2020 Volkswagen Golf Has Evolved into a Futuristic Device, May Not Come Stateside

From Car and Driver

Once upon a time, the launch of a new Volkswagen Golf was considered a major international automotive event. But for the new eighth-generation Golf that goes on sale in other markets as a 2020 model and may or may not reach the United States in mass-market form, it's all a bit different. That's because VW is pursuing a new electrification strategy with the Golf-sized ID.3 as both a precursor and the anchor of its EV push. The actual Golf plays second fiddle. But that shouldn't distract us from taking a closer look at the latest version of Germany's iconic compact hatchback. Within the evolving automotive landscape, can the Golf continue as the company's most popular offering?

VW's engineers and designers have done their parts to differentiate the Mark VIII Golf from its predecessor. While its overall proportions remain similar and it is still based on the Volkswagen Group's highly flexible and increasingly ubiquitous MQB architecture, the new model is easy to distinguish from the last generation. The front end in particular looks quite distinct, with a slim grille and prominent lighting accents that advance the Golf's styling evolution while maintaining its classically demure appearance. Like it or not, it is a welcome departure from the angry faces and gaping mouths that adorn most cars in this segment.

A Digital Future

While the exterior design is evolutionary, the interior marks a sharp departure from previous generations. Early in its development, VW made a strategic decision to fit the latest Golf with two TFT displays, as well as touch-capacitive switches and "slider" controls. There are no longer analog instruments in its gauge cluster, and physical ignition keys are virtually gone. The new dashboard places an emphasis on horizontal lines, and the elevated center console now features a small stub of an electronic gear selector—unless you opt for a version with a manual transmission.

The Mark VIII's cockpit is available with screens of different sizes. Our initial drive in Germany only offered exposure to models with the top-level system, which allows operators to move around functions in clusters of tiles, and the color of the digital instrumentation mirrors the selected ambient lighting color. We have mixed opinions on the new cockpit. The look is decidedly futuristic, and it oozes sophistication. On the other hand, the actual value that the high-tech setup may provide to customers, if they manage to master the system's full capabilities, is questionable.

While the displays indeed look sharp, and they render images and map views quickly, the Golf's ergonomics could be better. Searching for new navigation directions, for instance, can be complex. And there are a few areas that underscore that VW has deserted the premium positioning the brand had attained under the reign of Ferdinand Piëch. Material quality, for example, is good but not exceptional; the decor strip across the dash looks decidedly plasticky; and there is no frameless rearview mirror.