NEW Volkswagen Golf 8.5 Review: Back To Being The Best?

[@andras.89]

Bring back physical media + climate controls, ditch those piano black inserts surrounding the digit gadgets, seriously, looks horrible. The hell with piano black high gloss plastic inserts... Also, please bring back buttons/knobs for lighting too, and we are where we were left of with 7.5...

[@jimpackard8059]

Totally agree

[@senna5607]

Absolutely true

[@pw3591]

My Golf 7 has a big knob that I turn the fan up and down with. Why should I have to go into menus to do something as simple as that, it's absolutely mental, and yes dangerous !!

[@jimpackard8059]

It is cost cutting

[@PhD63]

@@jimpackard8059Cost cutting, but the cost of new vehicles just keep going up and up.

[@hamtaroyt]

Looks ugly and clunky. But should not be removed but redesigned.

[@reanult457]

Same with my 7.5

[@jimpackard8059]

This is a wonderful review and should be shown to the bosses at VW. She gets it spot on. Those stupid slide controls and the heater controls via the screen are crap and loads of Golf people do nor want that on their car. VW - for flips sake , listen !

[@Sto79Be]

She changed her tune after she mentioned they’re now backlit though. Whoopee-doo! 🙄

[@hamtaroyt]

I like the slide controls. Although I do wish there was an easier way to change the fan speed.

[@alexandrem6429]

I Will wait until the climate controls returns to physical controls!

[@hamtaroyt]

I mean, if you want to just stick with older cars it is up to you.

[@timjenkins8538]

No one asked for illuminated badges or chat GPT! We just wanted a good car for a decent price

[@hamtaroyt]

I agree, I don't want the car to be seen as a Volkswagen driving advertisement, but that's just my minimalist approach. Chat GPT could be interesting but they are putting efforts into other things that really should be the last thing they need to look into.

[@hasanaktas6929]

What makes me think is that using the phone whilst driving is illegal but using that screen is not illegal? Has the same user interface and features like a phone The government has to clarify that

[@biafo4541]

Absolutely, it may even be more hazardous. On a less important note, I'm yet to see a dashboard with a tablet stuck on the dash that looks good. Once a car gets to this price there must be a function where you can press a button and the screen folds out of sight.

[@phuketexplorer]

Bye bye Tesla, if the government included car screens

[@tajulislam1522]

Any infortainment system is allowed to be used whilst driving but the law states if it affects your driving, then you could potentially be breaking the law. So if there's a Police car behind you and you're trying change the radio whilst swerving lanes, then that could lead you to prosecution. Otherwise, you're perfectly allowed to use a built-in infortainment system so long it's not distracting you from your driving.

[@hamtaroyt]

Phones are made to be distracting, the infotainment isn't. So really this argument makes no sense.

[@witnesspropro]

@@hamtaroyt Yet it still is distracting. Finding a button or knob on the dashboard without looking is still safer and less distracting than tapping menus and icons on a touchscreen. It's really not complicated (althoughit does appear to be too complicated for car manufacturers to understand).

[@andreiarama8745]

I hate two things about it : no volume and climate knobs and THE PRICE! Let's not forget that underneath it's still a Golf 7. And why no mild hybrid manual? Because VW are cheap bastards

[@jimpackard8059]

Correct. Crap controls

[@Ren_1106]

that's correct bro 😢

[@darkbassi5911]

Don't all hybrids need to be auto 🤔

[@andreiarama8745]

@@darkbassi5911 this is a shitty mild hybrid not a full hybrid. Ford Puma, Focus and Kia Sportage are all mild hybrid with manual gearbox or automatic just to give some examples. But I think that VW only does mild hybrid with auto so they can charge a few thousands more. Saying that probably it is more efficient with automatic

[@okeoke4697]

@@andreiarama8745 volume controls are literally on the steering wheel, for climate control you just have either to slide, touch, or use the vocal assistant - all solutions are ALWAYS available regardless what you're doing. If you want to change stuff surely it gets more "complicated", but I personally don't touch my clim all day long. I'm used to this kind of stuff most probably, but it's not that big of a deal. Get a car for reliability first above all.

[@jabbarcorrales]

the a/c sliders alone guaranteed I will never own this car.

[@hamtaroyt]

It's a small sacrifice for a perfect car, but if you're not into tech, it is clearly not for you. Just say that instead, you're not into tech and move on. Stay with older cars.

[@AshlynnCairns]

Gotta say, I didn’t see that coming! Totally surprised me.

