The epitome of versatility, the Volkswagen Golf returns with an 8th-generation facelift model. The EA288 evo 2.0 TDI engine meets Euro 6d standards, and advanced features like "IQ.Drive" and "MIB4 infotainment" are standard. Prices start at 40.07 million won.
The 'New Golf' officially launched by Volkswagen Korea on March 14th is the facelift model of the 8th-generation Golf. It is one of Volkswagen's iconic models, nicknamed the "iconic hatchback."
The Volkswagen Golf is the brand's best-selling model, with over 37 million units sold globally. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the Golf, which recorded a cumulative sales volume of 54,644 units in Korea by 2024, proving its unique presence in the Korean market by being the first imported compact hatchback to sell over 50,000 units.
The 'New Golf' features a bold design that enhances its presence, a next-generation MIB4 infotainment system that maximizes intuitive operation and convenience, and improved features to increase its overall completeness.
Maintaining its unique identity for over 50 years, the Golf will be the first new model introduced to Korean customers by Volkswagen Korea in the first half of this year. Till Scheer, CEO of Volkswagen Group Korea, noted, "The Golf has been at the center of the Volkswagen brand for the past half-century, providing high-level technology and rational mobility to everyone. The new Golf, with its refined technology and design, will be a model that offers the highest satisfaction for customers seeking a premium compact car."
▲First Golf with 'illuminated logo'
The new Golf inherits the heritage of the Golf over the past half-century while evolving with refined and clean lines, perfect proportions, and a dynamic silhouette.
The front has been enhanced with a new bumper design that adds a bolder and sportier feel, and for the first time in the Golf, an 'illuminated logo' has been applied. The lighting in the shape of the Volkswagen emblem adds a modern touch and completes the Golf’s striking image on the road. Additionally, the combination with 'radiator grille lighting' reveals the Golf's unique presence even during night driving.
The Prestige trim will feature new design 18-inch alloy wheels and new design '3D LED rear combination lamps.' The new rear combination lamps provide three animation effects for welcome and goodbye, allowing drivers to choose their desired animation effect to express their individuality. The new Golf offers a total of eight different color options to reflect the desires of customers seeking a more unique "Unick" car.
▲Latest infotainment
The new Golf comes standard with the latest 'MIB4 infotainment' system across all models. The expanded display of the MIB4 infotainment system, now 12.9 inches compared to the previous 10 inches, offers excellent visibility and allows for intuitive control of key functions and system controls through touch screen operation. Customization is possible as users can arrange frequently used menus directly on the three-part interface, enhancing operational convenience. The lower slider has also been upgraded to an 'illuminated touch slider', making it easy to operate even in dark environments.
Additionally, Volkswagen's new voice support system 'Voice Enhancer' comes standard in all models. The 'Voice Enhancer' is a voice support system that facilitates smooth communication between the driver and rear-seat passengers through a hands-free microphone and rear-seat speakers. Drivers can activate the 'Voice Enhancer' with simple controls, allowing for comfortable conversations with rear-seat passengers while driving.
The driver's seat of all models of the new Golf comes standard with 'ErgoActive electric seats'. Ergonomically designed, the ErgoActive seats allow for electric adjustments and lumbar support operations, as well as memory and massage functions, along with adjustable thigh support, enabling drivers to easily set their ideal position and ensure a comfortable driving experience.
▲Advanced features of the new Golf
The new Volkswagen Golf is equipped with top-tier advanced features that complete a comfortable and safe driving environment. Through cutting-edge specifications that exceed its class, customers can experience Volkswagen's advanced technology and premium feel in the most rational manner.
First, Volkswagen's pride, 'IQ.Drive,' is standard across all models of the new Golf. IQ.Drive is an advanced driver assistance system that integrates various driving assistance systems to aid in safer and more comfortable journeys. Functions like 'Travel Assist,' which assists acceleration, braking, and steering during long-distance travel to reduce driving fatigue, 'Adaptive Cruise Control,' which maintains distance from the car ahead, and 'Front Collision Avoidance Assistance,' which prevents or minimizes damage in the event of a collision by applying emergency braking when vehicles or obstacles appear in front, operate over a wide area, up to 210 km/h from a stationary state.
