NEW Volkswagen Golf 8.5 Review: Back To Being The Best?

Alex hops aboard the new VW Golf to see if they've fixed the quirks and issues that frustrated some people with the previous model.

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[andras.]

Bring back physical media + climate controls, ditch those piano black inserts surrounding the digit gadgets, seriously, looks horrible. The hell with piano black high gloss plastic inserts... Also, please bring back buttons/knobs for lighting too, and we are where we were left of with 7.5...

[pw]

My Golf 7 has a big knob that I turn the fan up and down with. Why should I have to go into menus to do something as simple as that, it's absolutely mental, and yes dangerous !!

[jimpackard]

This is a wonderful review and should be shown to the bosses at VW. She gets it spot on. Those stupid slide controls and the heater controls via the screen are crap and loads of Golf people do nor want that on their car. VW - for flips sake, listen !

[alexandrem]

I Will wait until the climate controls returns to physical controls!

[hasanaktas]

What makes me think is that using the phone whilst driving is illegal but using that screen is not illegal?

Has the same user interface and features like a phone

The government has to clarify that

[timjenkins]

No one asked for illuminated badges or chat GPT! We just wanted a good car for a decent price

[andreiarama]

I hate two things about it : no volume and climate knobs and THE PRICE! Let's not forget that underneath it's still a Golf 7. And why no mild hybrid manual? Because VW are cheap bastards

[jabbarcorrales]

the a/c sliders alone guaranteed I will never own this car.

[AshlynnCairns]

Gotta say, I didn’t see that coming! Totally surprised me.

[yissibiiyte]

They got rid of (some of) the capacitive nonsense and finally gave it more power than the 7.5. Basically what the 8 should have been from the very start.

[ArdaK_Yldz]

Law makers should mandate that climate control panels are made up of physical buttons and knobs as well as buttons for some other features instead of mandating stupid beeping sounds.

[shaywhelan]

I had a Golf Match Mk7 for 18 months for my sons to learn to drive in. I loved it. Everything in the cabin just seemed to be where you would expect it to be. We replaced it with a BMW F30 3 series. I preferred the Golf. The 3 series interior is very dark and I find it hard to get used to where all the switches are.

[princekelechi]

You and Rory are excellent car reviewers! You're the reason I love Auto Trader. Cheers!

[isharsingh]

Forgets the Octavia exists 😁
7.5 is still peak Golf 🤷🏽‍♂️

[coxy]

Illuminated badge only available from the R line up and IQ lights are an option...these aren't stendard equipment.

[mrhmd]

As someone with a New York accent I love/appreciate your voice/accent. Cheers

[loganpadayachee]

I own a Golf 8 GTI love it. It's my 5th golf never did i ever desire another vehicle or brand❤

[hamtaroyt]

I want the old steering back where it is capacitive because it is just more friendly to use in a pinch and more sanitary to clean - and with the feedback it gives me, it really does feel like a button!

Although I do wish there was an option to control the fan speed, I feel the capacitive buttons on the infotainment is still good.

I own a Golf 8 and I love it, and that new bigger screen really makes me want to check it out but i dont want to go to normal steering wheel buttons and some downgrades made in the 8.5.

[toddstevens]

I like the Coke metaphor, kind of goes with the trend towards larger cars to fit, well you know, larger people.

[dhilboy]

Still has a laggy cheap touchscreen and those awful slider climate buttons, not to forget the price! So probably not the best anymore sadly😢