Volkswagen Golf | .au

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328 reviews

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Build Quality3.7Value for Money3.3Noise Level3.9Volkswagen Golf (all)All filtersVolkswagen Golf (all)All filtersSearchOverviewTransmissionBought KUNWAR VIC 4 posts 1mo  Golf Mk.7 Hatchback 103TSIVoteMore

This is worst machine that still exists on this planet....notorious for its transmission, Machatronics , Oil leak, Engine failures and water pump etc issues.. Even after issues are rectified and fixed these may reappear anytime, repair costs is in thousands and above all VW post service is pathetic Show details

Ask the reviewerWhat specific sensors failed?When did oil leakage start?What was the service history?New Claire at Kyneton VIC 3 posts 5mo  GolfVoteMore

Very deeply scarred by purchasing second hand lemon VW Golf with only 130kms. Multiple experiences of calling upon tow-trucks for emergency pick-ups, mechatronics failure (it already had replacement unit as part of global recall) that cost $4200 that I had to beg to be reduced from the original $4900 quote and then recently the timing belt disintegration and metal shavings in the engine. Never again! Show details

Ask the reviewerDid you get a pre-purchase inspection?What was the dealer's response?How did you choose the mechanic?New

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Leanne QLD 2 posts 7mo  Mk.6VoteMore

*edit* the transmission went. Was going to be 4k to fix, so I got rid of it 1.2 ltr tsi, dual clutch, my13 Golf. It's done 156k kms. Just don't do it. I haven't had the transmission issues, but a hell of a lot of electrical issues. It's cost me a fortune. However, it sounds like I've had better service than others. I use Norris Motor Group.… Read more

Service at euro specialist, but for fixes, NMG.

I've service it more than is needed and always 98 unleaded. And I certainly don't thrash it.

Yes fun drive, absolutely love driving it, when it's working. But you'll be seeing a lot of the picture i took today, attached.

Excellent safety, very fuel efficient.

Every time it breaks, it's like Russian roulette. Will it be 200 or 2000 this time lol. You're going to need a good sense of humour to survive living with a Golf

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Cameron NSW 138 posts 2y  Golf Mk8 Hatchback GTIVoteMore

Still a solid everyday hot hatch option – The Mk8 Golf GTI is a gentle upgrade rather than a revolutionary next generation car. The Mk8 brings styling and technological updates, but it’s been met with some criticism regarding its new infotainment system, build quality and the lack of a manual transmission option. I thought the Mk8 GTI had a very solid construction. Even though there are… Read more

lots of hard plastics, the quality of this Golf didn’t feel cheap in any way. Driving over many hours, this hatchback refused to squeak and rattle.

Although a lot of physical switches are now touch capacitive.

Priced at $55,490 before on-road costs, this is no longer an affordable hot hatch. That means you’ll be spending nearly $60,000 for a basic spec without any options.

For 2023 Volkswagen introduced a special offer that should help move a few more GTI’s, meaning the drive away price is the MSRP before on-road costs (on-road costs are waived for a limited time).

If it’s a hot hatch you’re after, something like a Hyundai i30N can be had for less with more power too. You can even get a Cupra Leon VZ that has the same motor or even a Subaru WRX if you’re chasing the best bang for buck.

You’ll need to service the GTI every 12 months or every 15,000kms. Service plans for 3 years/45,000km will cost you $1600 or 5 years/75,000km will cost you $2,800.

The most surprising element here is the exhaust sound. The GTI has never been an exceptionally loud hot hatch, but it did popularise the DSG ‘fart’ (upshift burbles from the exhaust).

Even with strict EU emission laws making it harder to create new loud hot hatches, the Mk8 GTI will burble, fart and even pop on overruns. There’s plenty of character remaining in the latest generation Golf GTI.

Brakes are fairly standard on the GTI as they’re a simple set of ventilated discs. No fancy cross drilling here.

Brake feel is immediate and confidence inspiring both on back roads and out on track. I had the privilege of experiencing the GTI on track, and the brakes on edge are more than capable of helping wash over 200km/h worth of speed with ease.

Power was hardly increased for the new GTI. You still get the familiar EA888 2.0L petrol four-cylinder turbocharged motor under the hood producing 180kW (241hp) and 370Nm.

0-100km/h is claimed to take just 6.4 seconds as power is sent exclusively to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Launch control is easy to activate (once you figure out how to engage ‘ESC Sport’ in that complicated centre screen) and the GTI does a great job of putting power down despite some initial wheel spin.

Sadly, the manual transmission died in the previous generation Golf GTI. Other markets were privileged enough to get a last hurrah manual option, but Australia missed out there.

A set of small plastic paddles on the steering wheel help you gain greater control of your GTI, or you can simply leave it to the car by leaving the Braun shaver-style shifter in Sport.

Shifts are immediate and engaging, but not as dramatic as Hyundai’s dual-clutch system. However, at low speeds, the GTI is smoother and pleasant to operate in heavy traffic.

Independent rear suspension makes for a convincing reason to step up from a Polo GTI which receives a torsion beam at the rear. Weight transfer feels rather progressive and comfort can be had even on rougher surfaces. There’s plenty of high-speed stability in the GTI, and that limited slip differential does a great job of combating front wheel drive oversteer.

Steering feel is weighty, but not heavy. You’re getting all the feedback you’ll need without feeling overwhelmed or completely numb from the driving experience.

Part of the reason why I’d buy a GTI over other performance options would be the comfort you can have in this hot hatch. It’s far more plush when cruising in comfort mode compared to something like a Hyundai i30N.

Claimed fuel consumption for the GTI is 7.0L per 100km. That can be achieved out on longer drives. While driving in the city, expect fuel consumption to get closer to 10L per 100km, depending on how enthusiastic you are with the accelerator.

