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Every car and SUV discontinued in Australia in 2023
Escape, Rio, CX-9, Passat... Some nameplates that have been around for a long, long time in Australia have been axed this year, along with some newer nameplates.
William Stopford
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2023 Volkswagen Golf
New from
$34,900 excl. on-roads
8.3
CarExpert Rating
Safety Rating
5
Warranty
5 year
Fuel Efficiency
5.8-7.8 L / 100KM
About the Volkswagen Golf
Last updated Oct 23, 2024The 2023 Volkswagen Golf is classified as a 5 Door Hatchback currently on sale in Australia as part of the MARK 8 CD MY23 UPDATE generation, starting from $34,900 MLRP for the 110TSI and topping out at $74,400 for the R 4MOTION 20 YEARS.
There are 22 variants available for our market and the current year model went on sale in Jan of 2023. The Golf is built in Germany and is available with 1.4L Turbo Direct Fuel Injection, equipped with a 8 Speed Automatic transmission with the drive sent to FWD. The Golf is offered with a 5 year, unlimited kilometre warranty.
Pros
- Modern-looking interior
- Smooth, quiet powertrain
- Balance between ride and handling
Cons
- Screens are flashier than they are functional
- Australia misses the best engine technology
- Those prices are steep
Volkswagen Golf Rating
Kia Cerato
Entry-level
Honda Civic
Best in class
Overall rating
8.3
7.5
8.9
Volkswagen Golf News
2023 Volkswagen Golf Reviews
2023 Volkswagen Golf Price
| Variant | Price From* | Price To* |
|---|---|---|
| 110TSI LIFE | $37,600 | $37,600 |
| 110TSI R-LINE | $40,600 | $40,600 |
| GTi | $53,900 | $53,900 |
| R 4MOTION | $67,800 | $67,800 |
| R 4MOTION 20 YEARS | $74,400 | $74,400 |
*excl. on-roads
2023 Volkswagen Golf Specs
See our comprehensive details for the Volkswagen Golf
New Volkswagen Golf deals
2023 Volkswagen Golf Dimensions
1456mm
1789mm
4284mm
The dimensions shown above are for the base model.
See all 2023 Volkswagen Golf Dimensions2023 Volkswagen Golf Boot Space
Boot space is a claimed 374L in the hatch and 611L in the wagon with the rear seats in place. Their load volume expands to 1230L and 1642L, respectively, with the rear seats folded.
2023 Volkswagen Golf Gallery
CarExpert High Resolution Photos of the Volkswagen Golf
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2023 Volkswagen Golf Safety Rating
The 2023 Volkswagen Golf has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing based on carried out by Euro NCAP in 2019.
It scored 95 per cent for adult occupant protection, 89 per cent for child occupant protection, 76 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 80 per cent for safety assist.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Nine airbags, including a centre airbag
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Multi-collision brake
- Lane-keep assist
- Travel assist
- Front cross-traffic alert
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Adaptive cruise control with stop & go
- Driver fatigue monitoring
- Park Assist
- Reversing camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
All bar the base model include Emergency Assist and safe exit warning.
2023 Volkswagen Golf Fuel Economy
The 2023 Volkswagen Golf range has the following claimed fuel economy figures:
- Golf hatch: 5.8L/100km
- Golf Wagon: 5.9L/100km
- Golf GTI: 7.0L/100km
- Golf R hatch: 7.8L/100km
- Golf R Wagon: 7.4L/100km
All models require 95 RON premium unleaded petrol, except for the two Golf R variants which require 98 RON.
| Volkswagen Golf | Fuel Type | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| 110TSI | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | 5.8 |
| 110TSI LIFE | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | 5.8 |
| 110TSI R-LINE | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | 5.8 |
| GTi | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | 7.0 |
| R 4MOTION | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | 7.8 |
| R 4MOTION 20 YEARS | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | 7.3 |
Cost of ownership
What is the running and servicing costs of a Volkswagen Golf?
All Volkswagen Golf’s need servicing every 12 Months months or 15,000km km, whichever comes first.
How does the 2023 Volkswagen Golf drive?
Our expert take on Volkswagen Golf drivability.
The 2023 Volkswagen Golf in base, Life and R-Line trims, are powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque.
These models are front-wheel drive and use an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.
The Golf GTI upgrades to a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 180kW and 370Nm, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It’s also front-wheel drive but includes a locking front differential.
Volkswagen claims the Golf GTI can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.4 seconds.
The Golf R hatch is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 235kW and 400Nm. This is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with drive sent through a 4Motion all-wheel drive system.
Volkswagen claims the Golf R hatch can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.8 seconds.
The Golf R Wagon on the other hand has the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine but with the European tune which adds 20Nm, taking the total to 420Nm. It also has a petrol particulate filter (PPF).
Volkswagen claims the Golf R Wagon can o the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds.
For all that’s changed, the Mk 8 Golf still feels like a Golf.
It’s smooth and quiet, with a planted feeling that wouldn’t be out of place in a bigger, more expensive car.
