2024 Volkswagen Golf overview | CarExpert

Are you the form of one that could be okay with a ‘Cucci’ purse? Or some ‘Mike Air Jordams’?

Nicely… has Volkswagen obtained a deal for you! That’s as a result of this isn’t a Golf R, however you might be satisfied – at a look, that it’s.

The Volkswagen Golf R-Line just isn’t a brand new idea – there have been R-Line takes on the small hatch theme earlier than.

Nevertheless, this one has the next worth than any earlier model, and it doesn’t even have the snappy DSG dual-clutch transmission that sporty Golfs get.

So, is it enjoyable sufficient to idiot you into considering it’s a sensible purchase? Learn on to seek out out.

How a lot does the Volkswagen Golf value?

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf R-Line begins from $41,690 plus on-road prices.

Which means it’s a $3100 soar over the Golf Life ($38,590) however represents an almost-$14,000 low cost over the GTI ($55,490).

We’ll run by means of the usual tools in additional element beneath, however simply know that in comparison with the Life the R-Line appears sportier, drives sportier and feels sportier inside. Perhaps it’s even sufficient to persuade you that the additional spend on a GTI gained’t be needed…

So, what about rivals? You’re trying squarely on the likes of the Hyundai i30 Hatch N Line Premium ($39,000), Peugeot 308 GT ($43,990), Mazda 3 G25 Astina Hatch ($42,320). And hey, a Cupra Leon V isn’t that far as much as soar, at $45,190.

What’s the Volkswagen Golf like on the within?

It appears and feels much more upmarket than the fundamental Golf, and that’s a part of the explanation I believe that is so convincing.

The ‘R’ sports activities seats have an amazing appear and feel to them; they’re correctly sporty and wholly convincing that that is extra particular than a regular Golf.

The ‘R’ embroidered into the highest part of the seat could be a bit bit a lot for some individuals, however they’ve wonderful bolstering and the crosshatch end on the seat inlays is a very nice look. There are leather-ish outer sections as properly, and the seats are very supportive and comfy for longer drives.

Some prospects could lament the dearth of electrical seat controls, however there’s a rotary dial for backrest adjustment and a pump peak adjuster too. There may be the anticipated slide fore and aft, and a handbook lumbar adjustment management lever as properly.

You additionally get a sportier steering wheel, once more with an ‘R’ on it, and with perforated leather-based edging for the grip factors. However, annoyingly, the haptic controls on the steering wheel are simple to bump and generally sluggish to reply as properly.

For instance: to show off the lane-keeping help, it’s essential to hit the top of one of many stalks on the steering column, earlier than hitting the OK button on the appropriate facet of the steering wheel. On some events, the button was not as responsive, or I seemingly miss-hit it, regardless that I believed I used to be doing the very same motion every time.

The doorways characteristic the identical form of micro-fleece materials that’s a part of the seats, with comfortable elbow pads and a design component that runs from the entrance doorways all the best way throughout the dashboard.

The driving force’s digital instrument show is crisp and clear and simple to be taught (when you can grasp these haptic steering wheel controls). I do love the truth that this automobile additionally comes with a color head-up show, which is an excellent at-a-glance choice for checking your velocity, navigation instructions or security settings. 

Should you’ve learn another Volkswagen Golf protection in current occasions you’ll know that the largest sticking level for lots of people is the infotainment system: that’s the case with this reviewer as properly.

The display is comparatively fast to reply at occasions, however might be laggy with loading when leaping between menus. There may be additionally the widespread lament of no illuminated controls beneath the display for quantity and temperature: it’s nonetheless an issue.

There are a few buttons down beneath the display for shortcuts to drive modes, local weather management, parking help, in addition to the security settings. They do assist, nevertheless it isn’t so simple as a bigger array of buttons as you as soon as had within the Golf vary.

With regards to storage there’s a wi-fi cellphone charger forward of the gear selector and likewise a small tray alongside the gear selector. That is the place you would possibly wish to put your pockets or keys.

Behind that you just’ll discover a pair of cupholders with an adjustable component to the entrance one (so you may have a greater match in your cup when you want it) and additional again is a console bin beneath the centre armrest.

Each doorways have massive pockets with bottle holders moulded into them, and flocking inside as properly, which cease issues from rattling round once you’re on the street. 

Should you plan to have tall occupants within the again seat on a regular basis, it could be a bit squishy. At 182 cm or 6’0” tall I had sufficient foot room (simply) behind my very own driving place, however my knees have been up in opposition to the seat forward. Headroom, nonetheless, is superb.

Should you do plan to take three throughout the again pew, the middle-seat rider must play footsies with these within the window seats as there’s a major transmission tunnel.

When you’ve got smaller occupants this will likely be much less of a problem. My daughter’s forward-facing baby seat match wonderful immediately behind my driving place: her ft couldn’t fairly attain the seat in entrance.

On the seatbacks are map pockets and a few further machine pockets, however the seatbacks have a comfortable cloth end on the again, so little ones would possibly do some injury over time.

Nice to see that there’s a third zone of local weather management for second-row riders and directional air vents as properly. An additional bonus is a pair of USB-C ports.

Even supposing it does have a darkish headliner, there is a component of airiness to the backseat expertise and good visibility out the facet home windows. You additionally get touch-sensitive rear LED lights for maps or studying, or when loading in a kiddo at night time.

There are additionally seize handles within the again (and entrance) and it’s good to see that the again doorways additionally get the identical micro-fleece-style lining, and comfortable elbow pads.

As for storage, there a big door pockets with lining, and a fold-down central armrest with cupholders. There may be additionally a ski port within the center part of the seat as properly.  