[@iCozzh]

Calling a golf surprising is moronic haha

[@zxlrxsyxd]

@@iCozzh replying to a bot is even more moronic

[@wltdo6930]

Unless that was just a heavy dose of sarcasm from OP

[@yissibiiyte]

They got rid of (some of) the capacitive nonsense and finally gave it more power than the 7.5. Basically what the 8 should have been from the very start.

[@hamtaroyt]

I disagree, I love the capacitive buttons on my 8.

[@yissibiiyte]

@@hamtaroyt good for you I guess. Doesn't change the fact it's only done for cost-cutting

[@ArdaK_Yldz]

Law makers should mandate that climate control panels are made up of physical buttons and knobs as well as buttons for some other features instead of mandating stupid beeping sounds.

[@shaywhelan1]

I had a Golf Match Mk7 for 18 months for my sons to learn to drive in. I loved it. Everything in the cabin just seemed to be where you would expect it to be. We replaced it with a BMW F30 3 series. I preferred the Golf. The 3 series interior is very dark and I find it hard to get used to where all the switches are.

[@princekelechi1766]

You and Rory are excellent car reviewers! You're the reason I love Auto Trader. Cheers!

[@isharsingh8048]

Forgets the Octavia exists 😁 7.5 is still peak Golf 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@Sto79Be]

They literally said the Octavia was the better family car! 🤦‍♂️

[@hamtaroyt]

For people who like classic yes, but for people who like tech and a clean experience, 8 and 8.5 is unbeatable, though I do like the 8 more.

[@mrhmd8308]

As someone with a New York accent I love/appreciate your voice/accent. Cheers

[@coxy5850]

Illuminated badge only available from the R line up and IQ lights are an option...these aren't stendard equipment.

[@hamtaroyt]

Hopefully that glow up badge does not exist in the GTE variant.

[@BrakeForLoop]

That intro. So smart

[@loganpadayachee6048]

I own a Golf 8 GTI love it. It's my 5th golf never did i ever desire another vehicle or brand❤

[@biafo4541]

Wish I was like you buddy, where a golf is enough. Life would be a bit more simpler. Dam this disease where I lust after cars 😂

[@loganpadayachee6048]

​@@biafo4541it's addictive when you drive it so enjoyable ❤

[@elios.503]

I own a '22 mk8 Rline 150ph TSI, and engine, gearbox and infotainment works very well (buy new)... at moment I'm very satisfy ... it's again the best you can buy in the segment ... (I have owned Audi A3, Q5, and BMW) ... and this mk 8.5 adjust more little details of this mk8

[@roberttye5908]

I've a Golf mk8 active and like it so much I'm upgrading to the 8.5 R Line. Reacting to the review and some other comments I've read so far I get 60-65 mpg on my etsi and expect similar when I get the R Line which is also an etsi. Also, almost all of the controls are on the steering wheel including volume apart from heating/air con. I've driven a Focus a few times and really didn't like it. The 308 is a Peugeot and really hated it. The Civic is a contender but is more saloon type than hatchback so don't like the shape of it plus their more expensive. Had a couple of Toyota's and they are good cars but don't like their gearbox in the Corolla plus I'd rather go electric than hybrid given the choice. I think the Golf is a really good car. No car is perfect but to me the Golf is 90-95% which can't be bad.

[@biafo4541]

​@@loganpadayachee6048yeah I drove one and it's very good

[@davidperry3531]

I don't understand why people think that they have to fiddle and change the Air Conditioning controls. The idea of Climate Control is that you set the temperature, say at 21 degrees and leave it there, all year. The car will reach the set temperature just as quickly as fiddling with it, including the fan speed which automatically changes when set to Auto. The only time you really have to use the controls manually is in severe weather conditions. Most of the criticism about the lack of manual turn knobs is unjustified.

[@Sto79Be]

I don’t understand why people keep repeating this fallacy. Climate control will not fast de-mist the windows automatically so you’ll be reaching to buttons/touchscreen for that. Also, if it’s a hot day or I’ve just come out the gym, having it set to 16 Celsius is the preference because I want to cool down quickly and not wait ages and also the 18 Celsius that I would have during the cooler days is too warm, and during the winter I want the car to warm up quickly so I will probably turn it up to at least 20. Very few would use exactly the same temperature day in day out, especially in the countries like UK where it can be freezing one day and quite warm the next.

[@hamtaroyt]

Never really thought of it like that, I should try using auto fan speed more often then.

