2024 Volkswagen Golf evaluation

Are you the sort of individual who would be fine with a ‘Cucci’ bag? Or some ‘Mike Air Jordams’?

Well … has Volkswagen got an offer for you! That’s since this is not a Golf R, however you might be persuaded– at a glimpse, that it is.

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The Volkswagen Golf R-Line is not a brand-new idea– there have actually been R-Line handles the little hatch style before.

This one has a greater cost than any previous variation, and it does not even have the stylish DSG dual-clutch transmission that stylish Golfs get.

Is it enjoyable enough to trick you into believing it’s a wise buy? Keep reading to learn.

Asus Just how much does the Volkswagen Golf cost?

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

That suggests it’s a $3100 dive over the Golf Life ($38,590) however represents a practically-$14,000 discount rate over the GTI ($55,490).

We’ll go through the basic devices in more information listed below, however feel in one’s bones that compared to the Life the R-Line looks sportier, drives sportier and feels sportier inside. Possibly it’s even adequate to encourage you that the additional invest in a GTI will not be needed …

What about competitors? You’re looking directly at the similarity the Hyundai i30 Hatch N Line Premium ($39,000), Peugeot 308 GT ($43,990), Mazda 3 G25 Astina Hatch ($42,320). And hello, a Cupra Leon V isn’t that far as much as leap, at $45,190.

Asus What is the Volkswagen Golf like on the within?

It looks a lot more upmarket than the standard Golf, which’s part of the factor I believe this is so persuading.

The ‘R’ sports seats have a significant feel and look to them; they are effectively stylish and entirely persuading that this is more unique than a basic Golf.

The ‘R’ embroidered into the leading area of the seat may be a bit much for some individuals, however they have exceptional strengthening and the crosshatch surface on the seat inlays is an actually great appearance. There are leather-ish external areas also, and the seats are extremely encouraging and comfy for longer drives.

Some clients might lament the absence of electrical seat controls, however there is a rotary dial for back-rest modification and a pump height adjuster too. There is the anticipated slide fore and aft, and a manual back change control lever.

You likewise get a sportier wheel, once again with an ‘R’ on it, and with perforated leather edging for the grip points. Aggravatingly, the haptic controls on the guiding wheel are simple to bump and often sluggish to react.

: to turn off the lane-keeping support, you should strike the end of one of the stalks on the guiding column, in the past striking the Okay button on the best side of the guiding wheel. On some celebrations, the button was not as responsive, or I relatively miss-hit it, although I believed I was doing the precise very same action each time.

The doors include the very same sort of micro-fleece product that becomes part of the seats, with soft elbow pads and a style aspect that ranges from the front doors all the method throughout the control panel.

The motorist’s digital instrument screen is crisp and tidy and simple to find out (if you can master those haptic wheel controls). I do enjoy the reality that this cars and truck likewise features a colour head-up display screen, which is a great at-a-glance alternative for examining your speed, navigation instructions or security settings.

If you’ve checked out any other Volkswagen Golf protection in current times you’ll understand that the greatest sticking point for a lot of individuals is the infotainment system: that is the case with this customer.

The screen is reasonably fast to react sometimes, however can be laggy with filling when leaping in between menus. There is likewise the typical lament of no brightened controls listed below the screen for volume and temperature level: it’s still an issue.

There are a number of buttons down listed below the screen for faster ways to drive modes, environment control, parking help, along with the security settings. They do assist, however it isn’t as easy as a bigger selection of buttons as you when had in the Golf variety.

When it concerns storage there is a cordless phone battery charger ahead of the equipment selector and likewise a little tray together with the equipment selector. This is where you may wish to put your wallet or secrets.

Behind that you’ll discover a set of cupholders with an adjustable component to the front one (so you can have a much better suitable for your cup if you require it) and even more back is a console bin under the centre armrest.

Both doors have big pockets with bottle holders moulded into them, and gathering within also, which stop things from rattling around when you’re on the roadway.

If you prepare to have high residents in the rear seats all the time, it might be a bit squishy. At 182 cm or 6’0″ high I had adequate foot space (simply) behind my own driving position, however my knees were up versus the seat ahead. Headroom, nevertheless, is great.

If you do prepare to take 3 throughout the back seat, the middle-seat rider will need to play footsies with those in the window seats as there’s a considerable transmission tunnel.

If you have smaller sized residents this will be less of a problem. My child’s forward-facing kid seat fit fine straight behind my driving position: her feet could not rather reach the seat in front.

On the seatbacks are map pockets and some extra gadget pockets, however the seatbacks have a soft material surface on the back, so kids may do some damage gradually.

Excellent to see that there is a 3rd zone of environment control for second-row riders and directional air vents. An additional reward is a set of USB-C ports.

Regardless of the reality that it does have a dark headliner, there is a component of airiness to the rear seat experience and great presence out the side windows. You likewise get touch-sensitive rear LED lights for maps or reading, or when filling in a kiddo during the night.

There are likewise get manages in the back (and front) and it’s good to see that the back entrances likewise get the very same micro-fleece-style lining, and soft elbow pads.

When it comes to storage, there a big door pockets with lining, and a fold-down main armrest with cupholders. There is likewise a ski port in the middle area of the seat.

Boot area benefits a little hatchback, with 374 litres of freight capability and an adjustable boot flooring that permits you to increase the area if you require it. Fold down the rear seats and you will open up 1230L of freight area, and below the boot flooring is a space-saver extra wheel.

At the edges of the boot flooring on either side are some extra storage locations, a set of shopping bag hooks, some freight tiedown points, and a 12-volt outlet.

Asus What’s under the bonnet?

It’s no R-spec engine, however that becomes part of the factor it’s fairly cost effective.