While some might not be a fan of the Golf GTI’s interior, I certainly am. It feels like a sense of occasion when you step inside the GTI and it feels more closely related to a Porsche than ever too. There’s a Braun-shaver style stubby shifter dominating the centre console. A lot like the one you’ll find in a 992 generation 911.

Instead there are contrasting leather bucket seats and lots of red highlights in the form of trim and stitching. Oh and don’t forget the wads of honeycomb patterns strewn throughout the inside of the GTI too.

That centre infotainment screen is a pain point for many reviewers, as there are no real physical buttons in here anymore. Every button is touch capacitive and many major functions are hidden inside the screen itself. It’s easy enough to master over a few days of driving, but it’s frustrating to get passengers to use it and navigate the temperature and volume controls which are not backlit at night.

There’s 374 litres of boot space available in the rear of the GTI - more than enough for a weekend away. Seats fold in a 60/40 split but there’s a handy ski-passthrough in the middle seat for longer items, without needing to fold any seats down.

Adults will be very comfortable in the rear, but a middle seat passenger will be feeling a little crushed. There’s climate controls for the rear passengers to control, making it a little easier to remain comfortable on longer trips.

Those front bucket seats offer plenty of support too. It’s still a very comfortable hot hatch to battle traffic in, but also a very capable performer once you find some free sections of road.

The GTI is still the ‘do it all’ hot hatch. It doesn’t compromise on comfort while still delivering impressive performance. Prices have increased for the MK8 generation, but it still isn’t the most expensive hot hatch by comparison to the likes of the Honda Civic Type R or Renault Megane RS.

It would have been great to see the GTI come with a noticeable power bump for the MK8 generation, but that’s reserved for the Golf R instead.

If you want a fun to drive hatchback that won’t have your friends and family groaning about loud exhausts or an uncomfortable ride, the GTI still reigns supreme as a hot hatch that can be both comfortable and set respectable lap times at a local track day.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.

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Cameron NSW 138 posts 2y  Golf Mk8 Wagon RVoteMore

The best performance wagon you can't buy anymore – It’s been the hottest small wagon you can buy since the last generation Volkswagen Golf R debuted the body style.It’s popular too! This is especially so seeing as it undercuts alternatives with its price and performance. You’d expect nothing less than the best when spending the most amount of money on the new VW Golf R. And you’d be right…for the… Read more

most part.

I found most of the materials inside the Golf R to be of extremely high quality, especially when it came to the seat materials and most of the buttons. There were some scratchy plastics a little higher up the door line than I’d like in a car this expensive, but nonetheless, it felt like a proper German product through and through.

Priced from $68,990 before on-road costs, it’s not going to be the cheapest hot hatch wagon you can buy. However, it is one of the only options offering over 200kW of power, all-wheel drive and a 0-100km/h time of just 4.9 seconds. Throw in some options like a Harmon/Kardon sound system and a panoramic sunroof, and you’ll be closing in on nearly $80,000 drive-away!

Just like most other VWs, the Golf R wagon is covered by a 5 year/unlimited kilometre warranty. Servicing will cost you $1,700 for 3 years of servicing or $3,000 for 5 years, depending on which prepaid service you’d prefer to choose. VW claims this will save you up to $833 if you prepay. Service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.

If you choose to, the VW Golf R Wagon can be an extremely quiet ride. You’d hardly notice much engine or exhaust sound, and might begin to wonder if you even bought a hotted-up wagon in the first place.

Activate Sport, Race or Special mode, and you’ll awaken that 2.0L fire cracker of a four-cylinder and begin to get plenty of engine sound and overrun exhaust noise.

Be careful where you choose to pop and bang your exhaust, because when I was testing it, it seemed like it'd grab police attention.

The last generation Golf R Wagon suffered from some very average brakes that meant you were limited to how many laps you could do before overheating.

I noticed a healthy set of front cross drilled brakes up front which looked and felt the part for backroad driving. There’s no question that the Golf R Wagon is a bonafide hot wagon when it comes to stopping power.

With 235kW (319hp) and 420Nm of torque being produced from a familiar 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder, it’s hard to have this much power for any less cash in wagon form.

Thanks to launch control and all-wheel drive, you’ll hit 100km/h in a mere 4.9 seconds! That’s lightning quick, meaning you’ll never miss a school pickup when operating this thing as a family wagon.

I loved how this thing pulled through the rev range, especially on fast country backroads. There’s a healthy amount of power at every stage, and you’ll only want more power out of familiarity rather than necessity.

The dual-clutch 7-speed gearbox in the Golf R is again another familiar element - a carry over from the previous generation. I found it to be smooth through gears, and fairly refined in traffic too. You have a Braun shaver-looking shifter in the centre to change into your gears, but you’re left using the oversized shifter paddles on the wheel to change gears manually.

The dual-clutch 7-speed gearbox in the Golf R is again another familiar element - a carry over from the previous generation. I found it to be smooth through gears, and fairly refined in traffic too. You have a Braun shaver-looking shifter in the centre to change into your gears, but you’re left using the oversized shifter paddles on the wheel to change gears manually.

The claimed fuel efficiency is 7.4L per 100km. Again, like the Skoda Kodiaq RS I tested, I saw figures creeping into the 10-11L per 100km range. If you really enjoy those pops and bangs, you can push that figure even higher.

The Mk8 Golf has a minimalist approach to its interior design, but it went too far. That’s fine though; placing controls solely on a screen isn’t a new thing, although it was the execution that felt like a bit of a let down.

I’m not going to scream and shout like some other reviewers, because I do believe you can quickly adapt to the system and user interface pretty easily. However, my biggest gripes were just how big the learning curve felt using the centre screen versus other cars.

There was no backlighting for the climate and volume controls at night, and there were some seemingly disjointed hard buttons below the screen.

I liked the look of this interior, however I do believe VW would benefit from a software update to simplify the UX of its software to make it easier to ask passengers to adjust settings rather than having to instruct them when driving. Also, hiding the ESC controls deep in the software to activate launch control was again a little frustrating.