[@hamtaroyt]

​@@Sto79Berapidly cooling down like that is bad for you and can influence you getting a cold, just a heads up. You can precool or preheat your car via the app, learn to take advantage of the apps at your disposal - keep up with the times. The original commenter has a very valid point, if you leave it in auto it should do it for you, there's no need for it to be in the manual mode. If you need it colder turn it down and it will ramp up the fans. Honestly I didn't think of that, but I like the way it is done. It's smart, not for the average person who knows nothing about tech. If you are old, stick with old cars. The newer generation wants more tech, it's just that simple.

[@toddstevens8506]

I like the Coke metaphor, kind of goes with the trend towards larger cars to fit, well you know, larger people.

[@dhilboy231]

Still has a laggy cheap touchscreen and those awful slider climate buttons, not to forget the price! So probably not the best anymore sadly😢

[@loganpadayachee6048]

No it's not I own a Golf 8 GTI it's been updated

[@nhkk2893]

The os is definitely not laggy since 5.0

[@biafo4541]

Still the price...

[@loganpadayachee6048]

​@@biafo4541I bought pre-owned with low mileage 8 GTI got it for a steal

[@loganpadayachee6048]

​@@biafo4541I bought a 2021 October 8 GTI pre-owned with low mileage got it for a steal price

[@hamtaroyt]

I want the old steering back where it is capacitive because it is just more friendly to use in a pinch and more sanitary to clean - and with the feedback it gives me, it really does feel like a button! Although I do wish there was an option to control the fan speed, I feel the capacitive buttons on the infotainment is still good. I own a Golf 8 and I love it, and that new bigger screen really makes me want to check it out but i dont want to go to normal steering wheel buttons and some downgrades made in the 8.5.

[@eponymous7910]

Wait til' the capacitive buttons fail. VW are replacing steering wheels in their thousands. Not good

[@hamtaroyt]

@@eponymous7910 I don't see why they would fail, it's all just sensors. Nothing mechanical.

[@MichaelSwanson-j9l]

Love the Golf! Wish they still sold them in the USA. Love the color on the one featured here. But I will still enjoy my 2023 GTI!

[@samjanko8946]

VW never listens, that's why their CEO's recently told his employees that they all have perhaps only a year or two to turn things around -before complete disaster.

[@keithronson2624]

As always, Alex's reviews are spot on! The perfect review of Golf 8.5 in every way. Thank you, Alex! 👍👍👌

[@Sto79Be]

Oh, so the climate sliders were clunky and horrible compared to knobs but now that they’ve added backlights they’re suddenly not clunky any more? Rubbish!

[@digitalpronab5763]

Love From India 🇮🇳 ❤

[@CooperSRacer]

As someone watching from the US I was utterly confused by the R seats and front grill badging paired with the new actual buttons on the steering wheel until I realized y’all have the option of the Golf with an R-Line trim. 😅 I was like what in the Frankenstein’s monster is this?

[@CoolNickName95]

How reliable is a VW Golf 1~10?

[@saraaronzon4562]

Bring back the regular shifter for automatic transmission!!!

[@humannaturedictatesthedownfall]

She is beautiful.

[@That_chere]

Funny thing is that we don't get the standard VW Golf in South Africa but we do get all the other performance versions of the Golf.

[@AdithyaChikkola]

How can one consider the Octavia and Superb a hatch? Ain’t it a sedan?

[@roberttye5908]

Good point. There bigger cars than the Golf. The Civic is also more saloon like.

[@evilmario6061]

Octavia is a hatch and the same platform as a Golf. Just a better value alternative in terms of space.

[@okeoke4697]

Same price range. Same engines available 1.5 eTSI / 2.0 TDI. Same group. Same overall quality. The Golf being smaller you get more for your money with Skoda. But it's a matter of preference.

[@mjalalaldin]

2:40 The Smack 🫱🏻

[@googlesucks6029]

They need to stop letting financial people who can't drive or atleat should not be allowed to drive from making decisions on how to cut costs on car parts

[@CastleGameZ]

Just took delivery of a brand new ID4. After I signed the vehicle over and offered to take the delivery driver to the train station the sun visor snapped off right in my hand as I went to put it down. Shocking build quality for a £45k car......

[@Sto79Be]

LOL, that’s what you get for buying a dull as anything ID.4!

[@BlessByYou777]

0:46🤣this is so hilarious. It cant be😳. 1:00its a beautiful car actually.

[@alanwayte432]

My wife ran a R in Mk7 and Mk7.5 but test driving Mk8 was a no, this Mk8.5 will still be a No ...why lack of the brilliant intuitive Climate controls on Mk7 , it’s unsafe, over complicated, and insane to have to take your eyes off the road..it should actually be illegal.

