Volkswagen Golf Mark 8 2021: detailed Australian pricing and specification

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The 2021 Mark 8 Volkswagen Golf experienced delays on its way to Australia, but the small car has finally landed in dealerships priced from $29,350 plus on-road costs. 

Volkswagen has tweaked the Golf range in Australia with the Trendline replaced simply by the ‘Golf’, a move we’ve seen a lot from competitors including the revamped Hyundai i30.

Above the ‘Golf’ sits the Golf Life, with the R-Line representing the most loaded Golf before you reach the Golf R and GTI hot hatch models. 

Unsurprisingly, the Golf range is more expensive than before. At the affordable end, the new base model commands a $3,560 premium over the Mark 7.5 Trendline manual while the range-topping R-Line represents a $2,460 increase over the now-defunct Highline.

The Australian Mark 8 Golf Range

The new car packs in much more technology, however. For $29,350 (plus on-roads), Volkswagen fits niceties like a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, an 8.25-inch touchscreen and a leather-appointed steering wheel with shift paddles on automatic variants (a $2,600 extra for the base model, all other grades are auto only).

Those paddles control an eight-speed torque converter gearbox in Australian-spec Mark 8 Golf models. However, the 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine remains with 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque sent to the front wheels.

Volkswagen claims a fuel consumption figure of 5.8L/100km for the eight-speed automatic and 6.0L/100km for manual cars.

Safety systems have been improved for the Mark 8 with the fitment of adaptive cruise control with stop & go, AEB with pedestrian, cyclist, junction and rear functionality, front and rear parking sensors and lane-keep assist across the range.

The Golf Life replaces the Comfortline for 2021

Moving up to the mid-spec Golf Life nets attractive ‘Ventura’ 17-inch alloy wheels and keyless entry with illuminated door handles. Inside is a larger 10-inch touchscreen with navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system also features touch-sensitive temperature controls.

The digital cockpit of the Golf Life also gains mapping capability and different ‘Comfort’ front seats with premium cloth upholstery for $34,250 plus on-road costs. The Life also adds a safe-exit warning function to the safety suite.

Volkswagen has finished the pictured Golf Life in a fetching Pomelo Yellow shade, which adds $900 to the price.

The R-Line sits at the top of the core Mark 8 Golf Range. Inside, it gets sports seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel and carbon grey interior highlights, outside a set of 18-inch alloy wheels set off the muscular R-Line body kit. The R-Line is priced from $37,450 before on-road costs. 

Volkswagen offers options packs to enhance the Golf experience. The Sound & Vision pack (available on Life and R-Line grades) adds a Harman Kardon stereo and head-up display for $1,500.

The Comfort & Style package adds 30-colour ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof and microfleece upholstery to the Life grade for $2,000. Meanwhile, the sunroof can be optioned on its own by R-Line buyers for $1,800.

The 2021 Mark 8 Volkswagen Golf range is on sale in Australia now.

Volkswagen Golf Mark 8 2021: pricing in Australia

Prices listed are before on-road costs.

• Golf Manual – $29,350
• Golf Auto – $31,950
• Golf Life Auto – $34,250
• Golf R-Line Auto – $37,450
• Metallic Paint – $600
• Metallic Paint (R-Line) – $300
• Premium Metallic Paint – $900