With 611L with the seats up, this car has more boot space than the VW Tiguan has with its seats up. Put the seats down and you’ll get 1642L of space. There’s plenty of room for adults in the rear, but that middle seat is a little tight.

The VW Golf R Wagon is a strong buy, particularly seeing as there really isn’t any direct competition aside from the Audi S4, which is dramatically more expensive. If you’re not hard sold on getting a wagon, you can get other R products for less money.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.

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Sarah Gardner WA 12 posts 2y  Mk7.5 Wagon 110TDIVote (2)More

Absolute lemon – Bought brand new, absolute lemon. Plagued with issues, namely water pump and subsequent clutch pack within the first 5 years. Less that 45,000km on the clock. I have lodged a complaint with ACCC, a vehicle with such low kms and in near new condition should be far more reliable and better quality. My first new car and thought I'd avoid such… Read more

headaches.

Read independent reviews on this one, so many known issues and it's (and defective plastic parts) are still sold.

Even bought extended new car warranty and they won't honour it!! What a joke. Poor quality, crap product.

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rainerluck 16 posts 4y  Mk7.5 Wagon 110TSIVote (1)More

So much for german reliability – Bought my first 2020 Golf R 7.5 nearing 3 months ago. I feel this being enough time and experience with this Car in forming a view on. The good points Plenty of power, nice to drive, lots of affointments bells and whisles, practicable yet sporty, good fuel economy considering the power output, has a solid feel to it, handles very well and a joy to… Read more

drive. The bad and not do good. Over priced. Right side blind spot mirror light already not working Horrible 19 inch weehl tyre suspension having you more than feel average pot holes and bumps, even to a point of severity. You could do your rim in fairly easily. The steering wheel turning point is way insufficient. There is no space to get your fingers in between the sunvisor when trying to pull it down with your right hand. Digital Apple/Android play not always working as it should. Often no volume to play music e.t.c. Digital affointment not very intuitive. Rattle noise (slight) from the inside around rear seat. Glove box support lever dislodged and fell apart. Road sign recognition system not working. Other than that so far so good but not very reassuring when also reading about consisten waterpumps failing, though they are supposed to be better on my model. I hope. So far this car has left me feeling some what insecure and wondering how long it will last in comparison to other much cheaper and much more reliable cars i owned. I am German and feel dissapointed in such a prominent German Car Brand not getting their sh.t together. You will loose customers that way, especially in todays fierce market. I would opt for a different make on my next choice. Its a pitty because the Golf R has the potential to be made competatively more reliable and longer lasting. Especially for a high pricedxsupposedly premium car.

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In-depth reviews

PCC 9mo  Verified  Mk.6VoteMore

It must be tiring for Volkswagen to constantly read negative reviews about their Golfs. I’ve owned three of them, and all have had issues with water leaking into the cabin and boot, as well as roof linings collapsing. But the latest one really takes the cake. My 2010 Mk6 Golf has only 126,000 km on the clock, yet it's cost me an absurd amount of… Read more

money. The roof lining was the least of my worries; here’s a breakdown of the more costly failures: • 29/06/16: Renewal of DSG clutches at 44,903 km • 17/08/16: Removal and replacement of all four pistons, reassembly, and reinstallation of the engine—just 19 days after the clutches were replaced • 20/03/25: Mechatronic unit replacement needed The failure of the mechatronic unit occurred while I was crossing a road at night, the car literally died. This failure could have resulted in a serious accident, causing death or injury to myself or another driver. Despite the gravity of the situation, Volkswagen has refused to assist with the mechatronic replacement. At this point, I’m done investing any more money into this car, only to see what will fail next. Do yourself a favor and never, ever buy a Golf. Trust me, you’ll be better off. Of course if VW would like to get in touch with me please feel free but I won't be holding my breath but feel free to prove me wrong...

wils59 VIC 12 posts 1y  Mk7.5 Wagon 132TSIVoteMore

A great car but with a few part cost issues – We have the fully-optioned AllTrack version. We love this car and it's comfortable, good on gravel roads as well as the highway, and great to drive. The motor is powerful enough for us and we can get excellent fuel consumption on a trip, down to 6.3l/100km. We love the wagon and the incredible load space. The safety assistance is great, the… Read more

adaptive cruise control is excellent. We have the panoramic sunroof, but admit to not opening it much! Back seat leg space is not great for the kids, but most of time there's only two of us. We drive about 25,000 km per year.

Some components are expensive to replace. We previously had a 2015 Alltrack and the water pump lasted until just out of warranty with a replacement cost of $2000. On the current model, the water pump failed, this time under warranty. So water pumps seem to be an issue. We've just had an alternator replaced, out of warranty at 103,000km, for $1850.00. (add a few hundred to these prices if you get Volkswagen to do them). Volkswagen services are also more expensive but they're only every 15,000km.

Ciprian Miron Ghimpau QLD 3 posts 1y  Fair Incentive  Golf Mk8 Hatchback 110TSI R-LineVoteMore

