Has Volkswagen gotten the range and pricing right for the new Golf?

The Chasing Car crew keep hitting goals with their reviews. Thanks for another excellent job, Tom. You basically summarised why I am confused about this car. I have one of the final year Mk7.5 R-Lines. It was fully loaded for less than the current Mk8 base R-Line costs, has many of the same runtrain components (yes, adaptive dampers would be nice, but it’s swings and roundabouts with the DSG vs Aisin 8 speed), then they decontented some really nice stuff before finding the ugliest range of wheels possible to run them on (the R-Line’s are okay, but the rest of the range is hideous). And I find it difficult enough to accurately stab away at the 7.5’s huge centre screen just to find my podcasts on the move without having to stab away to control actual important functions as well on the 8. I have to say that it didn’t feel as cheap as expected when I sat in one, but nothing about it compelled me to ask for a test drive. And that’s a shame because I love cars and even some of the most humble fare can excite me. Most critically, I’ve always loved Golfs. But really - I just couldn’t be bothered… I suspect that, maybe, Volkswagen couldn’t be bothered either and just phoned this one in. Yes it’s still a really good car, maybe still class best, but most of the groundwork was already done with the Mk7. Maybe the Mk8.5 will see it reach it’s potential. I think VW have already moved on though to an electric future and that the Golf will play no part in that… All that said, I still have to give kudos to VW Australia for not speccing the cheap torsion bar rear suspension on any model in the range though it must have been a huge temptation, and for providing some of the best judged, most beautifully-honed, safety systems in the business.

I quite like the location backdrop.

Agree on the rims Tom, these are much nicer than the GTI.

The digitalisation of all the controls is technology for the sake of technology. They have gone overboard and not considered practicality.

Tom your channel is definitely the best in Australia! Thanks for your outstanding job mate!

A great review, thank you!

Really enjoy your reviews

The R-line looks pretty good. Price rise is significant considering that I paid 24k for brand new mk7 dsg golf drive away. Glad to see the dry clutch DSG gone as it was amazing to drive but pain to maintain. Considering that all competitors cars have also had significant price rises and that Golf has always been around 20k euros (base model) in Europe, i could see it coming. Despite all that I cannot see my self driving anything else at the moment. Thanks for a great review.

I want to thank you guys for reviewing the R-Line. I had requested it via the website (and no idea how much influence that had), and it came through! A good review that nicely highlights some of the differences between this and the Life. I'd since ordered one, and I think it's exactly the same as what you had - Moonstone Grey with the Sound and Vision pack. I won't be seeing mine for a good few months yet, but I like what you've shown me!

Had ours for over a year now, once you get familiar with the high tech you’ll realise it does / has so much features and setting for driver aids, so many air conditioner settings, can adjust stereo volume near the screen or on the steering wheel, voice commands ability is fantastic and so on.

Great review again. Nuts to this car. 45k used to get you a Golf GTI. Now it gets you a regular Golf with a half-baked touchscreen, bulky seats and adaptive dampers. I'm not a VW hater, but I think they're trying to pass on the cost of their legal bills to Mk 8 owners.

That interior isn't so bad looking once you're in the car honestly, the one I was in had a pretty low battery but the slowness of the infotainment is apparently a common occurrence especially at start up. So you're driving cold some mornings since you can't get that screen to turn up the heat. VW needs to figure out something in that regard.

So $44k for all the things I hate about the new GTI but with only 110kW? I think VW are saying they are sick of selling cars in Australia.

We drove the mk7 against the previous Octavia (preferred the Skoda) but it would be interesting to see how the new(er) versions of these would now compare. Yes, same family tree - but different fruit. Well done on the content, Australia’s premiere on-line motoring channel.

Great channel👍

No physical climate control buttons is a deal breaker for me. F'ing hate that.

The look has grown on me

Well done as always, Tom. Just a bit curious about what’s happening to the rear badge at 11:41? 🤣

Dim-witted touchscreen? Nope. I'm out. I didn't mind touchscreens until I started driving bumpy country roads at night in thick fog. Far too many missed and double taps thus inducing more tapping and even more not looking where I'm going in an already heavily visually compromised environment. The country roads around me aren't getting fixed any decade soon and it became soooo frustrating I sold the car. Fine in the city but hopeless to the point of dangerous in the country at speed. If I had hit someone while playing with the touchscreen I'd be charged with Drive Without Due Care and Attention (Careless Driving) and yet I can't tap on my phone when driving 🤣 due governed by Muppets. There's very good reasons why there are still knobs and switches in a new Airbus and why we have a road toll.

Accurate assessment he is correct about the touch screen so don’t mess with it when driving

As a VW driver for the last 6 years and after a few visits to the local dealer I cannot purchase a new Golf. It falls short on so many levels but the dash materials and to a degree the design do not meet the asking price. Small capacity engine is fine but would like another 30-40 nm just for the fun. The current North American Jetta Gli has a more resolved dash layout so I'm unsure where all the development costs were spent....with hindsight I'm guessing the mid life update may be the one to buy in a few years...

One thing I can't get my head around is how it's safe to drive and play with those tablets at the same time. If you touch a mobile whilst driving, you're in trouble (rightly so), but it's ok to play with the infotainment?

I've had no issue at all with the central screen. Maybe software updates had fixed it, but there's simply no issue at all with my vehicle, at least.

That sinister monobrow look from the front 😁

I think it's a great option if GTI power is not what you're after. The fake quad pipes look okish too.

Watching the video I was getting sea sick from camera moving around for the Tom talking shots - otherwise solid review :)

How does the r line package ride compared to the previous gen?

