Is the Volkswagen Golf still the BEST hatchback? 8.5 facelift review UK 4K
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
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Infraction- These days
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I drive a lot of new cars from a lot of manufacturers in my job, and the 6spd manual Golf Match with the 1.5 engine I drove last week is a really pleasant and relaxing drive. The cabin is comfortable and the quality good, and the manual is really easy and smooth to drive - far more so than the horrible Stelantis auto in the Vauxhall Corsa I drove back home afterwards. The stop start is smooth and unobtrusive and even the dreaded driver aids are understated, with quiet tones for warnings and none of the violent jerking of the steering wheel that likes of Hyundai inflict upon the driver. No, it's not an exciting car, but it's nippy enough and very refined at cruise, with a nicely judged suspension package. I think it's the nicest car I've driven in a long while, and that includes some far more expensive and exotic offerings. A mature and intelligent choice.
Thank you VW head of marketing.
@@whatthe6532 🤣🤣🤣
Fully agree.
I've ordered an R Line dsg because I've been so happy with my 8 Active. I've gone for this as I like the sportier looking front grill plus I'll get nicer seats, led plus headlights, illuminated logo and I also added the Exterior black styling package. Looking forward to when it comes!
nice i have a style 150 on order. only options ive gone for are metallic black paint and tinted glass. would of liked the matrix lights, but they cost way too much since i'm getting mine via motability.
@@robloxfan4271 sounds really nice too. Good seats in the style too. Mine won't be matrix lights but a bit better than standard. I'm not a fan of chrome on the car which is what my mk8 has hence another reason why I went for the R Line.
@@robloxfan4271 what car are you currently driving?
@@roberttye5908 a 2019 seat leon thats also on motability. as the new leon wasn't on offer, i've gone for the golf as i like how it looks and with the 8.5 all the bugs from the 8 are hopefully fixed. another car i quite liked was the toyota corrolla design, but my mum wasn't keen on the rear of it and the golf just looked better allaround.
@@robloxfan4271 before I got my Golf 8 I had a Toyota Auris and I thought I would be getting the Corolla but a mate kept nagging me to go for the Golf because of the dsg. I'm glad I did. I think it's definitely superior to the Corolla.
Howzit, Tish. Keep well. Thanks for the reviews.
Hello! I’m great thank you 🤩 I’m glad you enjoy them!
It's my 5th Golf GTI. I have a 8 GTI love it will drive no other car ❤
Small step in the right direction, but I still want temperature and fan knobs rather than having to use a screen menu.
This! I find it really difficult to change the climate settings whilst driving and it often scares me so much when I am fully focusing where I am pressing and not on the road. And of course no voice commands for it either.
@@hamtaroyt absolutely. This has literally stopped me buying a VW in recent years and going for a competitor, and I know others who have too. Pity as they are nice cars otherwise.
Just let VW follow Mazda with old fashioned( and better) buttons and rotary switching for heater etc.
@@michaeljohnson4975 Hopefully.
You don’t have to there are sliders under the screen which are now lit at night on my 8 they weren’t
Thanks for this. Now looking to trade in my 2017 Golf 2.0 TDi. You weren’t nit picking about the assist features defaulting to on after a stop start that would do my head in!
I enjoyed watching the video, I particularly like the New Improved Infotainment System 😊
Great to hear! Yes, the screen is now a big improvement isn’t it?
I think Volkswagen has undermined itself by overpricing the VW brand vehicles. Škoda has taken over as the people’s car. The GTI and R still make sense, but if you want a basic Golf then you may as well get the Octavia hatch that starts under £27,000. You get more car as well.
I wish VW would continue to sell the Golf in Canada. We only get the GTI and R.
Can't wait for a new e-golf to join. Great video as always, keep reviewing.
I have a 2023 GTI and just love it. However, I wish we got the standard Golf here in the USA for the better fuel economy. The GTI infotainment system has never given me problems.
Match trim comes with the 10 colour ambient lighting with no footwell lighting that’s an upgrade pack with 30 colours, gloss black centre console on models after the match so style, rline, r , gte etc, can only add an electric drivers seat to the leather pack or a plug in hybrid car
If you want a new VW with dials get a Skoda, the new Superb and Kodiaq have smart dials which seems a much better idea or get a Mk7 or 7.5. Golf older but still good.
I will keep my Mk 7 GTI !
Neat ride.
We made the jump from the 8 to the 8.5, and very happy but the personalisation of displays is challenging.
Glad to hear you're happy, do you think the displays will be something you will get used to?
Good review. I have one on order!😊
best review that i have ever see good job cleaver review you are realy understand the golf 😀😃😄😁
Would like the return of the overhead storage for sunglasses near the front interior lights.
