkswagen Golf GTI 8.5 – rear
If that’s still not quick enough for you, the GTI Clubsport is back too. Its power is unchanged from the old version at 296bhp, which further drops the 0-62mph run to 5.6 seconds. It can also have its top speed hiked up to 167mph via the optional Race Package.
Sadly, as expected, there’s no six-speed manual for the GTI – it’s now only available with the seven-speed DSG automatic. You can blame Euro7 emissions regulations for this, or at least, their earlier, more strict form. While the EU relaxed the rules recently, it was too late for VW to change tact. In any case, 50 per cent of American GTI buyers going for the manual was still only enough to get the global stick shift mix to a measly five per cent. For shame.
As far the facelift itself goes, there’s a new-ish front bumper with two new body-coloured aero elements that break up the lower grille, which always looked a bit too expansive in our eyes. It’s a welcome change, but the light-up VW badge? We’re still on the fence about that. Less divisive are the new light clusters front and rear, which look smart in this rejigged form. We also dig the new 19-inch teledial-style wheel option (pictured).
Volkswagen Golf GTI 8.5 – side
Don’t want a GTI? That’s all good, as the range still features plenty of different options. Interestingly, the entry-level 1.0-litre inline-three petrols are gone, replaced with a 1.5-litre inline-four producing 113bhp, and there’s a 148bhp version of the same engine. Both use six-speed manual gearboxes, but you can also have mild-hybrid versions producing the same outputs, hooked up to seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions.
There are two plug-in hybrids also using a 1.5-litre inline-four and a much bigger battery than before – at 19.7kWh, the capacity has nearly doubled, giving an electric-only range of up to 62 miles. The eHybrid makes 148bhp, while the GTE puts out a respectable 197bhp.
Volkswagen Golf GTI 8.5 estate – front
There are a couple of 2.0-litre TDI diesel engines available from launch, one making 113bhp, and the other 148bhp. The lower-powered of the two uses a six-speed manual gearbox, and the pokier one a seven-speed DSG.
The Golf range starts at £27,035 in the UK. Pricing for the facelifted GTI kicks off at £38,900 while the sporty PHEV GTE starts at a chunky £39,750. We’re yet to find out the cost of the Clubsport, but expect it to break through the £40k barrier.
For those after fruitier options, the good news is that an updated, 329bhp Golf R is on the way in both hatch and estate forms, with a hardcore Clubsport version of that potentially following, but we won’t be getting a GTD this time. We’ve had a brief go in a prototype Golf R, and while it wasn’t really enough to get a proper feel for it, the early signs are promising.