2024 Volkswagen Golf Review

Over eight generations and five decades, the Golf has led the segment for driving refinement, and impressive practicality levels for its small stature, proving good things come in small packages.

For 2024, the Volkswagen Golf range has undergone some changes, with the previous base model saying goodbye to the Australian market, accompanied by some price increases.

How well does the VW Golf perform in the small car segment, then, and is it still the cream of the crop? Let’s take a look at the MY24 Golf range to find out.

Volkswagen Golf Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

Prices for the 2024 Volkswagen Golf range kick off from $39,190 for the entry-level Golf 110TSI Life, while stepping up to the Golf 110TSI R-Line brings the price to $42,290.

Opting for the sporty Golf GTI brings the price tag to $56,090, while the flagship Golf R is priced at $70,590.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Volkswagen Golf (110TSI LIFE) Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Volkswagen Golf Have?

Volkswagen’s entry-level Golf 110TSI Life comes riding on a set of 17-inch alloys and receives LED head & tail lights, adaptive cruise control, cloth upholstery with lumbar adjustment, keyless entry & start, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, three-zone climate control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and ambient interior lighting.

Stepping up to the Golf 110TSI R-Line adds a set of 18-inch alloys, an R-Line styling kit, revised suspension and steering systems, upgraded LED headlights, leather-upholstered sport seats and a 30-colour ambient lighting system.

Opting for the iconic VW Golf GTI adds a GTI styling package with twin exhausts, an LED grille strip, Tartan sports seats and a clever adaptive chassis control system.

Finally, the range-topping Golf R comes packing 19-inch alloys, upgraded brakes, adaptive dampers, a sports exhaust, an all-wheel drive system with torque vectoring, a roof spoiler, six driving modes, Nappa leather upholstery with heated and ventilated seats, Matrix LED headlights and an upgraded 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and nine-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system.

Connectivity & Infotainment Features

Volkswagen’s Golf range comes fitted with a large 10-inch infotainment display sitting proudly across the dashboard.

The infotainment display takes care of the majority of inputs, including changes to the climate control settings, media, navigation, safety assistance and a range of driving modes.

The 10-inch display is paired with a seven-speaker sound system in the base model, while buyers opting for the flagship Golf R gain access to a premium nine-speaker sound system from Harman/Kardon.

Does the Volkswagen Golf Have wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Potential buyers will be pleased to know that all members of the MY24 Golf range, from the entry-level Golf 110TSI Life to the range-topping Golf R feature both wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Is the Volkswagen Golf Comfortable to Drive?

It absolutely is, though the pursuit of pace in the Golf GTI and Golf R certainly has some trade-offs when it comes to ride comfort.

Having said that, the base Golf 110TSI Life is lovely on a mix of roads, proving to be one of the most refined in the segment.

Power for the base model and Golf R-Line comes courtesy of a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that kicks out a modest 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque, with power thrown to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Around town, VW’s pair of base models feel smooth, responsive and far more premium than a number of its key rivals.

The steering is weighted a bit heavier than you’d normally find in the segment, though not so much it’s a chore to park while offering great feedback as you pick up the pace.

Hit the open road and the Golf corners remarkably well, even in base form, with impressive versatility on a mix of highway, country and town driving.

Buyers opting for the Golf GTI pick up a bucketload more power from a larger 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot that produces 180kW of power and 370Nm of torque.

Performance improvements include a trick front differential that carves through corners like a warm knife through butter, as well as upgraded brakes and an adaptive chassis control system.

For the ultimate Golf experience, the flagship Golf R is a powerhouse that can sprint to 100km/h from a standstill in just 4.8 seconds, with its engine pushing out 235kW of power and 400Nm to all four wheels.

The 4Motion all-wheel drive system gives the Golf R a tonne of confidence through the corners and makes for simply outlandish little hot hatch that will put a smile on any driver’s face.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Fuel efficiency in the Golf range depends on which engine you’re opting for - with the more powerful GTI and Golf R proving significantly thirstier than the base model.

The Golf Life and R-Line are officially rated at 5.8L/100km, making them an impressively fuel-efficient pair at the base of the Golf range.

Stepping up to the Golf GTI increases fuel use to 7.0L/100km, while the flagship Golf R is rated at 7.8L/100km on a combined cycle.

How Much Fuel Does the Volkswagen Golf Use Around Town?