Miron – I bought a Hyundai in 2019 new. Good car but with some not so good things. But now after 5 years I wanted another car with above all something that is good at saving fuel but is elegant and good on a budget of 50,000. Although I am not interested in Chinese cars, I drove the jelion haval that looks like an audi, but a very strange drive, almost… Read more

all Chinese cars except BYD are strangely built on the outside as if they are not finished well, we do not go into the subject further which is long and 99% negative(They steal several concepts from other brands, unreliable engines that consume a lot of fuel, very poor construction materials, long warranties on paper but not backed up, compromised passenger safety, unreliable handling). After testing the 2024 honda civic hybrid (good car), 2024 jelion (hybrid), 2024 hyundai i30 line midle hybrid (still consumes fuel as always, Hyundai's fault), cupra leon (good handling and excellent in curves, very sporty on the outside but sucks up fuel of course and very small, difficult to get out of, small doors and inside not as luxurious as VW) In the end I got to the Volkswagen golf. Since I got into the Golf Life 110KW, 250 torque I knew it was my car. The handling is so good and smooth and it responds very well, it is difficult to find such a wonderful handling talking about a budget of 50K at most 55. In the end I decided to buy the VW but the Rline with a sportier look with the Sound Vision package but the same 110KW, 250 torque engine. The car is a marvel in fuel economy and I dare say that it is almost like a hybrid, not to say and offend that it seems the same as some hybrids that I have driven except for the Hyundai i30 n line that continues to consume a lot. The pros of my VW R Line: excellent handling, consumption is exceptional, luxurious inside, it comes with a lot of equipment for the entry model, handsome inside and out, spacious and on the road very solid and safe you feel like you are in an SUV.The not so good things: The system is weird you have to press several times for anything there are no physical buttons one for volume, at night under the screen you can't see anything where to press there are no lights for the volume or turn up the climate or down. To cancel the cruise control you have to do three steps there is no button to cancel with one press. For me the side mirrors are very big it looks like a big SUV with these mirrors. The model says 2024 on the papers but it is a model from 4 years ago I am from Europe there they were these 4 or 5 years ago. There is no sticker like Hyundai on the door saying the year of manufacture. The rear camera looks distorted it is better in my Hyundai. The side levers on the steering wheel look old and the functions are regrettable in my Hyundai they look more elegant and with more functions more modern. The steering wheel controls are weird I like the Hyundai ones more accessible and easier to use and physical. The sport mode does nothing it just turns off the power. it stiffens the steering wheel but in curves it drives the same as in eco mode, in my hyundai (which is an i30active 2.0, 200 naturally aspirated torque not turbo) in sport mode it is more aggressive in curves, more stable and more powerful but uses more fuel of course.The rims are nice but it's amazing how it attracts dust, after a month they look like they're covered in ash. The front glass is so clear it looks like a car from the 70s. In many brands the front glass comes a little darker so that I don't get so blinded by the sun. The acceleration is clumsy sometimes in my golf. I liked it better when I drove the Volkswagen TCross rline (not R) with DSG and less KW and less torque but in sport mode it seemed stronger and responded better. But in the end after so many things that could be better, I really like my Golf rline and it drives much better than my other car, the Hyundai i30 active and many other cars and now a lot of fuel and it's a super pleasant ride. The services are expensive about 500 or a little more every 12 months or 15 thousand km. I do not regret this because I drove it before buying. It was the battle between the VW golf rline Honda civic (which was much more expensive) and cupra, which was to buy it only for the engine and its excellent maneuvers in the curves. Electric cars do not interest me at the moment, they are still far from being good cars, they are heavy and difficult to make long trips due to lack of recharges and they take time to charge them, it will take years to improve. Updated after 3 months of driving my VW Golf rline 110 KW, 250 torque. All cars are imperfect, we all know that. I live on the Gold Coast QLD, the car is perfect for the city. In a week I only use half a tank of fuel. Go to work between 5 and 7 days a week, gym, shopping and walks, all full of traffic lights of course. The first time I put 95 petrol in the first tank. But then I decided to put 98. The difference is huge. More engine power, less consumption and more fluid just for a few cents more. I still say the fuel consumption is impressive. It's like a hybrid. When I traveled with a Toyota Camry hybrid from Sydney airport to my hotel, the Camry indicated 4.5 l in a straight line at 80 km per hour. My VW Golf at 80 km per hour indicates the same. At 50 km per hour in a straight line it indicates 3.5 l at the time. In the Hyundai i 30 no at low speeds it consumes a lot. The car cost 46,600 with Harman Kardon and vision premium sound, tinted Windows and interior treatment. It is impossible to find something like this at this price, speaking of quality of course.I don't like Toyota. The insides are not pretty and the handling is boring. Subarus have good engines but they are not pretty either inside or outside and they are expensive. I got into the Mazda hatchback, the most expensive one, but it was dark inside and there was little light. The windows are very small and the side mirrors zoom in a lot. It's weird to drive. I'm not interested in having a car that is more than 5 years old. If you take care of it and get the services done on time and put good fuel in it, everything works fine.

Okay, guys, after 6 months of owning the car, I'll tell you some experiences I want to share here. When I traveled from Gold Coast outbound on the M1, about 300 km, the screen told me after traveling about 80 km that I could travel 900 km in this condition. I think it's pretty good. Another experience is the following. I always trusted BP and Shell. Shell's 98 is pretty bad in power and everything else compared to BP. In my opinion, I used them and you can notice the difference, which is huge. But one day I decided to use the 7-Eleven 98 Supreme+. Guys, the difference is huge. More power and better fuel economy. Before, it was half a tank a week. Now it's 17 liters a week, keep in mind that the tank is 50 liters. (we're talking about the same daily trips for a week).Another thing, this car is designed (built) to save fuel. For example, if it stays in sport mode, when you start it again, it's in sport mode, but the revolutions drop and it continues to save. If you put it in sport mode while driving, the revs change and it behaves more aggressively in curves and is a little more powerful. It's something I discovered over time.