The R-Line utilizes the very same 110TSI gas engine discovered in the base Golf Life, implying it has a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing– you thought it– 110kW of power (5000rpm) and 250Nm of torque (1500-4000rpm).

These figures have actually stayed the very same for a number of years now, however moves the car well. It is teamed to an eight-speed automated transmission with paddle-shifters, and like the majority of Golfs, front-wheel drive.

The Golf R-Line gets a lower suspension setup to make it look and drive sportier, and there’s likewise VW’s “progressive steering” system, which has a more direct sensation than other setups.

The main combined fuel usage figure is 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres, which is remarkable for a non-hybrid hatchback. It does have brake energy recovery as part of the engine start-stop system, which definitely plays some small part in the fuel usage figure being so low.

It’s replicable in the genuine world, too. Over a week of driving, I saw an as-tested figure of 5.9 L/100km throughout a mix of metropolitan, highway and highway screening. It has a 50-litre fuel tank, and needs 95 RON premium unleaded fuel.

Asus How does the Volkswagen Golf drive?

Does this feel sportier to drive than a typical Volkswagen Golf? Yes it does!

The addition of the progressive steering system and reduced sports suspension integrate to offer this a more extreme, satisfying drive experience than a basic Golf. Undoubtedly however, even a bog-stock Golf still drives truly well.

The good news is, the 15mm lower suspension does not lead to a sharp or undesirable trip, as it’s still well solved and comfy in a lot of circumstances– though with a somewhat firmer edge than some other hatchbacks in the sector.

The steering has more direct reaction to it, which provides the cars and truck a purposeful feel, even when you’re simply doing dull metropolitan driving– like I did.

On the open roadway or a nation back roadway is where you will get the most out of it, as it has a great balance to the method it deals with corners and bumps. Those stylish seats truly do assist hold you in your location too.

Bridgestone Turanza (225/40/R18) rubber may not be the supreme tire option for all, however they do provide a respectable quantity of grip in various driving scenarios.

The 1.4-litre turbo fuel engine is definitely sprightly enough for the majority of people’s requirements, and it does have great strong responsiveness through the rev variety.

What possibly isn’t as stylish in its responsiveness is the eight-speed automated transmission. This is going to be completely great for a great deal of individuals who are simply tackling the regular daily drudgery of life.

If you begin to ask a little bit more of the transmission it does not rather live up to the efficiency and stylish shifts delighted in by those who had actually purchased a Golf with a DSG (dual-clutch) vehicle transmission.

There is an useful compromise at lower speeds though: the eight-speed automobile is rather open to metropolitan driving. It is both smooth and responsive, and can assist you escape a dead stop with good seriousness, something that DSG transmissions (specifically those of years passed) can’t match in all circumstances.

Among the bugbears of this generation of items from the Volkswagen Group is roadway sound invasion, which stays a little bit of an aching point with this design. This is because of the mix of low-profile tires, and a fundamental noisiness on course-chip surface areas, leading to some racket on rougher appeared roadways.

Asus What do you get?

Golf R-Line highlights:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• R-Line outside trim with body package
• Decreased (15mm) R-Line suspension
• Progressive steering
• LED efficiency headlights
• Rear personal privacy glass
• 30-colour interior ambient lighting
• By hand adjustable sports seats with ‘R’ themed material trim

That’s over what you get in the Life, that includes:

• LED headlights and tail lights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro (digital instruments)
• 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 8.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• 7-speaker stereo
• Wireless phone battery charger
• Satellite navigation
• 10-colour interior ambient lighting
• Tri-zone environment control
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Power-folding side mirrors
• Keyless entry and begin
• Baggage partition
• Emergency situation Assist
• Exit caution system

Asus Is the Volkswagen Golf safe?

The Golf variety has a first-class ANCAP security ranking from 2019 tests.

It scored 95 percent for adult resident security, 89 percent for kid resident defense, 76 percent for susceptible roadway user security, and 80 percent for security help.

Requirement security devices consists of:

• 9 air bags incl. front-centre air bag
• Self-governing emergency situation braking (AEB)
• Multi-collision brake
• Lane keep help
• Travel Assist
• Front cross-traffic alert
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Blind-spot tracking
• Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
• Motorist tiredness tracking
• Park Assist
• Reversing cam
• Front, rear parking sensing units
• Emergency situation Assist
• Safe exit alerting

Asus Just how much does the Volkswagen Golf expense to run?

Volkswagen provides a five-year, endless kilometre guarantee in Australia, and as basic there’s one year of roadside help consisted of.

If you service your cars and truck with VW, you will be qualified for as much as 10 years cover for roadside support, which is fantastic.

Maintenance is due every 12 months/15,000 km, and there are alternatives when it pertains to upkeep– you can either pay as you go, or you can prepay your upkeep.

The three-year/45,000 km strategy costs $1550, representing a conserving of as much as $200 off pay-as-you-go, while the five-year/75,000 km service strategy is $2550, producing a conserving of as much as $704.

Asus CarExpert’s Take on the Volkswagen Golf

More than simply a simulate of a sportier Golf, the R-Line design is a persuading take on the sportier-than-average-hatchback style.

It isn’t rather as fast or as sharp to drive as some more costly Golf designs, however for those who wish to look the part however play it wise economically, it might be the perfect option.

BUY: Volkswagen GolfMORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf

Asus Pros

• Looks the part inside and out
• Drives truly perfectly
• Not a substantial cost dive over base Life

Asus Cons

• Frustrating media system
• Haptic controls on guiding wheel
• No GTI in camouflage

Asus Top Line Specs

• Power: 110kW
• Fuel Type: Premium Unleaded Petrol
• Economy: 5.8 L/100km
• CO2 Emissions: 132g/km
• ANCAP Safety Rating: 5