The 2025 VW Golf is at the top of its game

When Volkswagen first launched the Golf 8 locally in 2021, it was sold exclusively in GTI trim, with the R following soon after.

Now, the tables have turned. With this updated 8.5 iteration; it is the “garden variety” 1.4 TSI that will take focus. Fuel quality issues have cast doubt on the introduction of the more powerful 2.0 TSI derivatives in GTI and R trims.

We attended the launch of the standard 8.5 Golf in Kempton Park last week. Our driving route took us through the back roads of the province, with open stretches and freeway traffic providing real-world conditions for evaluation.

While colleagues ran for the high-tier R-Line Plus grades, we opted to spend the day with the modest, basic Life version – it offers better insight into the substance of the car, without added frills to detract.

Visually, the Golf 8.5 is a sleeker evolution of its predecessor, which had sharper edges. It is still unmistakably a Golf: its distinctive silhouette, subtle design cues and low-key charm culminate in a design that is entirely sober and sensible. That conservative sense is reiterated with a set of attractive – not flashy – 16-inch alloy wheels in a twist pattern. And while it does fit into a compact categorisation, it is hardly a dainty vehicle – remember that there is still a smaller sibling below it, the popular Polo. The five-door Golf has a boot capacity of 381l; while its overall length measures 4,282mm and height is pegged at 1,483mm.