The switch from a dual-clutch transmission to a more conventional torque converter means the new Golf uses more fuel than its predecessor, but it also makes it smoother and easier to drive in the city.
Even the best dual-clutch transmissions carry some kind of learning curve, the eight-speeder in the new Golf doesn’t.
It’s smart enough to keep the 1.4-litre engine in its torque band most of the time, slurring inoffensively from gear-to-gear when you’re cruising.
As has always been the case, the turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the Golf is an effortless companion. Its outputs are down on what you get in the latest warm hatches from Hyundai and Kia, but its buttery smooth power delivery and torquey mid-range mean you never need to work it hard.
Where it does feel like a backwards step is when you’re in a hurry. Even in Sport mode the eight-speed Golf doesn’t snap through the ratios with the confidence of a DSG, and taking charge with the paddles isn’t as satisfying.
Is that likely to worry the average owner? Probably not, although it’s arguably more of an issue in the sporty Golf R-Line than in its more demure siblings.
The coat of polish applied to the engine extends to the ride and handling, too. The R-Line sits 15mm lower than the regular Golf, but it soaks up the worst the city can throw at it without breaking a sweat.
It’s a bit firmer than the related Skoda Octavia, but it’s still perfectly usable day-to-day.
In traditional Volkswagen fashion, body control is tight without feeling outright sporty. It deals with speed bumps in one movement, the body settling quickly.
Unlike some of its rivals, Volkswagen has stuck with a multi-link rear suspension on the Golf. That has a negative impact on boot space, but it also contributes to the car’s planted, neutral feeling from behind the wheel.
Flick it into a corner and the nose just goes where you want it to, with very little in the way of understeer or lairy, lift-off oversteer.
Even in R-Line guise the Golf majors on low-fuss stability rather than outright thrills, although it’ll put a smile on your face if you’re willing to take it by the scruff of the neck.
It’s not perfect, though. The tyres are noisy on the highway, especially Australian coarse-chip highways, and Volkswagen’s adaptive cruise control won’t pass to the left of a slower car.
In Europe, where lane discipline is drummed into drivers from day one, that’s a good thing. In Australia, where it’s common for drivers to sit in the right lane doing 10km/h below the limit, it’s annoying.
2023 Volkswagen Golf Options
Options list for the Volkswagen Golf
You can find more details on all the options and inclusions across the Volkswagen Golf variants on the official website, and within the official Volkswagen Golf specifications page.
2023 Volkswagen Golf Colours
What colours are available for the Volkswagen Golf
On the core range, metallic paint is a $600 option while premium metallic paint is a $900 option.
The following shades are available on the core range:
- Candy White
- Deep Black
- Dolphin Grey
- Reflex Silver (excludes R-Line)
- Moonstone Grey (R-Line only)
- Atlantic Blue
- Pomello Yellow
All shades are a no-cost option in the GTI, but for Kings Red which costs $300. The following shades are available:
- Pure White
- Dolphin Grey
- Deep Black
- Moonstone Grey
- Atlantic Blue
- Kings Red
The Golf R is available in three exterior paint colours:
- Pure White
- Lapiz Blue metallic
- Deep Black pearl
2023 Volkswagen Golf Warranty
The 2023 Volkswagen Golf is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km and Volkswagen offers three- and five-year prepaid service packages.
2023 Volkswagen Golf vs other Small's to consider
The Volkswagen Golf's main competitors are listed below. All of these cars are in the Small category. Click compare to to see a feature list comparison of the Volkswagen Golf against your chosen competitor.
Should you buy the 2023 Volkswagen Golf
Is this the right car for you? Out experts buy or not guide.
While the Volkswagen Golf is pricier than before, it still stacks up well against its competition (especially against its Skoda rival, funnily enough) and packs more standard equipment than the old car. That the IQ. Drive suite of technology is standard from the base level is commendable.
There’s also still that basic Golf goodness, with a polished ride/handling balance and a smooth powertrain that is none the worse for having dropped the dual-clutch auto.
The Golf has long been a benchmark in the European C-segment plus a consistent top-seller. A higher base price and increasing movement to SUVs over here in Australia may dent Golf sales but the Mk8 should still be at the top of your list if you’re in the market for a circa-$35k hatchback.
Volkswagen Golf FAQs
The cheapest Volkswagen Golf is the 110TSI that starts from $34,900.
The most expensive Volkswagen Golf is the R 4MOTION 20 YEARS that starts from $74,400.
The best towing capacity of a Volkswagen Golf is offered by the GTi which can tow 1600Kg
The largest Volkswagen Golf is the 110TSI which measures 1789mm wide, 4633mm in length and sits 1483mm tall.
The most powerful Volkswagen Golf is the R 4MOTION 20 YEARS which has 245kW of power from its 2.0L Turbo Direct Fuel Injection engine.
The Volkswagen Golf is built in Germany and shipped to Australia.
The heaviest Volkswagen Golf is the R 4MOTION 20 YEARS which weighs 2030 kg (kerb weight).
The Volkswagen Golf uses premium unleaded petrol.