VW adds even more tech’ in the 2017 Golf ‘7.5’

Thabiso Malimela

First thing first – this is not the 8^th edition of the most talked about car in South Africa and even world-wide. Contrary to rumours on the internet, we’re not quite sure when the new Golf will be released. All that we know is that this isn’t it. And now that the bad news is out of the way, let’s see what tricks the new-old Golf has up its sleeves. For starters, this facelifted Golf is, well, just a facelift. And what that means is that the folks at VW have added (or taken out) things to ensure that the Golf is still a force to be reckoned with. Think of it as the Bible apps we have on our cell phones. Sure the app is updated to improve the interface, bugs and all that techy geeky stuff. However, through all the updates, the story of Adam and Eve stays the same.

The Golf 7.5 remains mechanically identical to the car it replaces and that means if you are planning on upgrading from the 7 to the 7.5, the car won’t feel much different to the one you already have. So for the amount of upgrades you get (which there are plenty of) the price difference will not leave a bitter taste in your mouth come payday. In fact, the new Golf comes with starting prices that are lower than that of the older car (excluding the GTI), and I can’t really figure out why (probably something to do with import duties). You can have a brand new Golf 7.5 for as little as R289 900, keeping in mind the older car started at just R309 500. I’ll assume the Uitenhage-based brand knows what they’re doing considering their success in this segment. I suggest we ignore that price drop and rather focus on what we get for the money because isn’t that what the Golf story is about, value for money?

So, what have we known the Golf to be? That’s right – a premium hatchback with premium features and a poverty-spec price tag. And VW has kept that in mind in making this car even more out of reach to its rivals in this segment. The new but old Golf arrives in the market with new engines, slightly reworked exterior aesthetics and a much improved interior with enough added gadgets to upset previous Golf owners. VW has spread the new Golf across six models, which is half of what the outgoing model had. Worry not, however, as a growth in the range is promised seeing that VW is bringing in more engine choices to our shores. So far, you can only get four derivatives of the Golf – Trendline, 2 Comfortline models and a DSG only GTI (aka vrr pha). In July, VW will bless us with the new Golf R (no pun intended) and the debut of the Golf GTD, which is basically a diesel powered GTI for adrenaline junkies who still want a fix while getting good fuel economy. Pricing for the last two will be confirmed at a later stage.

Engines

Not that there was anything wrong with the engines in the outgoing model, but VW has seen the new Golf as a good platform to showcase their new engine line up to be used in their other cars such as the much anticipated 2018 Polo. These engines are all given the TSI (Turbocharged Stratified Injection) name, which just means that the engine in question is turbocharged and uses direct fuel (petrol) injection. Both these terms are good news for your fuel expenditure as fuel consumption is minimised with power and torque figures optimised. We see the arrival of a 1.0 litre 3 cylinder TSI producing 81kW and 200Nm of torque. It produces the same power output but increments the torque by 15Nm from the 1.2 litre TSI it replaces. This engine will be available in the Trendline and Comfortline Manual models. Also in the engine line up is a 92kW/200Nm 1.4 litre TSI which will be found in the Comfortline model in manual or DSG guise. However, expect this engine to be replaced sooner or later by a bigger and predictably better 1.5 litre TSI with 110kW and 250Nm of torque. The much loved GTI will continue with the much loved 2.0 litre 4 cylinder TSI unit churning out 169kW and 350Nm, an improvement of 7kW with torque remaining the same. The soon to be here Golf R will use this same engine however it will be tuned to produce 213kW versus the 206kW of the old Golf 7 R. VW also promises a 2.0 litre diesel turbo for the near future in the Comfortline model and upcoming GTD model. As it seems, whether you’re an environmentalist or a pure-bred petrolhead with the need for speed, VW has just the right flavour of Golf for everyone. And I’m pretty sure the arrival of an all-electric Golf won’t come as a shock to anyone!

Exterior

When it comes to the exterior, VW has chosen to play it a bit safe and not fiddle too much with a working formula. Subtle changes to the front bumper design include turning the “smile” of the Golf 7 upside down which reminds me of the same disapproving look a child would have if you took away their toys. The whole range comes with daytime running lights so people can see you in the, uhm, day? There are changes to the rear too, but you’d have to put the old and new car side-by-side to be able to differentiate the styling differences. The only noticeable new feature on the rear end is the LED tail lights which now come standard across the range. The Trendline and Comfortilne look identical, however if you are image conscious and want to stand out from the crowd, be ready to fork out R18 700 to get the optional R-Line Exterior Package, only available in Comfortline trim. For almost twenty grand, you get an R-Line front bumper, a rear bumper with an integrated diffuser and two “exhaust tips”, side sill extensions in gloss black, a more noticeable rear spoiler and 17 inch wheels (up from 15 inch and 16 inch on the Trendline and Comfortline respectively). The GTI is also treated to the same nip and tuck affair, with a revised front bumper and new LED headlight design with new daytime running lights that I doubt anyone could hate. The rear features a new diffuser with twin exhaust pipes which look to be bigger than before. More vrr pha perhaps? We’ll see. The rear taillights are now even darker and feature dynamic turn signalling, which is basically turn indicators that flow inside of blink on and off. Such can be seen on Audi models such as the R8. VW, as it seems, is making good use of its access to Audi’s parts bin.