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Positive reviews

binhbui VIC 25 posts 4y  Mk7.5 Hatchback 110TSIVoteMore

A reasonable ok small car – In mid-2018, my wife bought a VW Golf Comfortline 110 Tsi with 1.4 L turbo petrol engine and 7 speed DSG for her commuting to work and weekend shopping or socialising. I occasionally share the driving as well. In general the car has been performing reasonably well and to date (mid 2022) has done 40k Km, partially thanks to the Covid resulting in… Read more

my wife working from home since last year. The motor has presented no issue since new, starts with the first turn of the key, it is fairly quiet and powerful enough for both of us, ditto with the DSG gear box which has also been sweet and changed gears quickly/smoothly, very similar to the conventional torque convertor auto gear box. Both the motor and the transmission presented no problem so far. Overall, the car is zippy around town, the ride comfort is above average, handing and steering is good particularly cornering, and fuel consumption is very acceptable, around 7 lit/100km on average. Please note we don't do long drive with the Golf, so it's very much a town figure. On the negative side, the GPS is unimpressed and my wife complained about the menu and missing cities when entering the search input for new destinations. The car was serviced annually at a VW dealer for the first three years which is the warranty period, and the fourth by Stellar Mobile Mechanics who charged only half of the price of VW dealer. One issue with the car was the malfunction of the font passenger door locking mechanism (or the software) which prevented the door open when the other four doors are open. Even though the car's warranty is still valid, VW Australia refused the fixing unless we pay $250. Of course we didn't go ahead with this riff-off. Recently, when Richard Brown of Stella Mobile Services did a log book service, he reset the computer and greased the door lock, the issue was fixed at no cost to us. I don't hesitate to recommend Stellar Mobile Services to anyone requiring a service by an honest mechanics. And the price is half of what VW dealers charged us in the previous services. Worse still, I don't know what the VW dealers did to our cars. We intend to keep the Golf for another year or two before a new car update which could be an EV if these become more affordable.

Mitch R. QLD 4y  Mk7.5 Hatchback 110TSIVote (1)More

Great car to drive - Just be mindful of Dsg issues – I owned my 2018 Golf comfortline 110 Tsi Dsg from new (Sep18-Nov21). It was a great car to drive the 1.4 engine is a great all rounder! It was quiet and comfortable with good fuel economy. Everyone always was surprised how roomy it was inside, it had great visibility and felt very well built. In July 2019 at 34,000kms I did experience clutch… Read more

slipping, Vw replaced the gearbox under warranty. All was running well till May 2021 when I started to experience the gearbox “chirping” between gear changes. Vw did a software update for me which did help but was a Band-Aid fix.

I really loved this car and was sad to see it go! Traded it in Nov21, 2 months after 3 year warranty ran out. Maybe I’m Vw crazy as I purchased another golf a My21 Mk8 Gti, let’s hope I have a good run with it.

moggy WA 47 posts 4y  Mk7.5 Wagon RVote (1)More

Delightful Drive – Everyday use mostly in the city. Bought from and serviced by a major VW dealer. Chose R-Line to have more pleasing finish and features, but swapped in standard rims rather than low profile in order to achieve better ride. Chose the option with Adaptive cruise control - use this extensively on freeways and longer drives to avoid exceeding speed… Read more

limits. Maintained log book servicing roughly yearly- costs quite moderate and most services have been done mobile.

Plusses: ➕ Superb build quality. Excellent design. ➕ Comfortable and roomy. Wagon provides excellent volume for transporting 'stuff' ➕ Excellent economy with Blue motion- stop-start - regularly achieve 6.5 l/100k around town - 3.5 on a long run.

Negatives: ➖ Soft brake pads create annoying amount of dust - constantly have dirty front wheels - should be hybrid ceramic. ➖ The CD player is like an afterthought and whilst it is a bit anachronistic these days, my wife insists on her CDs. It is quite badly lit and difficult to use. ➖ The Infotainment screen is too small on this model. ➖ I find the lack of the electric tailgate an annoyance because I am used to having that in my Passat wagon ➖ Slow leak in water pump spotted and replaced at last service - most of cost borne by VW despite car technically being out of warranty.

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Negative reviews

Be careful 8 posts 7mo  Mk.6VoteMore

These cars are not reliable. Ok, they are fun to drive, good on fuel, look like good quality inside, but in my experience avoid an older vw golf. They are too unreliable. Actually, they are VERY unreliable. Mine made it to 160 000km, then the transmission totally kicked the bucket. And at the worst possible time. And the mechatronics had been… Read more

replaced. No one wants to fix it, because it looks like fixing it will cost more than the cars worth. Even the transmission shops won't touch it. Golfs are suppose to last. Mine was well maintained and didn't. I thought Golfs were great. Not anymore.

Nadine G. 3 posts 1y  GolfVoteMore

Worst car ever – Unbelievably disappointed. Golf purchased brand new in 2014, had a broken gearbox in 2020, however that was a recall and was repaired for free. However after 10 years and 120ks it had carbon buildup in the engine and was literally ready for the dump. That happened after a couple of years of the car needing frequent oil replacement. Furthermore in… Read more

2020 the boot developed a leak and I had water pooling around the spare tire after heavy rain that soaked into the backseats. Complained to Volkswagen and got an email saying basically that they were sorry, but unable to help. Car went to the wreckers. Das Auto! I don’t think so! will never buy again. I always used 98 octane petrol and the car service history was spotless.

Dan M NSW 2y  Mk.6Vote (1)More

do not buy a Volkswagen Golf – Do not buy one of these cars. I purchased one with 90,000 km. Full service history, had all the recalls done (including the mechatronics which is a know fault). Thought I was doing the right thing with buying an immaculate, meticulously maintained vehicle. Mechatronics failed (after recall replacement) and left my 18 year old daughter stranded… Read more

for 7 hours in the middle of nowhere with no phone service. $5,000 later it was still not comfortable to drive with the jerky gearbox. In owning over 40 cars in my life this was without a doubt the biggest disappointment and most costly, relevant to the value of it. Yes it was a 12 year old car however you would think that full service history and replacement of known faults would be ok. Do not go near this car.

