Following on from announcing that the limited edition GTI TCR will be sold in Australia next year, Volkswagen Australia has also announced the specifications for the 2019 Volkswagen Golf range. Pricing is yet to be revealed, but will be known closer to the car’s release in October.
Centrepiece of the 2019 model year update is the removal of the current entry level 110TSI – the Trendline will form the entry to the Golf range – whilst each model above it receives more standard equipment. Highline, GTI and R models receive the previously optional Driver Assistance Package as standard, whilst GTI and R manuals are no more.
Whilst some may prick their ears at the thought of removing an entry-level, and therefore cheap, model from a range, Volkswagen Australia Product Manager Ben Wilks says that it was done to better streamline the Golf range.
“We’re again wanting to simplify the range and respond to what customers are wanting to buy from us in terms of Golf,” Mr Wilks said.
“The 110TSI will not be with us and the Trendline will become the entry model, but right through the range we’re going to increase our level of standard equipment.”
Whilst pricing is yet to be announced, an educated guess would see the entry point to the range starting at a largely unchanged $25,000 (or close to $30,000 once on-road costs are included), which gives the Polo and its incoming Beats Edition and GTI variants some breathing space. Golf Trendline equipment continues as before with 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights and wipers, LED daytime running lights and tailights, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, front and rear parking sensors, automatic emergency braking, cruise control, heated mirrors and a reversing camera.
The Golf Comfortline (currently $28,990 plus on-road costs) continues albeit with keyless entry and start, as well as auto-folding mirrors and floor mats added to its equipment list. This is on top of its larger 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, inbuilt satellite navigation, a front passenger under-seat drawer and extra chrome exterior trimmings.
Up-spec Golf Highline models now see the previously optional Driver Assistance Package made standard, meaning that adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, blind spot monitoring with rear traffic alert, lane assist with adaptive lane guidance, automatic parallel and perpendicular parking and automatic high beam headlights are now standard equipment. Golf Highline models also come with an electric sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, an electric driver’s seat with memory functionality and LED headlights.
GTI models also earn the Driver Assistance Package as standard, whilst also earning Active Info Display as part of its standard equipment. As previously reported, due to WLTP emissions testing, the only GTI variant for 2019 will be the previously-offered performance spec with 180kW of power and 370Nm of torque (+11kW/20Nm) with a mechanical limited-slip differential, as well as larger brakes and a standard seven-speed DSG transmission.
What wasn’t previously announced however, was that the Golf R is now also only available with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Golf R also picks up the Driver Assistance Package as standard, though with adaptive high beam headlights that shield their beam from oncoming traffic and without automatic parking.
Options for the 2019 Volkswagen Golf range remain fairly similar to what is currently available. The Driver Assistance Package is still an option on Golf Trendline and Comfortline, though now add equipment such as adaptive lane guidance that’s new for 2019. Golf Comfortline and Highline buyers can still choose a Sound and Vision package, that adds a 400W Dynaudio sound system with Active Info Display and a 9.2-inch infotainment system with inbuilt satellite navigation whilst R-Line buyers can exclusively choose the R-Line Package with larger wheels and sporty styling touches.
2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI buyers can still choose a Luxury Pack with leather upholstery, heated front seats and an electric sunroof, as well as a Style and Vision Pack that includes the Comfortline and Highline’s Sound and Vision Pack plus 19-inch alloy wheels from the Golf 7.5 GTI Performance Edition 1. R buyers can choose a 400W Dynaudio sound system and the electric sunroof – everything else is standard.
The 2019 model year Volkswagen Golf will arrive in showrooms in October. Pricing is due to be announced before then.
Stay tuned to Chasing Cars for Volkswagen news and reviews. Read our first update of our 2017 Golf Comfortline here.
