The glitch-free Golf
Volkswagen has unveiled the latest incarnation of its bestselling golf — pledging that in the 50th anniversary year of the top-selling car it has eradicated the dismal digital glitches that made such a dog’s dinner of its predecessor.
The facelifted version of the eighth-generation golf — dubbed ‘8.5’ and headed by a sporty GTI hot-hatch model — will also be the last version to offer a petrol and diesel variant before it switches to fully electric. The model promises more power, simplified touchscreen menus and styling tweaks including more angular LED headlights and an illuminated badge on its nose. You can even park your golf remotely using your smartphone.
But these tech improvements were much needed. at the launch of the last version in 2019, I thought I was going bonkers. Its much- hyped digital touchscreen dashboard and info-tainment system, particularly the infuriating finger-tip slider controls, drove me quite mad.
I thought it was just me until I compared notes with others present who were equally flummoxed. But the good news is that Vw insists it has ironed out these problems.
Controversial touch-sensitive temperature and volume control sliders (sadly still there) have at least been back-lit, so you can now actually see them in the dark. and proper, physical buttons on the steering wheel — including for volume — have replaced the highly irritating and barely functioning sliders there.
Three models of the golf have been unveiled — GTE and sporty GTI hatchbacks, and an elongated, big- booted golf estate — with up to nine powertrains between them. a performance golf R will follow next year. The GTE plug-in hybrid version promises an electriconly range of 62 miles and a combined range of 620 miles.
Prices are set to run from around £30,000 for the golf GTE and £40,000 for the GTI. They arrive in the Uk from april. some 37million golfs have been sold since its 1974 launch.