Here’s how much you’ll pay for the new Volkswagen Golf 8.5 TSI when it arrives in South Africa soon

After vanishing from our market when the seventh-generation Golf bowed out, Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) is finally bringing back the ‘regular’ TSI versions.

These Golf ‘8.5’ models, a facelift of the eighth-generation that was offered exclusively in GTI and R guises in South Africa, will be available from April 2025.

VWSA confirmed the local pricing for the new model range at its ‘2025 Indaba’ event held in Kariega on Wednesday, with four basic flavours set to be offered.

Kicking things off is the 1.4 TSI Life at R580,900, while the more luxurious Life+ will set you back by R604,500.

For those seeking a sportier appearance, there’s the R-Line at R660,000 and the R-Line+ at R688,100.

The new Golf TSI will go up against the Mazda3 2.0 Astina (R614,300) and the Toyota Corolla hatch 2.0 XR (R566,800), while also serving as a possible alternative to the Audi A3 35 TFSI (from R682,100) and BMW 118 (from R713,395).

Power comes from the familiar 1.4-litre TSI turbopetrol engine, delivering 110kW and 250Nm through the front wheels via an eight-speed automated transmission.

Volkswagen will release more comprehensive specifications closer to launch, but the vehicles will feature Volkswagen’s redesigned infotainment system as standard, according to Double Apex. This system gains new graphics and an improved menu structure.

Fresh from its facelift, the Golf 8.5 also sports redesigned front bumpers, which differ depending on the model, optional new LED Matrix headlights and an illuminated VW badge upfront.

But when will South Africans get to see the facelifted Golf GTI and R models on local shores?

VWSA revealed at a year-end function in November that these performance models were delayed due to fuel quality concerns. These could arrive later in 2025 if anticipated improvements are made to South African petrol.

IOL