• Golf Life City Fuel Economy: 7.2L/100km

• Golf R-Line City Fuel Economy: 7.2L/100km

• Golf GTI City Fuel Economy: 9.3L/100km

• Golf R City Fuel Economy: 10.1L/100km

How Much Fuel Does the Volkswagen Golf Use on the Highway?

• Golf Life Highway Fuel Economy: 5.0L/100km

• Golf R-Line Highway Fuel Economy: 5.0L/100km

• Golf GTI Highway Fuel Economy: 5.6L/100km

• Golf R Highway Fuel Economy: 6.4L/100km

Is it Practical and Spacious?

The Volkswagen Golf doesn’t command a footprint, but that doesn’t stop it from offering impressive space and practicality inside the cabin.

Up front, there’s a great amount of headroom for tall drivers to get comfortable, with a wide range of adjustment in the driving position and steering wheel.

The layout of the cabin is minimalist and modern, with Volkswagen opting for a relatively button-free design across the dashboard.

This proves a good way to de-clutter the cabin and increase storage options, though some potential buyers might be put-off by the touchscreen-dominated control arrangement.

Having said that, shortcuts beneath the display mean that you can make inputs on the fly.

Storage options are generous in the front of the Golf’s cabin, with a large tray sitting at the base of the dash, a stash spot for smartphones beside the gear switch and large cupholders with edges that can retract for larger items.

There’s also more storage inside the folding arm rest, inside the glovebox and extra large door bins. 

Move to the rear and things are spacious enough for adults to sit in the rear, though some taller occupants might have their knees brushing up against the front seats.

Headroom is great, with amenities like USB-C charging ports, a dedicated climate control zone with air vents, a large folding armrest with cup holders and generous door bins. 

Rounding-out its practicality chops is a pair of ISOFIX anchors and three easily accessible top tether mounts that means the Golf is ready for action when put to the family test.

How big is the Volkswagen Golf’s Boot?

The 2024 VW Golf has a boot measuring in at 374L across all variants.

Fold the 60:40 split rear seats and you’ll unlock a total of 1,230L of boot space to accommodate bulky items and sports gear.

The Golf range also receives a clever port in the middle of the seats that allows you to squeeze in some long, narrow items when needed; it’s designed for skis but may prove handy with the odd run to Bunnings.

Is it Safe?

The Volkswagen Golf comes jam-packed with the latest range of active safety gear.

Better yet, the company bundles all this tech into the base model, meaning that price-conscious buyers don’t miss out on any key safety equipment.

As standard, the VW Golf boasts autonomous emergency braking with cyclist & pedestrian detection, lane-keep and emergency steering assist, blind-spot monitoring, front & rear cross-traffic alerts and safe exit warnings.

You’ll also pick up adaptive cruise control, travel and parking assistance, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, driver attention monitoring and nine airbags throughout the cabin.

All things considered, the Golf receives a huge list of safety gear, made more impressive by the fact the baby of the range doesn’t miss out.

Does the Volkswagen Golf Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The Volkswagen Golf range has received a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2019 tests conducted by its European-equivalent Euro NCAP where it scored the following marks.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 95%

• Child Occupant Protection: 89%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 76%

• Safety Assist: 80%

What Warranty Does the Volkswagen Golf Come With?

The Volkswagen Golf range comes backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty.

The range also picks up five capped-price services when serviced within the network, with service intervals standing at 12-months or 15,000-kilometres; prices for five services of the Golf range can be found below.

• Golf 110TSI Life/R-Line: $3,356

• Golf GTI: $3,842

• Golf R: $3,853

Our Verdict: Is the Volkswagen Golf Worth it?

While price tags have crept up significantly in recent years, the Golf has only gotten better and asserts itself as one of the most refined small cars on the market.

In base form, the Golf is a comfortable and refined little city-hopper that remains confident in the country and on the highway while picking up a generous features list and a tonne of safety kit.

Upgrading to the Golf GTI is a worthy means of getting your hands on a fun-loving hot hatch, while the Golf R asserts itself as all-wheel drive rocket ship on wheels, deserving of a reputation as a leading performance hatchbacks.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help take the stress out of the process and find you the best price.

Five Volkswagen Golf Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Three engines available, FWD for most of range, Golf R picks up AWD system

3. 5.8L/100km fuel economy in base model increases to 7.8L/100km in Golf R

4. 374L boot expands to 1,230L with rear seats folded

5. Five-star ANCAP safety rating