(Above) The new Golf with the additional R-Line Exterior Package.

(Above) The R-Line Exterior Package doesn’t change much in the rear.

(Above) The new GTI features new headlights and front bumper design.

Interior

VW continue to take advantage of their partnership with Audi when considering what they’ve done with the interior. Most of the improvements over the old model are seen in this department and are so expansive that I would rather cover the important bits to avoid sounding pedantic. So here it goes! Once you’re done admiring the Golf’s slightly aggressive but still modest exterior and you enter the vehicle, it begins to make sense why this car is the car to be(at) in this segment. Drop into the cockpit and the first thing to catch your eye is a 6.5 inch touchscreen (8 inch on the GTI) Composition Colour radio system with 8 speakers, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. For an extra R20 000 (Comfortline and upward), you can have a first-in-class Gesture Control feature which allows you to control a buttonless 9.2 inch infotainment system with the movements and waving of your hand. Just be careful you don’t accidentally change your favourite song while practicing road rage. No good comes from road rage. The gesture control comes with the Discover Pro package which also adds App-Connect (standard on the GTI) which allows you to sync your phone to the car’s infotainment system via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. You’ll be able to access a selection of apps on your phone from the vehicle and be able to use navigation, dab to your favourite jam or call your mom to tell her you made it – the Golf just makes driving more than just driving. Also newly available on the Golf is an R8000 Active Info Display, which is more evidence of VW digging in the Audi parts bin. The Active Info Display is a 31.2 cm digital display replacing the analogue instrument cluster. It displays driving information such as travelling speed, engine speed (revs per minute), fuel gauge level and so on. Basically, all the things you’d find in a normal instrument cluster only this time its digital. To be honest, it gives you a good idea of what it would be like wearing Ironman’s helmet with all the information you receive while driving.

Safety

Most of us don’t usually think about it, but safety of the driver and passengers is a high priority and it seems VW agrees because they have added a heap of safety features to keep you alive and pointing in the right direction. The Golf range comes standard with fatigue detection, stop/start technology to save fuel and ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) with hill-hold assist. From Comfortline upward, you get Cruise Control as standard but for an added R5000, you can get Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist and Autonomous Emergency Braking which automatically accelerates and brakes the vehicle when needed (usually when following another vehicle).

Summary

The VW Golf has been the car that many love, and some love to hate. Regardless of this, it has been a very popular car only to be shadowed by its smaller brother, the Polo (check the sales figures). And to no surprise, VW has pulled another ace out of its sleeve with the introduction of this facelifted model which to be honest, would’ve been enough to fool most into thinking that the 8 instalment of the Golf is here already. However, VW has given us plenty to chew on while they work on the next model. The changes worthy of mention come in the form of the new 1.0 litre TSI, the touchscreen infotainment system and Active Info Display, a leap towards semi-autonomous driving with the adaptive cruise control and finally a subtle tweak in the styling. It’s good to see VW adding more features as standard so that the entry level buyer in this segment still gets huge value for money. However I still can’t shake the feeling that the most talked about optional extras are a bit overpriced, especially in this segment and with reports from fellow reviewers stating that the infotainment system is a bit underwhelming, I don’t think any sensible person would pay R20 000 for it. Good news for VW is that South African buyers aren’t known for buying sensibly, so I think this car will be a hit as it always was. The Golf is like that guy that everyman wants to be, and every women wants to be with. It slays in every department except for excitement, but then again, that’s what the Scirocco is for.

Models and Specs

Model	Engine	Transmission	Performance	Price
Trendline	1.0 litre TSI	6 speed manual	81kW / 200Nm	From R289 900
Comfortline	1.0 litre TSI	6 speed manual	81kW / 200Nm	From R304 200
Comfortline	1.4 litre TSI	Manual or DSG	92kW / 200Nm	From R356 400
Comfortline	2.0 litre TDI	DSG only	TBC	TBC
GTI	2.0 litre TSI	6 speed DSG	169kW / 350Nm	From 545 800
GTD	2.0 litre TDI	6 speed DSG	130kW / 380Nm	TBC
R	2.0 litre TSI	7 speed DSG	213kW / TBC	TBC