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N Shariff 3 posts 3y  Golf Mk8 HatchbackVote (1)MoreBuild QualityValue for MoneyNoise Level

Great car to drive - marred by terrible quality and worlds worst customer service – - Absolutely loved this car for the first few months, until the never ending infotainment glitches started! - Car has been back to the same dealer over 6 times for the same ongoing issues - the dealership have been great, they’ve replaced all wiring, head unit and steering wheel - the niggling issues continue (including loosing sound for days… Read more

after a loud ‘bang’ from the dashboard area - this happens all the time) - escalated my concerns to VOLKSWAGEN AUSTRALIA - who have the world’s worst client engagement and communication process - after months of repeatedly asking their offshore ‘level 1’ team to have someone based locally call me and listen to my concerns, I finally received a call - Unfortunately the VW representative was rude, abrupt, abrasive and totally refused to actually listen to me or show any sign of empathy at a minimum - She aggressively threatened to end the call whenever I attempted to express my utter disappointment with my purchase and my experience to date - The only option that was offered was for me to go back to the dealership (again) - In addition, I’ve been advised that my brake pads and rotors will need to be replaced after a mere 15000kms, at a cost of nearly $1000! VWs response to my request to cover the entire or part of the costs under warranty - the issue must be with your driving! I would highly recommend against purchasing any vehicle (not to mention a luxury family hatch worth over $45K) from a manufacturer whose products have way too many annoying quality related issues - which they have absolutely no interest in resolving permanently or keeping their clients happy. You need to lift your game VW AUSTRALIA.

Aardvark WA 3y  Mk.6Vote (2)More

Unfit for purpose – If you are in Australia read it and weep, AVOID, or you will get a 5K engine rebuild and be told it's all Australia's fault and has nothing to do with the product being unfit for purpose in the Australian environment. Engine rebuild at 120K. https://genesiswestend.com.au/our-services/vw-118tsi-engine-problems/ Show details

Tim D. VIC 2 posts 4y  Mk7.5 Hatchback 110TSIVoteMoreBuild QualityValue for MoneyNoise Level

Dont buy a VW! you will regret it – VW golf's are so nice to drive. Quiet, comfortable and fuel efficient but also unreliable and no support from VW Australia... My VW golf has let me down twice. First time was at 50,000kms and 6 months out of warranty. A bolt came loose on the cam shaft and rubbed against timing cover apparently not a manufacturing issue. I had to pay.... Now I am… Read more

off the road again at 60,000kms with a fuel leak and not starting. Please I implore you the product is not great but the support from VW Australia is the worst... AVOID!!

Hipages VIC 7 posts 4y  Golf Mk.7 Hatchback 90TSIVoteMore

Problem – I use this car on a very limited basis (7000 kms a year). I've got an issue with the rear left side door lock, it's totally packed up after 33,000kms. I've tried to get the issue resolved on a good will basis, but because the vehicle is six years old VW don't want to know about. I did do research about this vehicle before I acquired it and this… Read more

wasn't one of the issues that was mentioned. The parts on these vehicles just haven't got the longevity that a Japanese got. Beware!

Jules 2 posts 4y  Golf Mk.7 Hatchback 103TSIVote (9)More

Major fault in German engineering – I am a careful driver and bought this car brand new 8 years ago. Car has been garaged for past 7 years. I have worked from home for past 7 years. I have never thrashed the car and it's got zero scratches on its black body even after all these years. It was my pride and joy until recently when the car just broke down and I was told that the… Read more

Mechatronics and gearbox had failed. Now I know what you're thinking - it's 8 years old and yes why should I complain but at 110k kms, I would have thought that this German engineered car one under the GTI model would have lasted at least until 150k kms before I needed to pay for something this big to be fixed. I wrote to VW Australia to ask if they would consider an out of warranty claim - to date - four months later and many follow up emails I have been ignored. No response. Nothing. They have clearly refused to help with the costs or even pay a portion of the labour fees. Not even given me the courtesy of a reply. I should mention now that I also asked the dealer for help and guess what - no. They did nothing either. So I sat and waited and thought about what I should do. I would have thought that this would have been a car that drove well for longer than its 110k kms. I would have thought that VW Australia would have cared at least to write back. All no. So now I'm saying no myself. No to ever buying a VW car of any kind ever again. I could afford a toureg tiguan golf whatever VW I want but unfortunately I'm burnt with the brand. The failure of the engineering to even last 110k Kms. The failure of a company to recognise a loyal customer. I am writing this to ensure that everyone buys this brand with with caution.

Sarah M. 2 posts 4y  Mk7.5VoteMore

A big failure – The A/C system is made in Japan by denso and this is the only good thing in this car, but the rest of thing easy to break toy plastic cooling system pipes all plastic after a few years will start cracking, it's money pit.

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Compare all Only the facts QLD 32 posts 4y  Fair Incentive  Mk7.5 Wagon 110TSIVote (1)More

Exactly the right car for me – I'm on my third Golf Wagon now. Perfect for me because it has the space for dogs, surfboards etc. without the cost of an SUV. It's comfortable and quiet to drive, still fits in a small car space and has the safety features I wanted. First two models were Diesel's and awesome.on fuel efficiency. The 2020 models only come now as petrol which… Read more

doesn't get the mileage. Bring on a hybrid electric for the next one!

As with all new cars, some features like the sunroof might appeal to a few but I'd rather pay less and go without!

Bill 173 posts 5y  Mk.6VoteMore

My TDI is a great little car – In 2019, I purchased a 2013 TDI with only 40k on the speedo and after 2 years, it's been perfect and reliable. Admittedly I probably over service my cars and use a VW specialist Audvolks in Melbourne. I got the dsg and timing belt/water pump done as a precaution and do a weekly country drive. So far the only issues are a few dash rattles and the… Read more

clear coat coming off around the rear licensed plate. Costs over 2 years other than servicing ($500-$800) has been a set of quality tyres, polish and wiper blades. I average 7l in the city and 5l in the country. The car has so far exceeded my expectations as I was a bit worried about VW reliability after coming out of a Mercedes B class. Make sure you buy one that has been looked after, driven gently and serviced by a VW specialist.