In addition, the new Golf is equipped with the most diverse advanced specifications in its class, including 'Emergency Assist,' 'Lane Departure Prevention Assistance,' 'Lane Keeping Assistance,' 'Side Assist,' 'Exit Warning System,' 'Rear Traffic Warning System,' and 'Proactive Occupant Protection System,' ensuring the highest level of safety.
All models are equipped with LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights, and LED rear combination lamps as standard, while the Prestige trim is the only class to feature the intelligent interactive lighting system 'IQ.Light-LED Matrix Headlamps.' The IQ.Light-LED Matrix Headlamps optimize lighting for driving conditions using information from front cameras, steering angle, and speed, illuminating a wider range of the road. This ensures excellent nighttime visibility without affecting the vision of other drivers.
Furthermore, the Prestige trim features 'Dynamic Light Assist' that helps automatically activate optimal lighting depending on various driving conditions and 'Dynamic Cornering Lights' that illuminate according to the vehicle's direction during cornering, further enhancing the Golf's presence with dynamic turn signals in the front and rear.
Convenience features include standard 'front seat heating' for all models and 30-color 'ambient lighting', as well as standard 'mobile phone wireless charging' and 'wireless app-connect'. The Prestige trim includes premium features such as '3-zone Climatronic automatic air conditioning,' which allows independent control of temperature and airflow for the driver's seat, passenger seat, and rear seats, 'windscreen head-up display,' and 'panoramic sunroof.'
The Prestige trim also introduces the advanced parking assistance feature 'Park Assist Plus.' Park Assist Plus allows for parallel and perpendicular parking via steering and pedal operations without driver intervention, and supports functionality that exits the parking space after parallel parking, accommodating a variety of urban parking environments.
The new Volkswagen Golf combines solid fundamentals refined through German engineering with excellent fuel efficiency, achieving the ideal blend of driving enjoyment and practical driving.
The new Golf is equipped with an innovative EA288 evo 2.0 TDI engine. Using a 'twin-dosing technology' that employs two SCR catalysts, it reduces nitrogen oxides (NOx) by approximately 80% compared to previous-generation engines, meeting the latest European emissions regulations, Euro 6d.
The combination of a 2.0L TDI engine and a 7-speed DSG transmission produces a maximum output of 150 horsepower (3,000–4,200 rpm) and, particularly within the wide practical range of 1,600–2,750 rpm, delivers a robust maximum torque of 36.7 kg.m, providing efficient and powerful drivability across diverse driving environments.
The high fuel efficiency that established the Golf's reputation carries over to the new model. The official combined fuel economy of the new Golf 2.0 TDI model is 17.3 km/L (15.2 km/L in urban driving, 20.8 km/L on highways), boasting the highest efficiency among competing compact segment models. Thanks to this, the new Golf can travel over 860 km on a single tank and more than 1,000 km during highway driving.
▲Golf GTI to be launched in June
The price of the new Volkswagen Golf is 40.07 million won for the premium model and 43.96 million won for the Prestige model (*including VAT). To celebrate the launch of the new Golf, Volkswagen Korea is providing 2 million won in vehicle registration fees to customers who purchase the vehicle.
Alongside, 'Volkswagen Certified Black Box Installation' and 'Welcome Kit' are provided, as well as a '5-year/150,000 km extended warranty program' and the 'Total Care Service for Accident Repair,' which covers the deductible for accident vehicle insurance repairs at official service centers up to 5 times (for the first year, no mileage restriction, with a limit of 500,000 won per accident), significantly reducing the burden of vehicle maintenance costs.
Following the new Golf 2.0 TDI model, Volkswagen Korea plans to officially launch the high-performance model 'New Golf GTI' in the Korean market in June, providing options for customers seeking strong performance.
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