One of VW’s most recognisable cars is getting a facelift with the announcement of the new 2025 Volkswagen Golf, which is set to be the final combustion engine-powered generation of the car.
This latest generation 8.5 Golf splits the middle between the previous 8th generation announced back in 2019, and the eagerly anticipated and all-electric 9th generation slated for arrival around 2028. The updates in gen 8.5 aren’t all cosmetic, however, as they include an updated front end with sharper LED headlights and new alloy wheel designs, while the top-of-the-line GTI arrives with the likely option of an illuminated Volkswagen badge.
The cabin has seen an upgrade too, with the addition of a larger 12.9-inch floating-look touchscreen to operate the infotainment system and a 360-degree camera to assist with parking. Some might call it a step backward, but VW has also changed the steering wheel to once again feature physical buttons and controls (in response to negative customer feedback when they were removed).
We can also expect more power from the 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI, which will feature a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that’s capable of 195kW (up from 180kW previously). Local production for Australia-destined cars is expected to begin in Q4 of this year, putting a probable showroom floor arrival into 2025.
There’s no word on pricing from VW yet, but as a benchmark, the current range begins at $39,190 plus on-roads.
