2024 VW Golf 8.5 GTI review
A power bump and clever changes to the cabin make this turbocharged weapon worth waiting for.
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Volkswagen’s Mk. 8.5 Golf GTI isn’t just an incremental improvement — it’s a phenomenal one.
What was already seen by many — myself included — as the most liveable hot-hatch has just been tickled with some midlife changes that make it more life-friendly than its predecessor, not to mention faster and more powerful.
Its 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine now pumps out a beefier 195kW of power, but retains 370Nm peak torque.
And while 15kW of extra grunt might seem meagre by modern-day superpowered EV standards, the linearity with which the revised EA888 helps you gather pace is unlike any GTI that has come before it in mass production.
Torque hits from 1600rpm all the way to 4590rpm, while peak power zings from 5250-6500rpm, and it really does some exceptional work in max attack.
Helping the engine out is an electronic front differential lock, which can push the power to the wheel that needs it — in turn, allowing the driver to push and pull themselves through twists and turns with supreme confidence and pace.
A seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission manages proceedings, and depending on the drive mode, it will allow you to exploit this surprisingly revvy motor. As has been the case forevermore with the GTI, the combination also ensures polite progress in traffic or during regular driving.
Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres on 19-inch wheels offer substantial grip, and while the roads outside Wolfsburg in Germany are somewhat smoother and better maintained than those back home, the adaptive adjustable suspension system can adapt to different surfaces impressively.
Urban driving in Comfort mode particularly impressed, with a ride that belies the car’s sporting intent, while it gets rigid enough that you can feel the treads nibbling the tarmac below. The steering? Damn near innate in its responses, and beautifully weighted, too.
Is it as manic, playful or immature as a Hyundai i30 N? No.
Is it as track-ready and pinpoint precise as Honda Civic Type R? No.
But does it do daily-drivable dynamism better than either of them? Yes. It does.
What impresses most about the updated model, though, is the revised interior.
Gone is the fiddly screen with its fussy software interface – in its place is a larger 12.9-inch unit with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a far smarter menu design that allows you to jump between screens with far less frustration than the last model.
There’s still climate control sliders and a volume slider too, but the media display has a static climate control section at the bottom which is a welcome adjustment in lieu of actual buttons, and on that topic the too-touchy haptic controls on the steering wheel have been dumped in favour of proper buttons.
As before, Volkswagen’s cabin design offers a family-doable level of space and amenity. Lined large bottle holders adorn all four doors, there are cupholders between the front seats and a flip-down armrest with cupholders in the rear, and a ski-port for loading large items if needed.
The boot space remains 374 litres, enough for a couple of large suitcases or a bigger pram, with room to spare for some groceries to hang off the shopping bag hooks.
Rear window seats get ISOFIX points, and there are three top-tethers, but three kid seats across will be a squeeze. There’s a transmission tunnel intrusion that eats into rear footroom, but a six-foot male can sit behind their own driving position with knee- and headspace to spare.
Safety gear has been enhanced, with new speed sign recognition tech expected in Aussie models. That’ll be confirmed by the brand before its arrival.
The entire Mk. 8.5 Golf range is set to launch in the second quarter of 2025, but the brand has indicated it will likely play close to the current model, which recently saw a big standard equipment bump and a price adjustment to $59,990 drive-away.
Originally published as 2024 VW Golf 8.5 GTI review
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