Volkswagen has unveiled the latest incarnation of its best-selling Golf — pledging that in the 50th anniversary year of the top-selling car it has eradicated the dismal digital glitches that made such a dog’s dinner of its predecessor.
The facelifted version of the eighth-generation Golf — dubbed ‘8.5’ and headed by a sporty GTI hot-hatch model — will also be the last version to offer a petrol and diesel variant before it switches to fully electric.
The model promises more power, simplified touchscreen menus and styling tweaks including more angular LED headlights and an illuminated badge on its nose. You can even park your Golf remotely using your smartphone.
But these tech improvements were much needed. At the launch of the last version in 2019, I thought I was going bonkers. Its much-hyped digital touchscreen dashboard and info-tainment system, particularly the infuriating finger-tip slider controls, drove me quite mad.
I thought it was just me until I compared notes with others present who were equally flummoxed. But the good news is that VW insists it has ironed out these problems.
New and improved: The GTI hot-hatch is one of three updated Golf models
Controversial touch-sensitive temperature and volume control sliders (sadly still there) have at least been back-lit, so you can now actually see them in the dark. And proper, physical buttons on the steering wheel — including for volume — have replaced the highly irritating and barely functioning sliders there.
Three models of the Golf have been unveiled — GTE and sporty GTI hatchbacks, and an elongated, big-booted Golf estate — with up to nine powertrains between them. A performance Golf R will follow next year. The GTE plug-in hybrid version promises an electric-only range of 62 miles and a combined range of 620 miles.
Prices are set to run from around £30,000 for the Golf GTE and £40,000 for the GTI. They arrive in the UK from April. Some 37million Golfs have been sold since its 1974 launch.
Women drivers still face sexism
Women visiting garages still face sexism, says a new survey by ‘no hassle’ online repair and service firm Fixter (fixter.co.uk) which offers door-to-door collection.
Six in ten female drivers stress about going to see a mechanic, three quarters believe mechanics take them less seriously than male drivers, and nearly half have experienced ‘casual sexism’ from garage staff, such as being called darling, love or sweetheart.
Sexism: Six in ten female drivers stress about going to see a mechanic
Six in ten have asked a male partner, friend or family member to accompany them to the garage.
Overall, 69 per cent of motorists believe mechanics behave differently towards men and women, the study shows.
Call for Chancellor action on electric car VAT
Under pressure: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt should halve the VAT paid on new electric cars to prevent electric vehicles ‘flat-lining’, say Britain’s dealers and manufacturers.
Slashing the rate to 10 per cent for three years would stimulate sluggish sales to private buyers, could save customers thousands of pounds and be a powerful incentive to switch, they say.
It would also put them on a level with company car drivers’ lucrative tax perks.
Without it, the Government’s ambitious EV owership targets will stall, they warn ahead of the Spring Budget on March 6 and a looming General Election.
A survey of members by the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) revealed only 27 per cent of dealerships expected EV sales in 2024 would be better than last year, though 4 per cent did predict sales would be ‘much better’.
Range anxiety, lack of chargers and cost were the chief reasons putting people off going electric.
