2021 Volkswagen Golf Life review

This is the generational model that will take the Volkswagen Golf to its 50th anniversary in 2024.

The question is whether the prospect of such a milestone prompted the German brand to abandon decades of evolutionary approach to the world’s most classless hatchback.

VW’s designers have certainly tried to be braver with the Golf’s exterior. While few will confuse the shape – including that trademark thick rear pillar – for any other five-door, the sheetmetal has lost some of its typically clean lines.

The conjoined grille and headlights have become ever narrower and there are even some boisterous paint options such as the Pomelo Yellow pictured here.

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Volkswagen is pitching the Mk8 as its most technologically advanced Golf yet, and there’s a step forward in price to accompany it.

The range starts below $30,000 only with a manual gearbox, meaning most buyers need $31,950 before on-road costs for the base model with an automatic transmission.

The Golf Life we’re specifically reviewing costs from $34,250, with the $37,450 R-Line the last of the regular models before the $53,100 GTI hot hatch.

Although there’s a broader suite of driver-assistance systems (including a semi-autonomous steering function) and a digital dashboard double act for every model, the Life is the minimum starting point for those seeking a properly sophisticated Golf.

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Life introduces a larger, 10.0-inch centre touchscreen over the base model’s 8.25-inch unit plus a higher-resolution driver display with increased customisation.

Over the entry grade, the Life also adds wireless smartphone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, integrated navigation, keyless entry, ambient interior lighting, and two extra safety features comprising Exit Warning and Emergency Assist.

R-Line tech additions are auto high beam (surprisingly missing from the Life), driving modes and touch-control steering wheel buttons.

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With the latest Golf following the minimalist cabin trend, the infotainment display is now the primary access point for climate controls.

There are separate temperature touch buttons (Life and R-Line), but a CLIMA button below needs to be pressed to access the air recirculation and fan speed/direction functions.

If the deletion of physical climate controls is a loss for ergonomics, the screen offers a clever alternative ‘Smart Climate’ menu that allows front occupants to make simple, instructional requests such as Defog Windows, Warm Feet, Cool My Feet and Fresh Air.

Volkswagen is pitching the 8 as the most technologically advanced Golf yet, and there’s a step forward in price to accompany it

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It doesn’t take long to find some harder plastics – including the more cheaply constructed rear door cards – though the Golf 8 largely upholds the nameplate’s tradition for high perceived quality.

This includes attention to detail such as storage areas that are either flocked (the large door pockets) or lined with rubber (centre console cupholder section and tray strip).

The optional microfleece/cloth seats (fitted to our Life test car) are not only exceptionally comfortable but look about as posh as non-leather upholstery can get.

They form part of a $2000 Comfort & Style pack – for the Life only – that also adds a tilt/slide sunroof and an expansion of ambient lighting colours (from 10 to 30).

Life and R-Line models can also be equipped with a head-up display and a 480-watt Harman Kardon audio system through a $1500 Sound & Vision pack.

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With little change to the Golf’s footprint, rear-seat space remains far from class-leading yet sufficiently roomy for most adults.

There are rear vents with dedicated temperature control plus two extra USB-C ports, though the base Golf misses out on the centre armrest (with cupholders) and multi-pouch front seatbacks of other models.

The Life and R-Line also feature a thru-port to a boot that is a fraction smaller than before at 374 litres. There are two floor-height options as well as 60:40 folding seatbacks.

A Golf wagon is again offered for those needing more cargo space, priced from $33,550 in base form or from $36,250 in Life guise.

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Australia’s poor fuel quality continues to thwart VW’s most advanced engines, including plug-in hybrid drivetrains.

Yet while regular Golfs utilise a carryover 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 110kW and 250Nm, there is a notable change of transmission.

The ‘DSG’ dual-clutch system that has swapped gears on most automatic Golfs locally since 2004 has been exchanged for an eight-speed torque converter auto on the regular models.

Although the Golf doesn’t feel as lively going up the gears with the new auto – and is slower to accelerate than its predecessor, according to VW – it feels like a more suitable gearbox for the standard hatch.

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The auto is still effective at choosing suitable ratios, but perhaps most importantly it eliminates the DSG’s tendency to hesitate when moving off from a stationary position.

It combines well with a 1.4-litre turbo engine that remains enjoyably flexible, as well as refined. And economical.

Although a WLTP adjustment has seen the Golf’s official fuel consumption climb from 5.4 to 5.8 litres per 100km, our testing – involving an even balance of suburban and freeway driving – produced an indicated 5.3L/100km.

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The standout of the Golf Life driving experience is ride quality. Rolling on 17-inch wheels that defy the trend for big rims, the Golf’s Goldilocks suspension is neither too hard nor too soft.

Its ability to absorb bumps consistently across inconsistent road surfaces is almost unrivalled – and certainly not matched by torsion-beamed rivals such as the Mazda 3 or base Mercedes A-Class.

The only blot on refinement is tyre noise that starts to intrude when coarser surfaces are encountered. (We’ve yet to test the R-Line that features bigger wheels and sports suspension.)

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For those more monotonous journeys, drivers can press a Travel Assist button on the steering wheel to make the car steer autonomously in addition to the auto acceleration/braking function of the adaptive cruise control.

However, the driver can have their hands off the wheel for barely a minute, or not gripping the wheel sufficiently, before the system starts warning them to put their hands back on. Ignore the visual/audible warnings and the car rudely tightens the seatbelt and starts slowing the car as part of the Emergency Assist system.

As with other temporary self-steer systems, it seems like a gimmick next to the genuine usefulness of variable-speed cruise.

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For owners planning to get their Golf serviced regularly within the Volkswagen dealer network, it’s worth considering upfront service plans. The German brand’s capped-price servicing program is relatively expensive, and the plans save about $400 over three years ($1100) or nearly $1000 over five years ($1900).

The Mark 8 is still a textbook Golf – unchanged in so many ways yet improved in areas that are key today, such as technology and connectivity. It will be even better when VW Australia can equip it with the company’s more advanced drivetrains, and we would ignore the base model.

As transcendent hatchbacks go, though, the Golf 8 already remains the gold standard.