An evolution rather than revolution, the eighth generation Golf is instantly recognisable. And that's how it should be. It also ticks a number of boxes in terms of semi-autonomous driving technologies and clever vehicle networking to warn you of road hazards ahead. Continuing just-auto/AIC's review of interior design and technology trends, we take a closer look inside this ever popular family hatchback to see how its cockpit has been brought into the digital age.
Since the Golf appeared on our shores in 1974, it has become universally known and understood. It also remains the biggest-selling model in the VW range in the UK, accounting for approximately one in three new Volkswagens sold here each year. The fleet/retail split for the Golf in the UK is broadly 65% fleet / 35% retail. Its rivals include the likes of the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and Honda Civic.
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Infotainment
The desire for a spacious interior, something always equated with luxury, is prompting interior designers to use new combinations of electronics and mechanical functions to modify or move pre-existing systems like heating/cooling and audio facilities. In terms of controls, touchscreens offer space-saving possibilities, but designers are faced with the problem of distracting the driver's attention. The latest generation Golf appears to have struck the right balance.
The central ten-inch touchscreen with web connection is paired with a second driver display located on the other side of the steering wheel and joined by a reconfigurable instrumentation cluster. While it is not a seamless panel, it does a good job of presenting driver-critical information and infotainment.
Compared with the previous generation, many of the interior buttons and switchgear have been removed, replaced with sliders and touch panels for all of the main functions. Some of these functions can also be controlled via a voice recognition system and/or steering wheel controls.
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By GlobalDataBeneath the central touchscreen is a strip of touch-sensitive pads to control the radio volume and cabin temperature. And lower down are positioned slimmer, slick air vents that further accentuate the minimalist cockpit.
Marking another first in class for this Golf – driver information such as speed or navigation instructions are also shown in a head-up display.
Connectivity
On the connectivity front, car-to-car wireless communication features for the first time on a Volkswagen. Car2X enables the car to exchange information between other vehicles and the traffic infrastructure. It uses an EU-standard network valid for all automakers so that vehicles from different brands can exchange data about hazards on the road ahead, such as broken-down vehicles, traffic jams or approaching emergency services. There are strict EU rules in place concerning this data, allowing it to be sent anonymously and not captured or stored by anyone.
Voice control
Voice recognition is seen by some as the answer to eliminate many controls that have traditionally been manually operated. Voice can play an important part of a multimodal human-machine interface (HMI) solution for inputting information or for cutting through layers on the menus by requesting a function directly.
Traditional voice control was centred on a set of fixed commands with catatonic responses which required some level of driver training prior to operation of the system. With the advent of the new low power, high-performance microprocessors, smarter voice command engines linked into the HMI logic are now available. Even natural language and grammatical analysis are becoming more achievable.
The voice control function in the latest Golf demonstrates its usefulness to activate certain functions. It is activated by saying "Hello Volkswagen" or pressing a button on the steering wheel. It responds with "Yes, please?" or "What would you like to do?" and reacts to voice commands, such as "Go to [destination]" or "I'm cold". It also does a pretty good job of locating the person who is speaking, either the driver or front passenger. For example, the passenger could ask for their heated seat to be switched on and the system would recognise this and only activate the passenger's heated seat.
Gesture control
If you like the idea of talking to your car to operate various functions, the Golf allows you to wave and take a swipe at it. This means menus on the infotainment system can be accessed with the swipe of the driver or passenger's hand. A swipe gesture moves the horizontally arranged menu items to the left or right. This enables the driver to scroll through the main menu, change radio stations, scroll forward or back through the playlist or browse in the picture viewer and music albums.
Sounds good
Another new option is the 480-watt Harman Kardon sound system with 12-channel Ethernet booster and ten speakers. With one treble speaker in the A-pillars and rear door trim, and a bass speaker in the front and rear door trim panels on each side of the vehicle, the whole set up offers excellent sound quality. A central speaker, meanwhile, is added to the dash panel at the front, with a large subwoofer fitted into the spare wheel well.
Ambient lighting
Golf comes with mood lighting that can be set to one of ten different colours in the entry-level Life trim and no fewer than 32 colours in higher-spec Style and R Line versions. The selected colour illuminates the decorative trim across the dash, door trim and cubby spaces, front footwells and central storage compartment in the front centre console. The digital instruments and infotainment system also take on the selected background colour. Along with the individual colours, pre-configured lighting profiles can be selected by simply touching a "mood menu": for example, 'Infinity' for a warm orange or 'Desire' for a cool blue shade.
Key to mobility
Using Volkswagen's We Connect system as an interface, compatible Samsung smartphones are capable of functioning as the Golf's 'key' via the We Connect app. Via their mobile phone, owners can unlock, lock and start the car. No mobile network connection is required to use the smartphone as a mobile key. Owners just need to place their smartphone near the door handle, in the same way as the keyless locking and starting system Keyless Access opens the vehicle. Once inside, putting the smartphone in the centre console (in the storage compartment with interface for mobile phone) allows the car to be started. In due course, says VW, it will also be possible to send the mobile key function to friends or family so that they can also use their smartphone as a key.
Level 2 driving automation
Having debuted in 2019 on the Passat, Travel Assist now features on the Golf enabling Level 2 driving automation that can accelerate, brake and steer for you on motorways.
The feature combines the functions of existing systems such as adaptive cruise control (ACC, see below) and the lane assist lane keeping system. The system can now recognise kerbs and grass verges in addition to painted lines on the road. It is activated using the multifunction steering wheel while, for legal and safety-related reasons, drivers must permanently monitor the system – meaning that they must have at least one hand on the steering wheel. Thanks to capacitive sensor technology in the steering wheel, the driver just has to touch the wheel. If the system calculates that they have let go for more than 15 seconds then visual and audible warning signals kick off, and a braking jolt, act as a warning to regain control. The driver must react by this point and touch the steering wheel, otherwise Emergency Assist is activated and the car is brought to a stop.
The carmaker's third and latest generation ACC function is now predictive and so can automatically adjust speed for permanent and temporary speed limits, as well as slowing for junctions and corners. It is fed by both GPS and road sign recognition. This means the system calculates the position of the Golf based on route and GPS data from the navigation system to lower its speed before reaching bends, roundabouts, junctions, speed limits and built-up areas. At the same time, ACC accesses the Dynamic Road Sign Display via the front camera and adjusts the speed as soon as a limit has been detected.
On the road
Three trim levels are offered in the UK, starting with the Life, through Style to the R-Line designation. Our Life press review provided a firm ride on 16-inch wheels. Powered by 2.0-litre diesel with a six-speed manual gearbox, it averaged 68.4 mpg compared to the official combined test cycle of 68.8 mpg.
Although the latest incarnation has sprung a few surprises in terms of the all-new dash layout, infotainment and levels of connectivity, it remains a reassuringly solid and safe bet. Replacing the sea of buttons with a central touchscreen makes for a sparse, minimalist dash. Above all, the Golf Mk8 is still just as spacious, practical and well thought through with more than enough kit to keep the family happy and justify the base price of £24,900.
