Enthusiastic ride! Complete 8.5th Generation Golf TDI..It's better than A3
Jun 16, 2025
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Golf, dubbed the world's best-selling '3 best cars', has a solid history to live up to its reputation. History itself is not the longest model, but the difference is that all generations have been well received and loved in Europe.
The first-generation model appeared in 1974, and it has a history of more than 50 years. It started selling in the 5th generation in Korea and proved its marketability by showing high popularity. In the 2010s, the popularity of the 7th generation diesel model increased, and even though it was an imported car, it exceeded the sales of the Hyundai i30.
The model I met today is the 8.5th generation model with a partial change from the 8th generation. Currently, we are selling a total of three models, including two 2.0 TDI and 2.0 GTI. The test drive is a 2.0 TDI luxury prestige trim. It is the highest-selling model. Previously, the Audi A3 Quattro, a brother-in-law car that shared the MQB platform, was tested first.
He went on a test drive with curiosity about the difference between the latest golf. The front design reinforced the neatness of Volkswagen compared to the existing 8th generation. The bend under the headlamp was trimmed to a horizontal line, and the line across the center of the body became thicker. Air intake decorations have also become simpler.
Unless you are a golf enthusiast, it is a change that is difficult to distinguish if you look at it separately. When put together, it has changed to a more neat impression. On the other hand, at night, you can see the changing point at a glance. This is because it is written on the Volkswagen logo.Recently, several brands are introducing logo lighting.
It was regrettable that several brands, including Lincoln, removed this function and released it in Korea due to the different standards for domestic certification from overseas. This time, Volkswagen Korea applied full-page logo lighting for the first time in golf as it solved the certification problem. The presence is extraordinary at night. Volkswagen is a welcome change because of its deep history and its logo itself has a strong icon character.
In the case of the side, there is no significant change like facelift. Golf has stubbornly maintained its side features even when it was full change.In fact, there has not been much change in more than 50 years. In a bad way, it is not innovative, so there may be fewer new feelings, but it has a classic charm that will not get tired of even if you look at it for a long time. It doesn't feel very old over time.
Still, since it is a partial change, the 18-inch wheel has a new catania wheel. The front fender garnish decoration was also removed to complete a cleaner aspect. The thick line, which is the unique C pillar of golf, has design symbolism, but it is a convenient structure for boarding the second row. It can be seen that the design is based on practicality.
On the back, the bottom of the bumper fake muffler decoration disappeared. The graphic inside the tail lamp has been drastically changed. I'm glad to see the Matrix 3D taillamp, which will only be applied if you select the top option in Europe. It only applies to domestic standard prestige trims and GTI.
The 3D effect stands out when lighting at night.In particular, when the turn signal is turned on, it shows a clear difference from the 8th generation. While the 8th generation turn signal is a type that is sequentially lit in a horizontal line, the 8.5th generation turn signal is a type that six L-shaped turn signals are sequentially lit. Unlike golf, it shows a colorful lighting style.
The 8.5th generation of white rice is indoors. Unlike the exterior, which is only a slight touch change, the interior has definitely changed. The reason is that the vertical length of the center monitor has increased to 12.9 inches. Although there is not much difference in numerical value from the horizontal 12.3 inches used by Hyundai Motor Group, the actual center monitor of golf can feel that it has become bigger than the numerical value.
Some say it protrudes to the top and seems to have been attached separately, but it is highly satisfactory because it has excellent visibility and the top is also appropriately hung on the top line of the dashboard. The Audi A3 sold in Korea is a sedan, so there is a difference in appearance from golf, but the difference in the large center monitor of the new golf is bigger.
The steering wheel is not thick, but it has a good grip. The lower part also adds practicality to the narrow space by applying a slight D-cut style. Above all, all of the steering wheel touch buttons, which were previously criticized, have been changed to physical buttons, making it easier to operate.
With the advent of Tesla, many brands are scrambling to introduce touch buttons and large center monitors, but many existing owners take it inconveniently. Meanwhile, Volkswagen's change is welcome.
The touch slide method at the bottom of the center monitor remains the same.As there were many complaints about the lack of existing lighting, new lighting was applied for night use. Like a partial change, it seems that the existing complaints have been revised well.
In the case of electronic gear, it is toggle type.It has a slightly protruding shape and has an excellent sense of operation. The Audi A3 has a similar way of operating, but the lever has been changed flat. The style may be excellent, but the manipulation is much more convenient for golf. The functionality of the seat is concentrated on the driver.In addition to power adjustment, memory functions and massage sheets are applied. If you drive for a long time, you can get a little help. On the other hand, the passenger seat is manual. Passengers who are satisfied with the seats for domestic cars at a similar price point are likely to express regret.
