The new Golf has got driving to a tee
Doctor on the Road: VW Golf, Mark 8
It’s back! Dr Tony Rimmer tests the latest version of an old favourite that has wooed doctors for decades.
We all feel comfortable with a bit of familiarity.
Our patients feel more comfortable with us and trust us more if we have met them more than once. We both know pretty much what to expect of each other. The relationship has great value.
If car manufacturers can do the same and build a product that inspires confidence in potential buyers, then they achieve more sales and, over the years, repeat business.
There is one car maker that has done just that with its medical clientele. The Volkswagen Golf has been the doctors’ favourite for the last three decades.
The Golf’s blend of style, practicality, quality and affordability has ticked all the boxes for many of us medics. The range is broad enough to accommodate all individual needs, from the functional base models up to the sporty range-topping GTI and R models. As has been quoted many times, it is ‘all the car you’ll ever need’.
Evolved slowly
Since the launch of the Mark 1 in 1974, the Golf has kept up with all the automotive advances the industry has developed through successive revised models while keeping all the features that loyal buyers value.
The compact hatchback shape has evolved slowly with no major styling departures to frighten off new or repeat customers. Under the skin, there have been some significant changes over the years with different chassis, engines and drivetrains.
However, perhaps the biggest and most challenging technical change sweeping the motor industry is electrification. Although VW has produced an all-electric e-Golf Mk 7 since 2015, it has been compromised by using the same chassis as its combustion engined siblings.
A whole new approach was needed and Volkswagen has built a dedicated electric platform for its new iD3 which will be the ‘Golf for the future’.
So, does that mean the end for the regular Golf? No, it doesn’t. There is plenty of life left in the petrol- and diesel-powered hatchback, and to show its confidence in the product, VW has released the new Mark 8 Golf.
Extensive range
Again, the range is extensive with a GTI and R models, but there will not be an e-Golf variant – the iD3 fills that role.
At entry level is the 1.0litre three-cylinder 108bhp petrol engine. Then we have the 1.5 litre four-cylinder 128bhp or 148bhp petrol engines. Two versions of the 2.0 litre diesel powerplant (113bhp and 148bhp) are still offered.
There is a brand new 48v mild-hybrid system available on the bigger petrol engines. This is essentially a 48v starter motor/ generator that can recover energy on braking and redeploy up to 16bhp and 25Nm to boost and smooth out acceleration. It is only available with the automatic direct-shift gearbox (DSG).
I have been driving this latest version of the Golf to see what changes have been made to keep it fresh and appealing for us loyal followers.
My test car was a 1.5litre petrol eTSi mild hybrid 150bhp model with DSG. First impressions are that, externally, Volkswagen has not messed with the styling too much.
Although the frontal aspect is lower and the rear LED lights have been redesigned, this is instantly recognisable as a Golf.
It is only when you step inside do you see the true extent of the thorough modernisation that has been applied.
Digital dials sit in front of the driver and a large central touchscreen now takes over from the physical knobs and switches of previous models. It is fresh and modern but takes a little getting used to.
Versatility unchanged
The DSG gear selector is now a small central lever and the dashboard is much less cluttered. Technologically, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and the infotainment has been updated accordingly.
The five-door hatchback body is basically the same as the Mark 7, so the typical Golf roominess and versatility remain unchanged. The chassis is pretty much the same too so the handling, ride and roadholding is as it was before.
As for the 48v mild-hybrid system, it works smoothly and effectively to give the impression that, around town, the engine is bigger and torquier than the 1.5litre engine on board.
The only downside to all these changes is that there is less obvious higher quality trim around and the Golf now feels little different from its SEAT or Skoda siblings. I would suggest that this is deliberate, as Volkwagen will increasingly be focused on its all-electric iD range.
The latest Golf Mark 8 remains an excellent all-rounder. The option of a variant to satisfy all tastes is impressive.
I reckon that the new GTI will be a great driver’s car and I think that the latest plug-in hybrid GTE with an increased electric-only range of up to 43 miles will appeal to many of us who want to step towards electrification without making a complete commitment.
Dr Tony Rimmer (right) is a former NHS GP practising in Guildford, Surrey
