The 2021 Volkswagen Golf has finally launched in Australia armed with a new look, new tech and a new model structure. Now in its eighth generation since launching in 1974, the Golf has gone on sale across the country, showing Volkswagen’s evolutionary design strategy once again at play for their trademark small car as well as the desire to push the car upmarket with the latest tech – something also shown through hefty price increases over the previous generation Golf.
In an Australian first, the Golf performance range has gone on sale as the same time as other models and is spearheaded by the new Golf GTI, which has retained the same drivetrain as the outgoing Mk7.5 Golf and is priced for the first time above $50,000. A Golf Wagon model is also set to go on sale imminently.
Volkswagen Australia hopes that the new Golf’s improved on-board tech can help offset the higher pricing, at a time when the recently facelifted Volkswagen Tiguan is the brand’s best-selling car locally.
As before, the 2021 Volkswagen Golf range will be offered in a variety of trim levels to suit different tastes and budgets. The entry-level Golf – which is now called just Golf – sits below the mid-spec Life, which sits below the R-Line. The GTI hot hatch is at the top of the range for now – the even hotter Golf R will join the range in 2022.
2021 Volkswagen Golf Engines
All regular Golf variants use a carryover 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that’s mated to either a six-speed manual in the base model, or a new eight-speed Austin torque-converter automatic in every other spec also found in cars such as the Skoda Karoq.
The GTI uses the same 180kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine as the Mk7.5 Golf, although the former six-speed manual is unfortunately no longer available – a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is standard.
Stay tuned to Discoverauto to see what the remainder of the performance Golf range will be like, when the Golf R lobs here in 2022.
2021 Volkswagen Golf pricing (plus on-road costs):
Golf hatch manual – $29,350
Golf hatch auto – $31,950
Golf wagon auto – $33,550
Golf Life hatch auto – $34,250
Golf wagon Life auto – $36,250
Golf R-Line hatch auto – $37,450
Golf GTI hatch DSG auto – $53,100
Standard kit on the entry level Golf includes:
- Auto lights and wipers
- Tri-zone climate control
- LED exterior and interior lighting
- Digital cockpit (10.25-inch digital dials)
- 8.25-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Four USB-C ports
- Auto-dimming rear view mirror
- Push-button start
- Roof rails (wagon)
- Rear centre arm rest (wagon)
All 2021 Volkswagen Golfs have the following safety equipment as standard:
- Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection monitoring
- Low speed rear automatic braking
- Multi-collision braking
- Lane keep assist
- Front cross-traffic assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Automatic parking
- Reversing camera
- Eight airbags
The mid-spec Golf Life adds:
- Digital Cockpit Pro (configurable digital instruments)
- 10-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Factory satellite navigation
- An extra speaker
- Microfleece cloth seating with brushed inlays
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Keyless entry and start with auto-folding mirrors
- Front seat lumbar adjustment
- Emergency assist
- Exit assist
- Rear centre arm rest with cup holders
- Rear map pockets
- Front and rear floor mats
- Chrome roof rails (wagon)
- Electric tailgate (wagon)
The Golf R-Line tops the mainstream range and adds:
- Sport seats with half-leather trim
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Lowered (by 15mm) suspension
- R-Line exterior trim
- Projector LED headlights with cornering lights and auto high beam
- Rear privacy glass
Atop the range sits the Volkswagen Golf GTI, which features:
- Tartan-trimmed sport seats
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Twin exhaust pipes
- GTI exterior trim and highlights including an illuminated grille strip
- Adaptive suspension
- An alarm
2021 Volkswagen Golf Options
Metallic paint is $600 optional extra ($300 on R-Line), and premium metallic paint is $900.
Three packages will be offered:
- Sound and Vision Package – $1,500 for Golf Life, R-Line and GTI:
- Head-up display
- Harman/Kardon 480W nine-speaker sound system
2. Comfort and Style Package – $2,000 for Golf Life
- Microfleece-trimmed sport seats
- 30-colour ambient interior lighting
- Glass sunroof
The R-Line can be optioned with a panoramic glass roof for $1,800.
3. Luxury Package – $3,800 for Golf GTI:
- ‘Vienna’ leather upholstery
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- 12-way powered driver’s seat with memory
- Heated steering wheel
- Glass sunroof
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