All golfs come with some sort of ambient lighting as standard, the higher specifications get 30 colours instead of 10
Had Golfs for years without any issues...just bought a 2.0 hybrid Civic as i fancied a change....brilliant briallant car...try one.
i've got a style 150 on order, should hopefuly get it by the end of next month or early october!
@@robloxfan4271 I've no idea when mine will arrive. Ordered it 8 weeks ago don't think I've a build date yet. But some things are worth waiting for so not unduly worried.
I hope it's the 150 ps manual.....
@robloxfan4271 hey have you taken delivery of your Golf yet? I'm still facing a 6 month wait for mine and not due to be built until the first week of November!
@@roberttye5908 nope, still waiting for mine to this day
GREAT CAR
Great cars have owned 3 will be going back to a GTI when current lease ends
Yes, eventually!
once was the king
Always liked Golfs but the last one had a woeful reliability record. We'll have to give this new one a year or two to see if that's been resolved.
Controversial, but the mk 5 2.0 TDI Golf will always have my heart. Wasn't a fan of the 6 or 7 but the 8 and this new 8.5 have my attention! Still loving my t-cross for now but maybe I'll switch to a Golf one day. Thanks for another fab video x
Thank you for interesting vlog.
The best thing about it is the tech.
Had a choice between this and the Peugeot 308 GT so glad I chose the French car. It's a more interesting car and dare I say, better built quality
Does the material rub off the bottom of the steering wheel? My mk8 was dreadful for this
The trouble with all the VA group vehicles is that they are very unreliable, especially with ECM issues; gone are the days of superb German engineering, now they are built to a price and to last a certain length of time. Go with Hyundai, Kia or MG instead as you get a MINIMUM five year warranty
Nearly time to say goodbye to my Golf 8 😢 I get the new ID.5 Match Pro next week 😁
Was you happy with your Golf 8? ☺️ Excited for going electric!? ⚡️
@@AutoSocialUKYes I was very happy with my Golf 8 thank you ☺️ it was so economical and had plenty of power when I need it, I’m looking forward to going electric and see how it goes haha, the ID.5 is a nice looking car tho, I can’t wait 😊
Good luck with that, cars that need software updates wouldn’t be on my radar.
@@SnowyAspenHills My Golf 8 had software updates all the time so it’s no different
@@poseiidon2029 I know people who have a nightmare with VW software. Hope it all goes smoothly for you.
Why amputate of the shifter? It looks awful and no place to hang your hand. I had an 18 Golf Sportwagen and loved it.
Excellent presentation. Now driving my 24 Tiguan SE. golf n Tig have the best side door pockets in the business. I would trade for a new Passat Sportwagen, not possible in the US.
About to order an 8.5 GTI-get one while you still can.....(and please option DCC).
The only gripe i have is that they really missed the opportunity to put high quality camera :( its really a shame ... the quality is worse than a 2017 Peugeot, why....:S
They could at least start offering upgrade kit that dealerships can install for money so whoever wants higher definition can go and pay for it.
I have this 8.5 and the other day a friend of mine with 2017 308 had to drop me to me car and i immediately spoted how cleaner his rear view camera is compared to my VW that is 8 years newer. It felt bad for real.
What colour is this?
Please do a review of the new Nissan Juke Hybrid 2024 facelift
Thank heavens the scratchy piano black is gone. Nothing ages and interior more.
I can’t realy decide if i should trade in my 7.5 1.4 tsi for this model. 😢 many people complain about the screen because you lose buttons
I’m keeping my 7.5 until the end of its life. The new ones are a step back I think
They are really not all that anymore and are no longer what they were. The interior is bland and I don't know what people find so fascinating about them. The last decent Golf was the 7.5 one.
Renault interiors are far far better now and much nicer.
Most overrated car ever. A yawn fest to me.
No 18” wheel upgrade options for the Mk8.5 GTE in the UK market.
Wheels for the GTE are awful and no choice of upgrade. Even the Style gets a choice of better wheels. VW are idiots.
Thank god the fake exhausts have almost gone, shame we can't say the same for the lack of physical buttons and dials. Reverting settings back to default after the stop start system operates is beyond stupid and would do my head in. The Mazda 3 has everything the Golf lacks, more power (Skyactive X), better economy, better looks, far more equipment arguably drives better and much better reliability for less money. Guess what I bought after trying a Golf and owning a Leon?
Is that Golf Moonstone grey colour?
nope, Dolphin Grey
Dolphin
Golf is the benchmark-----plain and simple!
Benchmark of what not to do.
@@UltraJaff what do u drive
Not anymore it's not.
Benchmark for nothing
Mk6 and Mk7 looked so much better quality
No,there are many others, including the 308 much more pleasant at all levels
No 1 0 tsi. Maybe read the press pack.
