Behind the Wheel: 2024 Volkswagen Golf Reviews by Top Car Journalists
The 2024 Volkswagen Golf has been turning heads among car enthusiasts and journalists alike. Celebrating 50 years, the Golf has continuously proven itself with its iconic design and versatile driving experience. The new Golf continues to impress, making a strong impression on automotive journalists, especially when it comes to driving performance.
In this blog, we dive into what top journalists have to say about the model variants of the new Golf—Life, R-Line, and GTI.
Whether it’s the refined handling of the Life, the dynamic edge of the R-Line, or the thrilling power of the GTI, each variant has its unique strengths. Discover how it measures up to its reputation and whether it lives up to the hype on the road.
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*Please note that some images and reviews are based on international models. For New Zealand specifications, please confirm with our team.
Drive Life NZ: ‘2024 Volkswagen Golf Mk8 – Launch’
“I jumped into a black GTI to start with, on a short 20km drive on rural roads, followed by some twistier bits out to Goat Island. The GTI is still an impressive car; it tracks beautifully and turn-in is quick. The small chunky leather steering wheel feels great in your hands and the red stitching on it screams racecar.
The ride feels a little harsher than the previous model (although the cars share the same floorplan) and that was in Comfort mode. Regardless, the GTI fun factor has not changed – this is still a car that wants to be driven. It still sounds great, and the transmission is perfectly suited to the engine. It’s a fantastic overall package, and I can easily see previous Golf GTI owners slotting right into the car. Slipping the car into Sport mode everything ramps up, with an engine so eager and smooth, and so quick to get to the redline. The rev-matching on downshifts was the icing on the cake. Breathe easy, the GTI is still fun to drive.” – Fred Alvrez, Drive Life NZ
Carexpert.au: ‘2024 Volkswagen Golf Life review’
“The suspension is well calibrated and offers a comfortable and controlled ride, with predictable handling and accurate steering making this an easy daily car, but also handles itself well if you need or want to ask a little more of it.
Even this base model has independent rear suspension, so it can handle itself, and while the Nexen NFera Sport tyres aren’t the last word in performance rubber, it really is a predictable and likeable thing to drive. “
Verdict: “It mightn’t be electric, or even hybrid, but the VW Golf is still a modern and compelling choice for a hatchback buyer who wants something that feels a bit special inside and drives really, really nicely.” – Matt Cambell, Car Expert
Motor Illustrated: ‘2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review’
“Driving this GTI is an absolute joy. The EA888 Evo4 turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine delivers 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, making it far quicker than you think. The power band is consistent from start to finish, providing a thrilling push whether you’re accelerating from a stop or cruising on the highway. The GTI delivers that all-important sense of speed that is non-existent in EVs where you think you’re a low-flying rocket but you’re only barely breaking the speed limit. The 0-100 km/h sprint takes just over 6.0 seconds, however, from behind the wheels, thanks to the smooth endless delivery of torque, you’d swear the tonne came and went in under 4 seconds.” – Matt St-Pierre, Motor Illustrated
Car Magazine UK: ‘Volkswagen Golf (2024) review: 50 never looked so good’
“The Golf hatchback is a wholly inoffensive car to drive, which is probably why it still exists after 50 years. The more pedestrian Golf models won’t blow your socks off in terms of raw speed, acceleration, or handling, but all Golf’s can still carry out the fundamental necessities of a family hatchback brilliantly.
They’re comfortable, refined, and roomy for a hatchback, but for me, the real stand-out virtue is the manual gearbox. It has a delectably slick and notchy action, making it a real joy to use. The first couple of gears are quite short, and so you’re up into third in what feels like a flash, but it’s still a highly useable ‘box and feels perfect for the type of car it’s in. I didn’t get the chance to test a new Golf with the DSG automatic gearbox fitted, but from my experience of the same transmission in other models, it’s still a solid choice if you’d rather have less to do.”
Verdict: “So, we’ve got a new Golf, and it’s a bit better than the last one. Sounds like a familiar round-up line after fifty years, but the fact of the matter is VW’s family hatchback remains a front-running contender in the family hatchback pack. It’s economical, easy to drive, brimmed with tech, and now the infotainment system is improved, and easy to navigate through, too. If you value practicality and sturdiness to contend with the perils of family life, it still might be the one to beat.” – Seth Walton, Car Magazine UK
Top Speed: ‘Only One Thing Prevents The 2024 Volkswagen Golf R From Being Perfect’
“The Golf R is brilliantly tuned in the sense that it’ll follow you in your crazy, amateur race car driver stunts, but will also double down as a formidable daily usable hatchback. Volkswagen’s Dynamic Chassis Control, now standard on the R, allows you to truly tailor the suspension damping how you see fit. In my case, it meant setting the Individual setting to a very soft ride in order to absorb the awful roads in my part of the world, but still benefit from a heavy steering and lively engine.
And that engine continues to be a gem. Now rated at a stout 315 horsepower, it’s not the most refined when it’s running on idle. It sounds rather coarse, and revving it at a stoplight is embarrassing as it sounds like a vacuum cleaner. But once it starts doing its thing, climbing through the revs, it delivers loads of torque, a linear powerband, and a willingness to pull all the way to its redline.
The Golf R is also fast! Even with the stick, you’ll easily pull low five-second runs from 0 to 60 MPH without giving it much effort. Opt for the DCT, and you’ll be entering the mid-four-second space thanks to launch control. That’s on par with some seriously fast machines.” – William Clavey, Top Speed
Auto Express: ‘New Volkswagen Golf 2024 facelift review: updates are a step in the right direction’
“As is often the case, the DSG transmission is perfectly happy to make slick, swift shifts once you’re up and running, and it’s well calibrated, allowing you to maintain a decent lick without ever really feeling like you’re stressing the engine. The mild-hybrid system provides a slug of extra low-down punch and also helps to smooth out transitions when, for example, your throttle-pedal position reaches the point where the engine is running on two cylinders. Of course, its integration with the auto box means that it can also turn petrol power off completely when you’re cruising downhill, for example.” – John Mcllroy, Auto Express
Want more information about the new Golf? Explore the Golf or speak to our team for more information.
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