Aisin transmission very good choice for reliability ...... major shareholder and user is Toyota.

My MK7 Golf R Line with Driver Assistance Package II was $37k brand new drive away in 2015. Its a car I've been very impressed with. BUT! Is the MK8 R Line with similar spec at $44k a suitable upgrade? Is the price hike worth it?

This thing is a decent alternative to the 118i. The 1er gets pricey with some pretty ordinary options added. My lease is almost expired so I think I'll add this to my shortlist. Thanks Tom.

Can get a T-Roc Style for slightly less. Same transmission, and same platform as the Golf. You however have the height from an SUV people seem to want now, and physical buttons to control in car features.

15:30 I’ve owned an R-Line MK8 since November last year and have not found this feature yet! The R-Line we get over here doesn’t get IQLights but rather High Performance LED’s. Can someone explain how to use this high beam feature?

Hi Tom great video after watching I’ve decided that I’m gonna buy a fully optioned mk7.5 r line instead of 8 because it has a lot of great stuff that got removed and overal a better buy

Tom, you guys need to make use of the community posts on KZfaq. The KZfaq algorithm boosts channels that make use of it and honestly this channel is far too good not be up there with the big guys.

I'll hold onto my Mk 7.5 R-line in that case.

Great wrap up, thanks. I’m shopping for a golf 8 and good to know the “golf range”.

is R Line's 1500cc 150ps machine more noisy than Style's 1500cc 150ps edition?

2 years later and this car is now priced at 48k drive-away. I guess the $47k drive-way of the Civic is not bad now.

Give me analogue knobs and switches any day.,tartan seats as well please.

Golf go BRRRRRRRRR

One on order, still ages off arrival, same colours etc.

Ironically, here in South Africa we are done selling with standard Golfs coz they never sell than their big brothers such as GTI or R

Nice review. I am a year into the fully loaded 7.5 GTI I bought as a way of avoiding the Mk8 series. Now I've sat in one and definitely made the right choice, the 7.5 is much nicer inside, and drives very nice, I have no complaints. One thing I do find interesting though in the Mk8 R-Line is the fact that rather than being a fake Golf R in looks, it's now a fake GTI in looks. How did that happen? It could have been called a GTI-Line, but thankfully they didn't.

Does this model using dry cluth..?

Maybe the question should be what is the best warm hatch practical daily driver you can buy for about $44k AUD to get instead of this R-line Golf? Is there a Hyundai i30 N-line hatch in my future? I think its all I would need, where one car needs to do it all except head off road.

Tom, You know better than me; but it seems VWA aren't aggressive enough about expanding the full range of VW vehicles and add ons. Overseas markets have VW Connect , but we seem to be the poor relations.This R Line is a cool vehicle but I think VW are complacent against Korean competitors. Cheers-John

Perfect for BMW to sell some more 1 series, or better still its rivals selling more sporty versions in the same price range.

where is this test loop?

As a golf mk7 owner i think pricess Are now over the top have Locked at golf mk8 gti 66000. AUD compering IT to Renault Rs will go for Renault looks Way better in my opinion

I was considering this vehicle. Test drove it two weeks ago and loved it, but was told it would be a 6-7 month wait. Now I've ordered a Focus ST-3👍 much better value.

Aus and NZ definitely got rorted by distributor ditching the Highline (Style)

I think that huge slab of shiny black plastic surrounding the two screens looks so cheap and nasty. It reminds me of a cheap cut price TV or digital photo frame. Absolutely revolting. Crappy infotainment and integrated headrests, nope. As a repeat VW owner, there’s no way I’d be spending $40k plus on a Mk8. You’re losing me VW.

You Drive like my granny. Keith here from South Africa

Golf R looks minus the price and a more sensible engine what’s not to like? I’m tempted having just sold a mk7 Gti which was a great car apart from the 2.0tsi engine issues !

Doctor Who driving a Golf. Nice.

Rims are better looking than gti's ones

You can get heated seats on the r line in Europe

What colour is this? Urano Grey? Dolphin Grey?

To be honest this generation they all look the same Golf Standard/R/GTI the difference are minimal 🧐

They really need to start having a Black headliner interior option, it will give it a more premium look/feel to the cabin

Would be good to see this compared to the Skoda Scala which does have the new 1.5 engine.

The base model also appears to be gone ... heh

This car costs 67000 Australian dollars in Ireland.

Way overpriced paid 48k onroad for my bowling hat Volvo 5 cylinders turbo and a massive 187 killer watts and it was an "R"

I'd rather save some money and buy a 7.5 gen golf R

I didn’t think the R-Line had adaptive dampers?

The Hyundai i30 n-line premium sedan is just way better value

That's a lot of piano black plastic around the entertainment unit and instrument cluster

$44k drive away for an R-Line? I paid $11k less than that drive away for my Mk7.5 GTI Original in 2018. Not sorry, VW Australia, you lost another repeat customer. Two golfs since 2011...there won't be a third, not at that absurd pricing.

VW is crazy. 45K and no heated seats 😂🤣😂🤣

The front of that thing looks like a grumpy grandpa who lost his teeth.

Asian brands are better value, you don’t get rorted with option packs.

Cheap interiors! 😔

Still can’t get with the huge mouth. Much rather buy a used Mk7.5

Can you stop showing slow-motion when driving, just show normal speed footage

Ugly car from the front

This Rivals On Sport Car Like Toyota Supra

Imo the range and pricing is irrelevant, when it looks like this. As a MK7 owner I would prefer the New Polo over this appalling styling exercise, both inside and out. The Polo is the new Golf. VW please employ more mature designers 😉👍

Pretty ugly looking car.