While maintaining broad appeal and keeping itself updated for today, the latest tweaks show that Volkswagen has heard the market’s feedback
Singapore – When I read the headline that Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather are set for an exhibition fight in 2026, I almost laughed just imagining those two old guys, essentially trying to go back to playing a young man’s game.
But then I gave it a second thought. These guys are still legends without much introduction needed. Fans would still tune in nonetheless. People might still want to hear the outcome or watch highlights on YouTube.
As quite an in-your-face analogy, Volkswagen is an old brand, with a storied history behind it. While all the hype seems to be about the young, sprightly newcomers stepping into the ruthless ring that is the car market, that doesn’t mean VeeDub has been rendered obsolete.
Seeing a new Golf isn’t necessarily grandpa trying to play Roblox. It still has its own offerings, with decades of tried-and-testedness behind it. And buyers might still want to keep it within their considerations or at least give it some thought.
Back when I used to train, we were accustomed to seeing all manner of folks enter the gym and glove up. It’s quite a testament to boxing’s widespread appeal, regardless of individual reasons for picking up the sport.
Similarly, I’ve seen all manner of folks from different walks of life get behind the wheel of a Golf and drive away. It’s quite a testament to the model’s widespread appeal, regardless of individual reasons for ending up with one.
The Golf test-driven here is the Mark 8.5 (basically a facelifted Mark 8 in VW’s terms), in R-Line trim.
Sooo… what’s new for the 8.5?
In the 8.5, the Golf proves that age doesn’t mean it can’t have some new tricks up its sleeve.
The folks at Wolfsburg, thankfully, hear our voices on (the literal) street level, and their efforts to recover from liver shots at previous iterations of the Golf are showing.
Plastic surgery for a seasoned fighter
The most obvious change is quite literally, a facelift. An illuminated VW emblem shines atop new bumpers made of black, glossy criss-cross pieces. Combine that with 3D LED headlights and taillights with dynamic turn signals, and you’ll get road presence that balances rugged with classy.
Walloping a heavy bag is always more fun than electronic wall targets
Perhaps the most welcome change is the return of physical buttons on the steering wheel, to replace what were previously haptic touch functions that were less than welcome. Punching the buttons will never not be satisfying, and you can be sure your music won’t restart or suddenly start blaring once you turn a corner.
The reworked infotainment system is also easy to navigate. It’s nicely responsive to weave back and forth on, displayed on a 12.9-inch infotainment screen similar to the Tiguan. Wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay is relatively seamless as well, with little interruption.
How does it feel on the inside?
“Keep good posture”, my old coach used to drill into us.
The R-Line trim provides sports seats for that, with ArtVelours microfleece upholstery to keep you plush while ready for sprints at any moment.
Rear seating is sensibly spaced as well. Your knees won’t be squashed and your sweet haircut won’t be brushed against the headliner.
Boot space is generous as far as hatchbacks go, delivering a practical 380L of space (the same as the BMW 116) for grocery runs. The bootspace can be further optimised by folding the rear seats down, just in case there was a flash sale wherever you did your shopping.
How does it fare on the road?
Hatchbacks will always be endeared for their nimble, zippy driving quality. Like a boxer with deft footwork, the Golf’s suspension is planted, the steering feels properly weighted on turns, and it’s comfortable darting left and right into corners.
The 1.5 eTSI engine, paired with a 48V Mild Hybrid system puts out 116hp and 220Nm, allowing you to do the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.9 seconds, which is a tad longer than the original 150hp car’s 8.5 seconds. For sure, some might wish it were even more powerful (don’t blame the car, blame the COE). That’s understandable, but the powered-down Cat A “interim” pre-facelift model which had 130hp and 200Nm (more power, less torque), produced some vague flat spots during acceleration. Therefore the additional 20Nm dialed-in has significantly ironed this out.
Other cars in the Volkswagen Group utilise the same engine, notably the Skoda Octavia and Audi A3. These fighters carry more or less the same genes, apart from tweaks to their suspension systems and a variety of costumes in and outside.
Over a couple days of driving, I managed 14.7km/L of fuel efficiency. Considering the traffic situations I found myself in, I managed to not be too far off from the official 15.9km/L.
But then again, my Chief Editor managed to easily pull 20km/L, so maybe it’s just my skill issue… or not capitalising on the Coast function and Cylinder Deactivation, he said.
Stiff gloves make punching hurt a little more
With a rear torsion beam setup, the Golf is kept price-friendly, though it tends to skip over some bumps and lumps on the road. It’s far from being the only car around with this issue (the watered-down Mercedes-Benz A 180 is just one example). But to reign the R-Line car in, where you might call this a consolation, this R-Line Golf is equipped with a firmer sports suspension, which sits 15mm lower than the Life Plus variant (which is now the current entry level car). This, paired with a quicker steering means that the compact hatchback comes alive around the turns.
Ringside coaches do yell a little loud
Sometimes you’re locked in, squaring off in the middle of the ring, and your ringside coaches are hollering instructions at you nonstop. Sure, they get super loud in all that riveting excitement with a thousand emotions, but they’re just looking out for you.
The new Golf has an extensive suite of safety features, including Parking Assist, Side Assist, and Advanced Driver attention and drowsiness monitor. The sensors do get overenthusiastic and get increasingly louder. Especially during parking, your cinema’s Dolby surround sound would get jealous. I guess it helps to remember they’re just looking out for you.
To quote Bruce Buffer: “Aaaannd STILL the champion!”
Manny Pacquiao took a few nasty hits over the years, but he’s still famous for clinching world championships across 8 different weight divisions.
Previous iterations of Golfs have stumbled over the years, but it’s still famous for its mass appeal and versatility 8 generations on.
It’s comforting to see The People’s Golf taking steps in the right direction and fighting to retain its championship belt as the most popular hatchback in the world.
Text: Titus Tang
Photos: Kalani
Edits for Both: Clifford Chow
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Brilliant drive | Less power and than when first launched |
| New infotainment has more features | Rear suspension does take away some of that refinement |
| Proper buttons on the steering wheel | Current COE environment has made the Golf very expenisve |
2025 Volkswagen Golf 1.5 eTSI R-Line
| Drivetrain | Petrol-electric mild hybrid |
| Layout | 1,498cc, inline 4 |
| Power / torque | 116hp / 220Nm |
| Transmission | 7-Speed Dual-Clutch |
| Efficiency | 15.8km/l |
| Fuel Capacity | 45 Litres |
| 0-100km/h | 9.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | 203km/h |
| VES Band | B |
| Dealer | Volkswagen Singapore |
| Price | S$203,900 with COE and VES |
| Verdict | The facelifted Volkswagen Golf still drives brilliantly, while MHEV tech keeps fuel costs low. Pity the high COEs are an absolute killjoy |
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