Photo: Volkswagen
The facelifted Golf, which Volkswagen calls the 7.5 generation, comes with better styling, improved safety, a revised engine range and the all-important digital dashboard.
People say that only VW fanatics will be able to tell the difference. Thankfully, there are plenty of those in Germany, where the model has gone on sale from €17,850. Or at least that's what they tell us, because the configurator says something else: €19,625.
So why the difference? Well, I think Volkswagen wants to boast that the Golf stays cheap, even though that's not the case. The base price we mentioned is for the 1.0 TSI engine in the Trendline configuration with 85 PS while the second is for the higher output 110 PS version of the same 3-banger turbo. A €1,800 difference between two versions of the same small engine is not normal.
Regardless, all Trendline cars now benefit from the Composition Colour infotainment system (6.5-inch color display), full-LED taillights and an upgraded interior. But I'm sure almost nobody in Germany buys a Golf Trendline with an 85 PS engine.
Both Comfortline and Highline 2017 Golfs are also available with the 125 or 150 PS versions of the 1.4 TSI turbo. Optionally, you could order the 2.0 TDI with 150 PS, but not with a DSG gearbox. That "privilege is reserved for the 1.6 TDI, a revised unit pushing 115 PS.
It's still ridiculously easy to push the Golf past €30,000 because basic features cost a fortune: 5-door body for 900 euros, a panoramic roof for 1,080 euros or DCC for another 1,045 euros. In fact, Volkswagen even wants money for the CD player.
Pricing of the Golf GTI, which now has an additional 10 PS of power output (230 PS), starts at € 29,975. But the Performance model with the differential and 245 PS isn't available yet.
The official press release even talks about a 2017 Golf Alltrack being "launched" from €33,650. The launch model comes with an 180 PS 1.8-liter turbo engine and the dual-clutch gearbox, the same as the US model. So they are either shifting production or preparing to add the facelift features in about a month. Either way, something weird is going on, because the base Alltrack engine is supposed to be the 1.6 TDI with a manual.
Other engines, such as the gas-burning 1.4 TGI or the high-output 2.0 TDI will be added at a later date.
People say that only VW fanatics will be able to tell the difference. Thankfully, there are plenty of those in Germany, where the model has gone on sale from €17,850. Or at least that's what they tell us, because the configurator says something else: €19,625.
So why the difference? Well, I think Volkswagen wants to boast that the Golf stays cheap, even though that's not the case. The base price we mentioned is for the 1.0 TSI engine in the Trendline configuration with 85 PS while the second is for the higher output 110 PS version of the same 3-banger turbo. A €1,800 difference between two versions of the same small engine is not normal.
Regardless, all Trendline cars now benefit from the Composition Colour infotainment system (6.5-inch color display), full-LED taillights and an upgraded interior. But I'm sure almost nobody in Germany buys a Golf Trendline with an 85 PS engine.
Both Comfortline and Highline 2017 Golfs are also available with the 125 or 150 PS versions of the 1.4 TSI turbo. Optionally, you could order the 2.0 TDI with 150 PS, but not with a DSG gearbox. That "privilege is reserved for the 1.6 TDI, a revised unit pushing 115 PS.
It's still ridiculously easy to push the Golf past €30,000 because basic features cost a fortune: 5-door body for 900 euros, a panoramic roof for 1,080 euros or DCC for another 1,045 euros. In fact, Volkswagen even wants money for the CD player.
Pricing of the Golf GTI, which now has an additional 10 PS of power output (230 PS), starts at € 29,975. But the Performance model with the differential and 245 PS isn't available yet.
The official press release even talks about a 2017 Golf Alltrack being "launched" from €33,650. The launch model comes with an 180 PS 1.8-liter turbo engine and the dual-clutch gearbox, the same as the US model. So they are either shifting production or preparing to add the facelift features in about a month. Either way, something weird is going on, because the base Alltrack engine is supposed to be the 1.6 TDI with a manual.
Other engines, such as the gas-burning 1.4 TGI or the high-output 2.0 TDI will be added at a later date.
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