2025 Volkswagen Golf: Refreshed Australian lineup detailed

The Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf is due to arrive in Australia from April, when the facelifted German hatchback will become available in six model variants.

It’s been a year since the updated Golf was revealed in Europe, and now Volkswagen Australia has locked in features and specifications for the local range – but pricing is yet to be announced.

The lineup will comprise the entry-level Golf Life, the new Style, the mid-range R-Line, the front-wheel drive GTI, the all-wheel drive R performance flagship, and an even more aggressive looking R Black Edition.

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While there’s no sign of a return for the discontinued Golf wagon, all variants of the Mk8.5 Golf feature a restyled front bumper and LED headlights, as well as a full-width front light bar, which on European examples is interrupted by an illuminated Volkswagen badge. 

The Golf Life has lost a handful of features in the update, as it’s no longer available with satellite navigation, tri-zone climate control or ambient interior lighting.

Its infotainment touchscreen however has grown from 10 inches to 10.4 inches, and now features a new, simpler menu structure with configurable shortcuts and upper and lower control bars that always remain visible, as well as illuminated temperature and volume control sliders.

To get satellite navigation, tri-zone climate control and 30-colour ambient lighting, you’ve now got to buy the Golf Style, which Volkswagen says is more akin to the Mk7 Highline.

This variant gains a larger 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen with voice assistant, a 14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory, microfleece upholstery and LED Plus headlights, among other features.

The R-Line gets arguable the largest upgrades as a part of the update, with heated and ventilated front seats, power adjustment with memory for the driver, and Vienna leather throughout.

Golf GTIs have received a 15kW power increase and now produce 195kW and 370Nm, while they’ll also be fitted with 19-inch wheels as standard, up from 18 inches.

At the top of the range, the Golf R has also become more potent, gaining 10kW and 20Nm to now produce 245kW/420Nm, matching the Audi S3.

It’s also two-tenths of a second quicker from 0-100km/h, achieving the benchmark sprint in a claimed 4.6 seconds.

A breakdown of each variant’s drivetrain is available below.

Price increases are expected across the range, accounting for the new equipment and higher outputs.

The pre-facelift Golf Life is priced from $39,190 before on-road costs, the Golf R-Line starts at $42,290, the Golf GTI costs $56,090 and the Golf R is $70,590.

Standard Equipment

The 2025 Volkswagen Golf Life features as standard:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic LED headlights
• Surround lighting
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Climate control
• 10.4-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• Ventilated wireless smartphone charger
• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep assist
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Park assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert

The Golf Style adds:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• ‘LED Plus’ headlights
• Chrome exterior highlights
• Dark tinted privacy glass
• 14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory
• ArtVelours microfleece upholstery
• 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Embedded navigation
• IDA voice assistant
• 30 ambient lighting colours

The Golf R-Line adds:

• Unique 18-inch alloy wheels
• R-Line exterior and interior styling
• Front sports seats with heating and ventilation
• Power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory
• Vienna leather-appointed upholstery
• Driving profiles
• Progressive steering

The Golf GTI adds:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Fog lights
• Tartan upholstery
• Tri-zone climate control
• Adaptive dampers
• Park Assist Plus

The Golf R adds:

• Unique 19-inch alloy wheels
• Matrix LED headlights
• 3D LED tail-lights
• Harman/Kardon sound system
• Nürburgring and Drift drive moses
• Surround-view camera
• Torque-vectoring

The Black Edition package for the Golf R adds:

• Darkened badges and headlights
• Black brake calipers
• Black 19-inch ‘Estoril’ wheels
• Black exhaust outlets

Options

A Sound and Vision package for the Golf Style, R-Line and GTI will add:

• Harman/Kardon sound system
• Head-up display
• Surround-view camera

These variants can also be ordered with a panoramic sunroof as a standalone option.

The Golf GTI’s Leather Package will bring:

• Vienna leather
• Power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Heated and ventilated front seats

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