2024 Volkswagen Golf: Base model axed

A combination of production improvements and fluctuating demand see Volkswagen drop the base Golf for 2024.

According to Volkswagen, there's now little demand for the basic Golf trim which starts at $36,290. The $38,590 before on-road costs 110TSI Life – with its 17-inch alloys, larger infotainment screen, and navigation – becomes the entry point for 2024.

Detailed MY24 pricing – which we expect to climb slightly – will be released later this year. Existing MY23 models of Golf remain in stock, too.

“The overwhelming majority of Golf customers select the Life, R-Line, GTI or – when available – R model grades. Reflecting these customer preferences, this now means each model line in the Volkswagen passenger vehicle range will commence with the well-equipped Life model grade or higher", a Volkswagen Australia spokesperson told Wheels.

“There remains strong MY23 stock in Volkswagen dealerships, and this will continue through 2023. The Polo GTI, Golf Life, Golf R-Line and Golf GTI remain with special drive-away pricing” (detailed below), the spokesperson added.

Our original story, below, continues unchanged.

April 2023: Golf GTI and R-Line back on the menu

With 2023 Golf GTI stock levels improving in Australia, Volkswagen is offering drive-away deals on the original hot hatch in the second half of 2023.

Instead of paying $55,490 before on-road costs, buyers will be able to scoop an un-optioned GTI up for $55,490 drive-away from July 1.

Our original story, below, continues unchanged.

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Apil 11: 2023 Volkswagen Golf pricing: GTI and R-Line orders open again

Volkswagen has re-opened orders for Golf GTI and R-Line variants after four months off sale.

The German carmaker enacted a sales pause on both high-spec trims in December due to chip shortages that meant right-hand drive examples were being produced without a reverse camera – a necessity for Australian design rules (ADRs).

The reverse camera is now back online for GTI and R-Line trims, so customers are again able to place orders with Volkswagen dealers for the up-spec trims.

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A 1300-strong batch of R-Line and GTIs will make their way to Australia in the coming months, and that will see wait times drop to roughly three months for the 110TSI R-Line ($40,490) and GTI ($55,490, both before on-road costs). As always, contact your local dealer for specific wait time information.

“Inside our headquarters and in showrooms there’s so much love for the Golf, so it has been challenging to have our supply restricted for this iconic hatchback,” said head of product passenger vehicles, Michelle Rowney.

Golf 110TSI and 110TSI Life trims will become available in bursts as production is still sporadically affected by rear-view camera production issues. The flagship AWD Golf R remains unavailable to order.

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Volkswagen Golf sales have begun bouncing back from last year’s crippling stock restrictions, with 615 examples delivered in the first quarter – a 98.4 per cent increase on last year.

In addition to the improved Golf supply, Volkswagen has unrestricted T-Roc stock, and availability of certain T-Cross, Tiguan Allspace, and Passat trims.

John Law

Our original story, below, has been updated to reflect pricing changes

The story to here

UPDATE Jan 20: Volkswagen Golf entry model returns; new safety tech added

The eighth-generation 2023 Volkswagen Golf has received a significant update, just over a year after it first arrived on Australian shores.

It's not all good news, though: Volkswagen Australia has confirmed the manual Golf is formally discontinued for 2023, after production ended in late 2021 to focus on more-popular automatic variants.

Prior to the removal, the Golf small car had featured a manual transmission option since the brand relaunched in Australia in the early 1990s – including sportier variants, such as the GTI and R, prior to the latest generation.

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The entry-level Golf 110TSI has officially returned in automatic guise, following delays caused by the semiconductor chip shortage – bringing the starting price down to $35,190 before on-road costs.

A full price list is available below.

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What's new?

Headlining the changes for model-year 2023 is the addition of a front-centre airbag, taking the total count to nine airbags.

The change follows the addition of a centre airbag – designed to prevent a potentially deadly head clash between the driver and front passenger in a side impact collision – across the facelifted Polo light car range earlier this year.

In addition, Volkswagen has fine-tuned the lane-keep assist system to more accurately detect narrow roads, with the vehicle no longer attempting to steer the driver away from the line when moving close to it.

Other changes include a new steering wheel airbag cover, door trim inserts for Golf, Life and GTI, revised interior decor inlays, embossed seat covers with GTI badging for the hot hatch, and improved graphics for the digital instrument cluster to better show the digital speed readout.

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Production of the updated Golf and Golf Life commenced in late June, ahead of first arrivals in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the R-Line, GTI and R will follow from late November production, with showroom arrivals expected in early 2023.

2023 Volkswagen Golf pricing

Prices exclude on-road costs.

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2023 Volkswagen Golf features

Golf

Golf Life, in addition to Golf

Golf R-Line, in addition to Life

Golf GTI, in addition to R-Line

Golf R, in addition to GTI

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Options

• Sound and Vision Package – $1600 (Life, R-Line)

• Comfort and Style Package – $2000 (Life)

• Sound and Style Package – $2500 (GTI)

• Luxury Package – $3900 (GTI)

• Panoramic glass sunroof – $1900 (R-Line, R)

• Nine-speaker, 480-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system – $1000 (R)

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Engine, drivetrain and fuel economy

Golf 110TSI variants are powered by a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque.

Power is sent to the front wheels through either an eight-speed Aisin-sourced torque-converter automatic.

Stepping up to the front-drive Golf GTI brings the addition of the fourth-generation ‘EA888’ engine, a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder unit punching out 180kW and 370Nm, with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

The flagship Golf R hatch is powered by a modified version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol mill with 235kW and 400Nm.

The wagon has 420Nm of torque and a petrol particulate filter. It utilises a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.

Fuel economy figures can be found in the table below:

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Safety

The entire Volkswagen Golf range is covered by a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted in 2019. It has a 95 per cent score for adult occupant protection, 89 per cent for children, 76 per cent for vulnerable road users, and 80 per cent for safety assist.

Nine airbags (dual front, front side, rear side, curtain, and front-centre) feature across the range.

Each variant includes the following active safety equipment as standard:

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Dimensions

In hatchback guise, the Golf has a wheelbase of 2636 millimetres, and is 4284mm long and 1789mm wide.

The entry-level and Life variants are 1483mm high, with the R-Line featuring 15mm lower suspension. GTI and R variants are 1463mm tall.

Meanwhile, the wagon body has a 2686mm wheelbase, and measures 4633mm long and 1789mm wide.

The hatch has a claimed 374 litre boot capacity, expanding to 611L in the wagon with the rear seats up. Luggage capacity grows to 1230L and 1642L, respectively, with the second-row folded.

Warranty and servicing

As per the wider Volkswagen range, the Golf is covered by the brand’s five-year/unlimited kilometre factory warranty, along with a complimentary 12-month roadside assistance program.

Service pricing can be pre-purchased, consisting of three- or five-year packages with 12-month/15,000km intervals.

Prices for each powertrain can be found below:

Availability

The updated 2023 Volkswagen Golf and Golf Life production commenced in late June, ahead of first arrivals in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the R-Line, GTI and R grades will follow from late November production, with showroom arrivals likely in early 2023.