The Golf may be a "boring" car, but seeing Tish is anything but...gorgeous looking in that outfit, sweetie! 🥰
They had a fair bit to improve. The pre facelift model came dead last place in the 2024 Auto Express magazine's Driver Power Survey. Out of 50 odd cars in the survey. Lots of clearly unhappy owners slating it on many levels.
Front bumper is ugly.
Not sporty looking at all.
Features like a light-up VW badge and light bar are totally pointless. Bring back physical controls and do a better job of integrating that sticky-up monitor which looks truly awful. Avoiding like the plague.
Peugeot 308 wipes the floor with the Golf.
Good laugh!
@@portman8909 just the truth mate, just the truth.
Not much difference from the mk8 best wait next generation
I have driven a VW 7th gen and I hated it. The steering and the overall driving experience felt too stiff. I like a lighter feeling in the car. That VW destroyed the brand for me. Does this golf drive any better?
What do you mean by, “lighter”? Smaller car? Lighter steering?
@@afcgeo882 Yes, lighter steering. The steering wheel in the VW felt that it needed more strength to move and that I had to steer it across longer arcs. My original Citroen C3 and my current Ford Puma by comparison don't feel so stiff.
@@IMAN7THRYLOS You may mile the Peugeot 308 then or even Renaults. They’re known for light steering. Volkswagens tend to be “German” with heavier steering. Although the EVs have very light steering, out of character for the company.
I'm with you Tish, Not a fan of that flat grey. My last car eas Indium grey and everyone admired it. I heard a rumour lately that VW were dropping the Golf! Thank heavens that looks to be nonsence. Good review as we have grown to expect from you now Tish.
Good to see that VW made the necessary changes, but it might be too little, too late. Right off the bat: the colour. If Raiti's Rides reviewed this car, he'd fall head over heels with that beautiful grey finish. Really makes the car pop and gives it an aggressive look. I do like the changes made to the interior. A few minor zonks here and there but nothing to lose sleep over. A very capable car, but the competition has already stepped up big time. Hot hatches from brands like Toyota, Honda and especially Hyundai with the i30 are making a bold statement. And we're not even talking about the sporty version of the Golf, as in the Golf R and GTI. The Civic Type R, Elantra N and Toyota GR Corolla removed the Golf's crown a long time ago. It's only a matter of time before there's a new King of hot hatches. Great review. Thumbs up
Hi, Tish 💙
As I use to say ... a Golf is the only car that I would order new - online ... with home delivery. Is that how much that I trust the brand ... especially the established models. 👍
Is it me, or have VW become the poor man's Skoda? I have an Enyaq, and the interior is far better than this
The screen on the dash ruins it for me, could it be removed by force if necessary.
That screen is way too big
Very bland interior just grey everywhere and the screen is just way too big.
But VW GOLF are scratchy brittle and overpriced the interior design is bland and the steering wheel looks cheap
We don’t want CHATGTP we haven’t asked for it! And we’re forced ! To pay for it
Bud I have a 8 GTI vehicle is stunning interior and exterior a head turner gets toxic attention
@@loganpadayachee6048😂
Brochure says lower spec have one zone air conditioning WITH PREPARATION FOR TWO ZONE. How do you go about having this activated ?
Have to agree with you, I was shocked at the hard cheap plastic, and that plonked on iPad looks so much like an afterthought, horrible.
the interior is good quality, your not going to get rolls royce quality in any car in the price range
That Ipad stuck to the dashboard looks terrible
The dashboard looks terrible - like some tablet just stuck up in the air, too complicated and an obvious distraction
What a boring design, come on VW try and design something that looks a little more interesting
Great car, but who is going to spend 30k on a little car with cloth seats?
She put sum weight on I see.. xc
Keep it until the warranty runs out then get rid of it, It's rubbish.
It has the best resale value you just upgrade to motor plan
YES, the best Golf yet, but such a boring car 🤫
Why you watching then you a secret admirer lol😂
It’s a Golf. A Golf is just a utilitarian hatchback. Always has been.
@@afcgeo882 Golf mk.I designed in Italy was very nice. Some GTI were also good looking.
@@loganpadayachee6048 😆 rather car enthusiast ...
Another golf? ffs 😂😂😂😂😂
Why you watching then secret admirer 😂
It may be new but vw have announced they are scrapping the golf next year, after end of 2025 you won’t be able to buy a new golf
this isn't true
dude, you should quit the internet
The golf went rapidly downhill after the MK2, not the same anymore. VW are terribly unreliable now.
just change a presenter please.
I own the whole channel 😭😭😭 film, present and edit….
don't watch her then...
Goodness me, you come across so sweet. You must have be an adorable baby when you were a toddler!!!