The material of the sheet is a mixture of velour and fabric. It may be regrettable for domestic consumers who prefer leather seats. However, it has high support compared to leather seats, so it does not disturb your posture even if you drive for a long time.
Satisfaction with the seat itself, along with the appropriate cushioning, is by far the highest level of vehicles tested recently. However, if the choice of leather seats is given according to the propensity of domestic consumers, more consumers are expected to feel the true value of golf.
The size of the new golf is 4280mm in full length and 1790mm in width and 2631mm in wheelbase. Like a hatchback style, it has a shorter battlefield than Avante, a domestic subcompact model. However, both the first and second rows of spaces are not lacking much compared to the class. The reason is that the windshield, high roof, and low seat position are combined to provide ample headroom and legroom in the first row.
In particular, the second row headroom is more relaxed than I thought.It also complies with the securing of foot space for passengers in the second row.Compared to recent mid-sized sedan-type electric cars, which have a wide legroom due to the appropriate length and height of the second-row seats, but do not come out well in seat positions, a comfortable second-row ride posture is completed even if the size is small.
Press the start button located in front of the electronic gear with the protruding toggle lever to test drive. The engine is an EA288 evo 2-liter diesel. It is an improvement of the existing engine and is combined with the 7-speed DSG mission, which has been suitable for more than a decade. It can be said to be an old mechanism, but it has been refined for a long time and now shows a perfect combination.
In the past, there was a slight feeling of being choked up like a manual mission vehicle, and the sound of gear fastening could be heard finely, but now I have almost erased that feeling. It shifts gears smoothly at low speeds, just like a torque converter automatic transmission. Due to DSG's unique fast shifting, it delivers dynamic sensitivity even at medium and low speeds.
The maximum power is 150 horsepower and the maximum torque is 36.7 kgf.m. This is also a familiar figure. Numerically, it is no different from more than a decade ago. Before I tried it, I didn't have much expectation, but after not long driving, a smile came into my mouth right away. This is because I felt a sense of driving beyond my expectations.
If you pull the toggle lever down and change the gear to S mode, the gear shift will be revived. Even though it is a diesel engine, it properly conveys a sporty sense. Thanks to the application of the Bridgestone Touranza T005 summer tire, golf's unique handling is demonstrated on the curved road based on a tight grip.
Compared to the latest electric cars, it is never fast, but the fact that driving is a level of fun remains unchanged. In addition, the advantage of 2.0 TDI is that it has excellent fuel efficiency. Fuel economy easily exceeded 18.8 kilometers per liter after national road driving, including moderate acceleration, and 20 kilometers per liter when driving at high speed. It has a great advantage in reducing maintenance costs, such as showing fuel efficiency of 15km per liter even when congested.
There are three main driving modes: eco, comfort, and sports.Echo was not used often because it felt like the engine was slightly lessened and the acceleration was weakened.Sports have faster engine reactions, but there is no big difference, so comfort mode works best with vehicles.Sometimes when you want sporty driving, moving the gear lever to S mode properly conveys the desired driving feeling.
The most surprising thing about this test drive is the improved ride comfort compared to the previous one. Previously, it was soft but a little hard, but now the hard feeling is erased a lot and it conveys a fairly understated softness. There are some body rolls, but on roads with uneven roads, they are combined with moderately soft suspensions to satisfy both driving stability and ride comfort.
The brakes are also very reliable. Recently, a light weight of 1,456kg and a tire with a good grip for a vehicle were combined to provide excellent responsiveness and short actual stopping distance. Golf diesel usually reminds me of excellent fuel efficiency, but it was enough to feel the better ride and fun of driving than I thought. The romance I felt in golf 10 years ago came back to life.
If you're after the incredible acceleration of the latest EVs and the fun of extreme driving on track, Golf 2.0 TDI may be a shame. However, if you want a vehicle that satisfies various factors such as driving fun, high fuel efficiency, practicality, and ride comfort in everyday driving, I recommend you to test drive a new golf.
As the era of electric vehicles approached, I could confirm that the Golf Diesel model I removed from my wish list was the vehicle I wanted. I'm already looking forward to the GTI test drive released this month.
One line review
Advantages - Transmissions with higher completeness..Fuel economy is basic, good ride and driving fun are certain
Disadvantages - Remaining value concerns for diesel's future..The number of factors is inconvenient and there are no benefits
N2MT07||text parameter is needed (text 파라미터가 필요합니다.)
Editor Song Moon-chul mc.song@carguy.kr
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
