Volkswagen Golf (Mk8) review

The Mk8 Golf wasn’t all small evolutions. There were huge changes in the dash, infotainment, and the level of connectedness. And not for the better, we might add. Hence Volkswagen attempting to right its wrongs with Mk8.5.

So, all Golfs now get VW’s latest MIB4 infotainment system, paired with a 12.9-inch screen as standard. It’s the same unit you find in the Passat and Tiguan, and with its revised menu structure and faster processor a big improvement on before.

There’s still a severe lack of physical buttons, and only capacitive sliders to control temperature and volume (which don't always respond to your fingertip). But these are now finally illuminated at night, whereas before you were left fumbling around cursing under your breath.

We do however like the row of customisable shortcut buttons at the top: for example, we had a shortcut button to take us to the driver assist functions – meaning we could quickly turn off the annoying speed limit warning – while the aircon and heated seat controls are permanently displayed down below.

What else has changed?

All Golfs also now get a steering wheel complete with proper buttons in place of the previous (and useless) capacitive ones, ChatGPT to control the vehicle’s functions and answer any general knowledge questions (though, in our experience, not very effectively), plus Car2X.

Before long cars of all brands will be able to use this hazard warning swarm intelligence. Say a car around the corner ahead of you activates its hazards, or airbag, or ESP, or fog lights... you’ll get a message if it’s relevant. Infrastructure – the same info that feeds motorway gantry signs – will also knit into the system.

Is it comfortable?

As usual for a Golf, the front seats and driving position are just fine, and in the back you can get rear climate controls. Boot space amounts to 318 litres with seats up and 1,270 litres with them folded down, but be aware that the plug-in hybrids can only muster 273 litres back there on account of the battery. Something to ponder if you’re tempted by the idea of electric-only commuting.

Still not enough space for you? Get the Golf Estate: its 611-litre boot will be enough to get you and your family’s stuff from one side of the country to another comfortably.