Ocean QLD 5y  Mk.6VoteMore

Great to drive but going wrong a lot and hard to repair yourself – The good: Smooth and easy driving and very good on fuel. The bad: Headliner has completely delaminated. Fuel door open wire has broken /jammed (approx $400 to repair) Fuel system gave up (bluemotion) - needed complete rebuild - replacing. Cost absolutely thousands. Clutch actuator seal leaked - $900 Had to replace all brake disks as well as… Read more

pads. Aircon Compressor seal perished - must replace whole compressor. This vehicle has ability to lock someone inside it while not being able to get out using the exit handles (disabled for anti theft I am guessing). Potentially deadly in the tropics if you have a brain fade go to the shops and forget your partner in the car to chill rest without the keys... or in this case - neither of you at teh time actually know the car locks itself and can trap you inside in it with the heat increasing to potentially deadly levels in minutes - very scary situation. Has bluetooth but Bluetooth Audio to play music from a Bluetooth device was an optional extra - bizzare.

You need far more specialist tools than other vehicles (eg varied torx security drivers)- it is as if they really don't want you to fix it yourself to make sure you use them to fix it. It says use an authorised dealership to replace a fuse and that a diagram of what fuse is where was unavailable at the the time the manual went to print.

Despite being Low km (bought at 78k) and not clocking up too much on the clock. the cost of ownership and time being repaired has unfortunately far outweighed fuel savings and a comfortable drive.

Beardy Bonce NSW 48 posts 5y  Mk7.5 Hatchback GTIVote (3)More

Performance and practicality ...love it – Bought privately in Jan 2020 when the car was c 18 mths old. This is primarily a commuter car (c40 kms per day during the week) with a bit more fun and spirited driving at the weekends. The service intervals are annually ( just had the 3 year service completed)...but i intend to get an interim oil change at the 6 month mark. OEM Bridgestone tyres… Read more

lasted 34000kms. Ive had the infotainment screen replaced under warranty without any fuss from the dealer. The stop/start system is a bit hit and miss...sometimes it works , sometimes not....but this seems to be a common issue across VW group cars with this emission reducing function. After owning the car for a year, it still makes me smile :)

Jessica Ishak  VIC 5y  Mk7.5 Hatchback 110TSIVote (3)More

Unreliable car – Purchasing MY19 Volkswagen Gold 110TSi Comfortline 7sq DSG Hatch on the 18th of December 2019 has caused me nothing but distress and concern. The issue began on the 16th of November when my car got tolled to Berwick Volkswagen due to “gearbox in emergency mode, no reverse gear” causing my car to immediately stop working and get to a complete stop.… Read more

Hence forward, Berwick Volkswagen servicing team diagnosed my car within a week to conclude that my whole transmission is broken and will need a full replacement. However, I have been told there is a waiting period until my part comes from Germany. As Germany Volkswagen does not have any 2019 Golf transmissions available, and that I will have to wait for the next available one. Unfortunately, the team at Berwick cannot give me an estimated date because they are “unaware” of when the part will be available and when it will arrive in Australia. This is not good enough and beyond unprofessional. Therefore, to Volkswagen Australia, I am so disappointed to hear that you are not abiding by the Australian consumer laws. I have chosen Volkswagen with the peace of mind that if something goes wrong you will look after your customers. I cannot believe a company with your reputation and history will not honour their warranty agreements which clearly state that if there is a major fault you will replace my car for a new one or give me a refund. It clearly states that I am fully entitled to choose my remedy if it’s a major fault. To all definitions and all scenarios, my transmission fault is indeed a major fault. How can I even drive my car now knowing that my transmission and steering could fail me at any time. I already suffer from great stress and anxiety on a daily basis. I particularly chose to purchase your car with its top safety features for such reasons and for great peace of mind. I will not accept this car anymore, I will not put myself through this much of stress and anxiety once again. I have lost all and any faith in your company, I will never buy another car from you if my car isn't replaced, I don't feel safe and I don't believe that the repairs will be something that I can put my trust in going forward. I have done my research and contacted angry customers from your Facebook page regarding their Volkswagen cars and their issues. All have stated that they have had experienced horrible customer service, lengthy procedures and multiple repairs faults. Therefore, as Suzanne from head office suggested, I have every right to contest my rights and as a customer under Australian consumer law I WILL! Before that I will also ensure that every google review and every product review will hear of the atrocious customer service I received from Volkswagen.

G K. VIC 2 posts 5y  Mk7.5 Wagon 110TSIVote (4)More

Problems since day 2, nearly three years later, finally fixed them all and the are not honoring any additional warranty – Brought a brand new VW golf from a local dealer, there have been multiple issues since, the dealership was friendly and helpful. However, other than fixing my car, which I had problems since day 2; VW told me that there is nothing they can do about the quality of the vehicle. My three-year warranty is about to end, so make sure you buy the extra… Read more

care plan.

08/06/2018 warranty repair – 4th gear lack of power, infotainment system is faulty ( has a line across the screen) – replacement 05/04/2019 repair- rattles in the dash – ticket fall inside of the dash 24/03/2020 warranty repair – replace clock spring as diagnosed on the previous fault – check engine lights on 14/04/2020 warranty repair – selector lever requires replacement – check engine remains on 17/01/2020 warranty repair – clicking noise from steering 19/02/2020 warranty repair – unable to repair for steering clicking – waiting for parts, chrome trim around the selector lever is coming away 12/11/2020 warranty repair – selector lever still faulty, ongoing check engine lights on 13/11/2020 warranty repair – selector lever not rectified, check engine light is always on, rear wiper not working. 15/11/2020 all issues are fixed after nearly three years. Yah!

