2021 Volkswagen Golf 8 priced from more than $30,000 drive-away, here by mid next year
The starting price for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf 8 will start from in excess of $30,000 drive-away when it arrives in Australian showrooms in the first half of next year.
The new-generation Volkswagen Golf will be the most technically advanced model to date – with a full suite of advanced safety features as standard across the range – but it will come with a price premium following increases of about 10 per cent.
The current Volkswagen Golf range starts from $25,790 before on-road costs. But the new Volkswagen Golf 8 will be priced from $29,350 plus on-road costs – about $33,000 drive-away – when equipped with a manual transmission.
The cheapest automatic version of the next-generation Volkswagen Golf 8 will start from $31,950 plus on-road costs, or about $35,000 drive-away.
Currently, the cheapest Volkswagen Golf automatic is listed on the manufacturer’s website from $31,500 drive-away – minus a $2000 runout bonus that brings the price down to $29,500 drive-away.
Volkswagen says the local arrival of the Golf 8 has been delayed sightly by the coronavirus crisis, however it is now on track for introduction within the first six months of 2021 – about nine months later than originally planned.
The new VW Golf range has been rationalised to three core models – excluding Golf GTI and Golf R hot hatches, which will follow separately.
As shown above, all new Golf models will come standard with a complete suite of safety tech dubbed IQ driver assistance, and includes city and highway speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB), intersection AEB, radar cruise control, blind zone warning and rear cross-traffic alert.
Due to Australian fuel standards the 1.4-litre petrol engine (110kW/250Nm) from the current VW Golf will carry over into the new model, because the latest engines have not been developed for our high sulphur fuel.
However, the engine will be paired to a new eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission rather than a seven-speed twin-clutch auto.
Inside, all cars will have a digital instrument cluster and a large infotainment screen, as well as wireless Apple Car Play and wireless Android Auto – and fast-charging USB-C ports.
Because automatics are now shift-by-wire they have a smaller toggle to select forward and reverse, creating more space in the centre console.
While examples of the VW Golf 8 sold in Europe are available with "over the air" software updates via wifi, Australian models will initially not have this capability.
Volkswagen says the current Golf remains in showrooms only while stocks last and the next shipments to arrive will be the new-generation models.
The company says it will release more details closer to the VW Golf 8 arrival date, which is anticipated in the first three months of 2021.