Volkswagen Golf Mk8.5: More tech, more power, more excuses to upgrade?

The VW Golf is back - and it's got more of everything.

Volkswagen has decided the Golf wasn't quite Golf enough.

So, the Mk8.5 is here, arriving in Australia this April with more tech, more luxury and, most importantly, more power for the GTI and R.

The Golf isn't just another hatchback - some would say it is the car that made hot hatches a thing.

Since the original GTI in 1976, the Golf has been the benchmark, the car every other brand has tried (and mostly failed) to beat. It's practical, quick and just refined enough to stop your neighbours from thinking you're a hooligan.

But with this latest update, Volkswagen has turned up the heat - so if you thought your current hatch was quick, prepare to feel like you're pedalling a go-kart uphill.

2025 Golf overview

Volkswagen has refreshed the Golf range with more tech, more luxury and, most importantly, more horsepower for the GTI and R.

Starting off the lineup is the Golf Life.

It now rolls on 17-inch alloys and comes with LED headlights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a 10.3-inch infotainment system with wireless phone charging.

Volkswagen is still hanging onto the details other carmakers like to forget - carpeted door pockets, rear air vents and vanity mirror lights. Little things that make you wonder why others can't be bothered.

On the safety front, Travel Assist with adaptive cruise control, Front Assist with pedestrian detection and Side Assist with rear cross-traffic alert are all standard.

Essentially, the car is watching the road so you can concentrate on picking the right playlist.

2025 Golf Style

For those wanting a little more comfort, the new Golf Style replaces the old Highline.

It gets 18-inch alloys, chrome trim, IDA voice assistance and a larger 12.9-inch infotainment screen.

Inside, there's an ErgoActive 14-way electric driver's seat wrapped in ArtVelours microfleece because, apparently, normal seats just aren't fancy enough anymore.

2025 Golf R-Line

The Golf R-Line is still here for people who want the looks of a hot hatch without explaining the insurance bill to their significant other.

It gets 18-inch alloys, progressive steering, front sports seats and Vienna leather with heated and ventilated front seats.

Under the bonnet, all non-performance Golfs stick with the 1.4-litre turbo four-cylinder, making 110kW and 250Nm through an eight-speed auto. It's enough to get you moving but won't set your hair on fire.

2025 Golf GTI

Now for the exciting stuff. The GTI finally gets the power boost it needed, now pushing 195kW and 370Nm from its 2.0-litre turbo four.

It also swaps the old 18-inch wheels for a sharper 19-inch setup. Handling has been dialled in too, with revised steering and Adaptive Chassis Control, so you can corner like a hero without terrifying your passengers.

Inside, the GTI gets a 12.9-inch screen, metallic paint, tri-zone climate control and new Park Assist Plus.

Volkswagen has also made the revolutionary decision to let you pair tartan seats with a sunroof for the first time - because why should you have to choose between nostalgia and fresh air?

2025 Golf R gets more bite

Then there's the Golf R, now with 245kW.

That's 10kW more than before, because someone at Volkswagen decided restraint is overrated.

It comes fully loaded with LED Matrix headlights, premium LED taillights, Nappa leather, Harman/Kardon audio and 19-inch alloys.

But the real fun lies in the tech - torque-vectoring rear-wheel drive, Sport ESC and those famous drive modes.

Nürburgring mode for when you're running late and Drift mode for when you want to get banned from your local car park.

Oh and there's a Golf R Black Edition too.

Final thoughts on the 2025 Mk8.5 Golf

Volkswagen's head of marketing and product, Nathan Johnson, says the new Golf continues to set the benchmark.

"When customers drive the latest Golf, they'll see that it looks, feels and drives like a Volkswagen small car that embodies a long line of class-leading attributes—quality, refinement, technology, ride comfort and efficiency," he said.

Or, in plain English, "It's still the best small car you can buy, now with even more buttons and a bigger screen."

The new Volkswagen Golf range lands in April. Start preparing your excuses for why you absolutely need the Golf R now.