Called up VW head office, and was told: Meh, nothing we can do about your car, bad luck. I have offered to have my car buy back at a reasonable price, or free warranty for an additional 2- 3 years, trade up to a new car, or a refund at a reasonable price. Basically, I was told to suck it up :D

Good job

Roy SA 2 posts 5y  Golf Mk.7 Hatchback 110TSIVote (2)More

Rubbish don’t bother – Bought the car brand new with 3 yrs warranty, a couple months after warranty finished with only 20,000km on the clock error msg pops up on dash which a a recognised known problem with VW company. No offer of goodwill to fix at all. Would expect almost brand new car wouldnt start having these issues. May opt out and sell while still early but won’t be going for VW next Show details

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rotor4 NSW 10 posts 5y  GolfVote (1)More

Good all-rounder – I needed a small basic & cheap vehicle with 5sp manual g-box as a run around & came across a low klm 2003 Mk4 Golf 1.8t GTI, it's a basic & uncomplicated vehicle by today's standards. As it uses a early Audi designed engine used for many years in various models I thought it would do just fine. It's simplicity appealed to me as I find vehicles are… Read more

too complex with overlaying systems & unnecessary "gimmickry" today making them prone to unreliability & that was something I wanted to ovoid. Over my years of ownership I found it easy to service most parts are cheap & readily obtainable online or via the usual auto parts stores. Finding tech information or problem solving is widely available on various forums online. When driven on road suburban or open road it has good torque handles/brakes well & so easy to drive,it's every thing I require in a small hatch. UPDATE : My "4th year of ownership" the GTI is reliable & still running well all servicing & consumables continue to be carried out as per service schedule or as required. The only one issue is a rear passenger lock not always functioning but being a door I rarely open & intermittent I haven't bothered to look at. Several years ago I repaired a common issue with that engine being a valve cover oil leak "it's a easy fix". As it's a 20 year old car I refreshed the suspension as Sydney's pot holes ,speed humps etc takes it's toll. I previously fitted Bilstien B8 shocks lowered it with H&R springs replaced all suspension bushings (F&R) & fitted wider OZ Crono 16 x 7" with 225/50r16 tyres. I'm pleased with the result,the additional work was $'s well spent the car now rides & handles very well without being too harsh over our average road surfaces.

Johnny SA 5y  Mk.6VoteMore

The best all-rounder hatch on the market – I bought my Golf GTD manual turbo diesel after doing a ton of online research and I can confidently say it's the best do-it-all small car I've ever owned. For the entire 60000kms I've done in it it's never once broken down or had any issues. Servicing is quite affordable and only every 15000kms. Fuel efficiency is phenomenal and on flat freeways… Read more

is realistically 5.5L/100km. Even when towing a trailer and 300kg payload, fuel consumption will only go up to 6-7L/100km. The turbo diesel is wicked fun and has a great take off feel. The leather bucket seats are comfortable and have that low set go-kart feel you'd expect from a hot hatch. Problems? The automatic windscreen wipers are not terribly intuitive, the little plastic clip that covers part of the rear view mirror stem keeps popping off, and for a premium car it could do with some better standard features like reverse sensors. Do yourself a favor and buy one!

bo ho 5y  Golf Mk.7 Wagon 90TSIVote (1)More

Don't buy one!!!!!, users oil and I have had to replace the gearbox at 43000kms @ $3500 factory service people useless – usage second car Daily usage seviced as per log book not happy Jan, what a shame it is an expensive flop with poor warranty and back up service. this is my 4th vw , no more :( Show details

John J. VIC 8 posts 6y  Mk7.5 Hatchback GTIVoteMore

Best car ever owned – We use the car daily. Test drove the Ford Focus, Hyundai i30n. Ford was very good too, but needed an auto. Bought the base GTI as a demo. It is the upgraded '19 model, 180 kw, 7 Spd DSG (from the R), bigger brakes (from R)& mech front diff (from the R). Beautiful comfortable car, great seats and sound/radio. VW has really refined this hatch,… Read more

and this car is sorted. Great sleeper that really rumbles when required, but always the preferred car to drive after nearly 12mths. No issues so far, just feels very well built and is a solid, fun car to drive. Mixes utility with being a sports car. I wish the start-stop could be deactivated, but it works I just prefer to start the car once. DSG is very good and fast. Great on petrol, avg about 7-8 litres, which is awesome for such a powerful car. Great to park, would have been nice if rear camera guide lines moved with front wheels but system works well. Very minor complaint.

Auto parking is nifty and smart. The tech is this car is well above the competition

Sammy32 QLD 2 posts 6y  Golf Mk.7 Hatchback 92TSIVote (1)MoreBuild QualityValue for MoneyNoise Level

Car is decent however Volkswagen Customer Service is extremely poor – I purchased this car new in 2017. It's a great car in general. Economical, handles well and an all around comfortable driving experience. The VW service and customer service team however, are not great. After my first service outside of the warranty period, I am being asked to spend a substantial amount of money to repair an item. The VW service… Read more

department raised a 'goodwill' claim however that was promptly rejected. They never told me that, instead waiting for me to follow up with them (even though the said they will contact me).

I have escalated the mater to the VW customer care team as an Australian Consumer Guarantee case. They have to be the worst customer care team I have ever dealt with. They said I should get a call back in 24 hours. That did not occur. I finally got in touch with someone 72 hours after initial contact. The representative took notes of the issue and told me he would have a resolution in 2-3 days. It has been 2 weeks and I still don't have an answer. It seems that VW are doing all they can to avoid warranting vehicles under the Australian Consumer Guarantee. It is a shame as vehicles do now come with a 5 year warranty.

I have previously owned VW cars and have had similar experiences. However this is the last straw for me. I will not be buying another VW Group vehicle in the future.

Devesh D. NSW 11 posts 6y  Golf Mk.7 Hatchback 103TSIVoteMore

Great small car – Bought it in 2015 from vw kloster newcastle.tuns smooth as a whistle . Never had any trouble so far.done more than 100k . Worth every cent . Pickup is excellent along with fuel efficiency. Maneuverability is a class of it's own Show details

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