Volkswagen offer up plenty of updates for ever-popular Golf

Volkswagen’s all-conquering Golf has been given a mid-life refresh, with a range of updates – and some great offers.

Remarkably, the updated car comes with a lower price tag.

The new version starts at £17,765 for the Golf S, or £19,470 in estate form. On average, the new Golf is priced around £650 lower than the previous model.

Whether that’s because Volkswagen is still reeling from the 2015 emissions scandal, or due to its rivals getting ever better, or just VW deciding it’s making too much profit and wants to give back to its customers is anyone’s guess.

In any case, all versions now come with Electronic Stability Control as standard, as well as a Driver Alert system and City Emergency Braking.

This final feature can bring the car to a standstill should it detect a pedestrian walking out in front of it.

It works in partnership with Front Assist, which uses a radar to monitor the gap between itself and the car in front, applying the brakes if it senses a collision.

An eight-inch colour touchscreen gives drivers control of DAB digital radio and Bluetooth connectivity for pairing smartphones to the car’s system.

Move up the trim levels and higherspecification cars receive Volkswagen’s larger Discover Navigation, while the optional Discover Navigation Pro system uses a 9.2-inch touchscreen.

The latter system also features Gesture Control, which gives the driver the ability to navigate through the car’s menus with just a swipe of their hand.

There’s no word on whether children waving from the back seats will trigger the system.

A new engine is also available in the form of the 1.5-litre TSI EVO engine.

Producing 148bhp and capable of powering the car to 60mph in just 8.1 seconds, it’s also impressively frugal, returning a claimed 55.4mpg on the EU’s combined cycle and emitting just 116g/km CO2.

There are plenty of perks with the new Volkswagen Golf.