Boot area is sweet for a small hatchback, with 374 litres of cargo capability and an adjustable boot flooring that lets you maximise the area when you want it. Fold down the rear seats and you’ll open up 1230L of cargo area, and beneath the boot flooring is a space-saver spare wheel as properly.

On the edges of the boot flooring on both facet are some further storage areas, a pair of buying bag hooks, some cargo tiedown factors, and a 12-volt outlet.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

It’s no R-spec engine, however that’s a part of the explanation it’s comparatively reasonably priced.

The R-Line makes use of the identical 110TSI petrol engine discovered within the base Golf Life, which means it has a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing – you guessed it – 110kW of energy (5000rpm) and 250Nm of torque (1500-4000rpm).

These figures have remained the identical for a number of years now, however propels the car properly. It’s teamed to an eight-speed computerized transmission with paddle-shifters, and like most Golfs, front-wheel drive.

The Golf R-Line will get a decrease suspension setup to make it look and drive sportier, and there’s additionally VW’s “progressive steering” system, which has a extra direct feeling than different setups.

The official mixed gas consumption determine is 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres, which is outstanding for a non-hybrid hatchback. It does have brake vitality recuperation as a part of the engine start-stop system, which absolutely performs some minor half within the gas use determine being so low.

Certainly, it’s replicable in the actual world, too. Over per week of driving, I noticed an as-tested determine of 5.9L/100km throughout a mixture of city, freeway and freeway testing. It has a 50-litre gas tank, and requires 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.

How does the Volkswagen Golf drive?

So does this really feel sportier to drive than a standard Volkswagen Golf? Sure it does!

The addition of the progressive steering system and lowered sports activities suspension mix to provide this a extra intense, fulfilling drive expertise than a regular Golf. Admittedly although, even a bog-stock Golf nonetheless drives very well.

Fortunately, the 15mm decrease suspension doesn’t lead to a pointy or disagreeable trip, because it’s nonetheless properly resolved and comfy in most conditions – although with a barely firmer edge than another hatchbacks within the phase. 

The steering has extra direct response to it, which provides the automobile a purposeful really feel, even once you’re simply doing boring city driving – like I did.

On the open street or a rustic again street is the place you’ll get probably the most out of it, because it has a pleasant stability to the best way it handles corners and bumps. These sporty seats actually do assist maintain you in your house too. 

Bridgestone Turanza (225/40/R18) rubber may not be the last word tyre resolution for all, however they do supply a reasonably good quantity of grip in numerous driving conditions.  

The 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine is actually sprightly sufficient for most individuals’s wants, and it does have good robust responsiveness by means of the rev vary.

What perhaps isn’t as sporty in its responsiveness is the eight-speed computerized transmission. That is going to be completely wonderful for lots of people who’re simply going concerning the regular day-to-day drudgery of life.

Nevertheless, when you begin to ask a bit bit extra of the transmission it doesn’t fairly reside as much as the efficiency and snappy shifts loved by those that had purchased a Golf with a DSG (dual-clutch) auto transmission.

There’s a helpful trade-off at decrease speeds although: the eight-speed auto is kind of amenable to city driving. It’s each easy and responsive, and may also help you get away from a standstill with first rate urgency, one thing that DSG transmissions (particularly these of years passed by) can’t match in all conditions.

One of many bugbears of this era of merchandise from the Volkswagen Group is street noise intrusion, and that continues to be a little bit of a sore level with this mannequin. That is as a result of mixture of low-profile tyres, and a inherent noisiness on course-chip surfaces, leading to some racket on rougher surfaced roads. 

What do you get?

Golf R-Line highlights:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• R-Line exterior trim with physique package
• Lowered (15mm) R-Line suspension
• Progressive steering
• LED efficiency headlights
• Rear privateness glass
• 30-colour inside ambient lighting
• Manually adjustable sports activities seats with ‘R’ themed cloth trim

That’s over what you get within the Life, which incorporates:

• LED headlights and tail lights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Professional (digital devices)
• 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 8.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• 7-speaker sound system
• Wi-fi cellphone charger
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• 10-colour inside ambient lighting
• Tri-zone local weather management
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Energy-folding facet mirrors
• Keyless entry and begin
• Baggage partition
• Emergency Help
• Exit warning system

Is the Volkswagen Golf protected?

The Golf vary has a five-star ANCAP security score from 2019 exams.

It scored 95 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 89 per cent for baby occupant safety, 76 per cent for weak street person safety, and 80 per cent for security help.

Commonplace security tools consists of:

• 9 airbags incl. front-centre airbag
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian, Bike owner detection
• Multi-collision brake
  • Applies brakes when you’re in a crash, stopping additional chaos
• Lane preserve help
• Journey Help
• Entrance cross-traffic alert
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
• Driver fatigue monitoring
• Park Help
• Reversing digicam
• Entrance, rear parking sensors
• Emergency Help
• Secure exit warning

How a lot does the Volkswagen Golf value to run?

Volkswagen presents a five-year, limitless kilometre guarantee in Australia, and as customary there’s one yr of roadside help included.

Should you service your automobile with VW, you may be eligible for as much as 10 years cowl for roadside help, which is nice.

Servicing is due each 12 months/15,000km, and there are alternatives with regards to upkeep – you may both pay as you go, or you may prepay your upkeep.

The three-year/45,000km plan prices $1550, representing a saving of as much as $200 off pay-as-you-go, whereas the five-year/75,000km service plan is $2550, making for a saving of as much as $704. 

CarExpert’s Tackle the Volkswagen Golf

Greater than only a mimic of a sportier Golf, the R-Line mannequin is a convincing tackle the sportier-than-average-hatchback theme.

It isn’t fairly as fast or as sharp to drive as some costlier Golf fashions, however for individuals who wish to look the half however play it good financially, it might be the perfect alternative.

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BUY: Volkswagen Golf
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