[@truongyboi1989]

Rlaarlo is cheaper and marginally faster. But if you smash your car up often like me, parts maybe an issue. MJX still the winner for me

[@richardrichard9631]

As someone who owned a golf gti 7.5, i still dont want a golf. I am more than happy with Honda Civic E HEV. It covers all the basics better than thr golf and is vastly bigger.

[@chloeleedow7250]

Some dashboard punching in your future 🤣🤣❤️

[@BoxBoxBoxGaming]

nobody wants chatgpt, it's worse than the haptic buttons

[@mohawkZT]

Jeez it’s like a laptop on the dash! I don’t know why the screens have to be so big, far too much distraction and takes away the feeling of the cars in general. Cars used to be more simple with a few buttons and got the job done. We honestly don’t need all this stuff inside a car

[@okeoke4697]

PEUGEOT 308 ? With a Puretech engine inside ? An engine that can literally break around 20-40 k km ? That can ruin the breaking system as well ? NO THANKS. I'm switching from the last 308 GT to this 8.5 Golf R Line with the 1.5 eTSI, and dear, I'm so glad it exists. Oh, and for the climate controls it's the same: no buttons. It's even worse in fact, there is no shortcut for up and down temperature. Anyway, I will never support nor advice to go with a Stellantis car, and I'm French :D. Thanks for the review though. Cheers.

[@tajulislam1522]

Not a fan of everything they had done from the Golf 7.5 infotaiment and onwards. Like why get rid of physical buttons for so rubbish resistance touch controls instead. They started that off with the 7.5 and went berserk with 8. And now, with the 8.5 they tried to fix the steering controls issue but the buttons look cramped just like the Polo. The two things that put me off from buying the 8 was, 1) the resistance touch to the whole car and 2) the R-Line Petrol MHEV was a step back from 7's GT BM Tech ACT which not only gave more MPG, but emitted less CO2 which meant the car was only paying £20 on VED tax a year. With the 8, the VED tax is 10 times that which means, you're making more stops between pumps as well. Like wth? Why did they go backwards, I really don't understand. Not all of us want R's or GTI's or Club Sports or Edition 45's.

[@urbanstrencan]

So new Golf still the king of Golf class 🤔? Great video 😊❤

[@MohdSaud-bz9tw]

I think they have improved the exterior design from the pre facelift. The steering wheel does look better than the previous but i don't like the touchscreen its so huge and so badly integrated i don't its even integrated!!!!

[@Boetbar]

Wholesome car in my books. This would do well in 🇿🇦

[@biafo4541]

Agreed, but where does it fit in price wise, with the most expensive polo being over R600k and a Golf 8 gti coming in at over R800k, this would have to be around R700k here 😮...for a standard golf

[@scaleartsg]

cant wait for golf 9!

[@phuketexplorer]

Alex, unintentionally making secondhand 8's unsaleable! 😄

[@witnesspropro]

Door pockets? On the back of the seats?

[@chasf3433]

Pity VW did not spend some of the billions they wasted on EV development on some decent Kia/Toyota rivalling hybrid drivetrains for their ICE cars instead of giving us 15 year old technology under the skin. Also VW please give the Golf a new look for the mk9 if there is one as the 7/8 are so desperately dull inside and out.

[@the_freedom_quest]

The fact they discontinued the GTD is a tragedy

[@AdnanAmin-y4r]

Apple did the same with the iPhone update

[@XpressCrosSs]

Only stupid people would buy this car at that price

[@SuperWhofan1]

The fun of driving a GTI is dead like most cars. Thanks Silicon Valley geeks

[@paulgreen7906]

My Mark 2 GTi does not have a touchscreen. It is way better for it. Tech BS in a car is not needed!

[@drapears]

R badges everywhere but it's not an R? I hate this trend, completely trashes and waters down the 'R' monicker. Also, those wheels are atrocious.

[@onyekachiemeka6255]

Car reviews are much more better and interesting with Rory...

[@somerandomfella]

Has anyone else tried the new Oreo flavoured Coke? 🤔

[@ytt8370]

"just a golf" but for much more than golf money

[@parthsethia4223]

it's an estate now - not a hatchback

[@zuti071]

No TDI engines for UK ?

[@witnesspropro]

Just because idiots raved about the massive "tablet" in the Tesla, manufacurers seem to think we all want that. I can assure you, we don't. BMW have also ruined my latest car with iDrive 8. Even using voice command, it's not possible to turn on the climate control air conditioning without having to press the touchscreen. Not to mention all the "driver assist" functionality which I have to turn off manually everytime I start the car. Technology has ruined driving.

