Volkswagen Golf R-Line Facelift Review: Still the Worthy People's Car

What we like:

Tangible improvements over the pre-facelift version

Fun to drive and practical

What we dislike:

Feels a tad underpowered

Cost-cutting was the main takeaway from the Mk8 Golf. A bit of a shame really, as the car was actually very decent to drive, I daresay even more engaging than the Mk7.5.

Now that the Mk8.5 Golf is here, it’s time to relook at this king of a hatchback that has weathered every storm and continued its legacy since the 1970s.

Volkswagen has certainly addressed quite a number of criticisms levelled at the previous car. With the Mk8.5, there is now a reworked infotainment system that has been developed from ground up. Although we’ve seen the improvements already in the later production years of the Mk8, it's worth acknowledging that Volkswagen has listened to feedback and fixed it. Now, the technology is fairly easy to use and manage, certainly not any worse than its contemporaries. You would notice, for example, that physical buttons have returned to the steering wheel.

The exterior looks are also now more defined, especially with the illuminated Volkswagen logo at the front along with a full-length LED daytime running light. There’s proper presence now, even without plonking for the R-Line trim as on this test car, which comes with 18-inch Leeds alloy wheels, R-Line body-coloured bumpers and a Lapiz Blue exterior colour (unlike silver here).

As before, there is a 1.5-litre turbo engine that sits in Cat A COE. Paired with a mild hybrid system, it produces 116 PS and 220 Nm. For those of you old enough to remember, the Mk5 Golf GT produced 250 Nm - not too far off at all. With a 7-speed DSG, the Mk8.5 Golf does 0-100 km/h in 9.9 seconds. It’s a refined drivetrain, and a bit of a workhorse - after all the years, it does feel a bit underpowered especially when compared to more electrified alternatives. A more advanced hybrid system would be something to look forward to for the Mk9.

Since the Mk8, I’ve maintained that the R-Line trim is the one to have. It’s the same story here, as the sports seats, sports suspension and progressive steering really elevate the driving experience. With the Golf R comfortably exceeding $300k, you can at least imagine being in one with the R-Line. The interior feels more special too, and the seats keep you snug even when cornering hard.

Although the Golf has always elicited a smile on a good road, the sharper turn-in as well as the more planted suspension of the R-Line is well worth the extra $10k over the standard Golf. The car is simply unfazed over bumps and hardly bleeds to understeer. You’ll quickly find yourself banging through the gears finding as much pace as possible before the next apex. It’s so good, you wish you had more power to exploit the brilliant chassis.

The Mk8.5 Golf once again proves why it is the most popular hatchback in the world. As more and more new entrants to the market try to gnaw at the Golf’s turf, it is comforting to know that the Golf is still the familiar car that we love.

Photos by James Wong

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