[@nickmartin8678]

A3 is as good if not better with better build and buttons

[@TestAndReview]

For less you can get the much better Octavia. I don't see any new Golfs on the road these days, I don't know where they achieve their sales, probably employees with some huge discounts :)

[@Alexperrin98]

Why does everyone choose the golf GTI even tho a fiesta or focus st is more fun to drive and looks exciting

[@jonathankgorane1000]

@@Alexperrin98 Brand snobs Thats why fiesta and focus were discontinued in South Africa

[@loganpadayachee6048]

​@@jonathankgorane1000did you ever own one???

[@biafo4541]

​@jonathankgorane1000 which is strange because Ford has a bit more brand cashe

[@biafo4541]

​@@jonathankgorane1000.

[@loganpadayachee6048]

​@@biafo4541FORD stands for First on rubbish dump lol😂

[@scottferguson7863]

A golf has not been a peoples car for a long time, been driving for 20+ years and still not owned one!!

[@genzigzag]

The standard Golf looks just like the GTI, boy don't you feel special having the same look as a bog standard Golf😂

[@SerialSpankR]

Honda Civic for me

[@user-si5dy7yy8f]

Where is Rori?

[@GcinaTV]

I bet the most sales were from South Africa.

[@loganpadayachee6048]

No Europe. We only have performance models not the base ones anymore

[@nhlanhlaradebe8]

@@loganpadayachee6048 Same here in South Africa only performance models are being sold.

[@stevescott-harris]

There's a reason why Rorys vids get 3x the viewership. This reviewer is useless. Can we get people who know about cars to review cars please, not failed actresses?

[@peacem8574]

It has become one of the worst

[@kylespencer8338]

Don’t like R seats and an R button in a standard Golf, seems out of place and Poser-ish

[@jimboh.2654]

Why it has badges and seats In 1,5 liter 👺

[@kylespencer8338]

@@jimboh.2654 Nah nothing like that, I just think that the R seats look out of place in a normal Golf, I get why you’d want them but as I said seems somewhat poser-esque to me

[@FeyR1908]

Too expensive for a small family car

[@ts6070]

Is it me or is the sound out of sync of the presenters lips?

[@lflyr6287]

VW Golf Mk 8.5 2024 = bootspace of 381 litres (real world 360 litres) = poor build quality + poor reliability Hyundai i30 hatchback 2017 = bootspace of 395 litres = good build quality + superb reliability

[@citedcanvas85]

Software that forces u to take ur eyes off the road is downright dangerous and should be banned

[@Dwayne3007]

TEAM PIXEL 👀

[@williamfence566]

Minimal changes on an old platform and a price hike. That'll be VW

[@faygox955]

More than a tin of coke, it's more like a glass of water... Insipid and boring... A Coke tin is more like a GR-Yaris... Manual, no extra doors... small, spicy, and it makes you happy...

[@AMor-2845]

Mk2/4/5 and 7

[@polattanoglu756]

I say 'bollocks' to the infotainment system.

[@Pedroaghyu]

The end of Vw

[@yaweh400]

And thanks to the chinese, better software is here

[@KingsleyWalker-n8r]

Alf Coves

[@BrigittePetermann]

_VW_

[@lucassitanggang5154]

What is her Name?

[@jsph3209]

Alex Leguoix

[@bucwolf]

That infotainment that Volkswagen shoves in every car they make looks ugly and looks bad. Did I say it looks awful?

[@Jgjkglggkjbo9xq9ol9r]

Coca-Cola !!!

[@Nick-ct1ww]

Designed for its tech loving largest market. Asia.

[@jeshkam]

Still rubbish then...

[@worldofcars_ldn]

They’re seat pockets on the back of the front seats not door pockets - does no one check these videos before they’re posted? Laziness from the production team

[@sackeycharliejeremiah1923]

Wheels looks ugly

[@Mr.Nabil.Belhaj]

Coca cola 🤢

[@aficio698]

Dull styling and expensive.

[@T0NYMANUEL]

Mk8 is the best looking Golf ever. Mk9 is probably the ugliest

[@mikeallan7740]

Mk7 is the best looking, there is no mk9.

[@loganpadayachee6048]

​@@mikeallan7740no ways I owned one I now have a 8 GTI it's way better

[@hipetwa]

Sad this car going electric soon

[@raftonpounder6696]

It never was the best.