Currently reading: New Volkswagen Golf gains 1.0-litre entry-level model

Eighth-generation hatchback gains three-cylinder petrol engine offering 108bhp and starting price of £23,300

Volkswagen has expanded the new eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf line-up with an entry-level model that uses a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine.

The latest version of the long-running family hatchback was launched earlier this year and has been available with 1.5-litre turbo petrol units, a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid turbo petrol and 2.0-litre diesel powertrains. 

The 1.0 TSI engine is widely used elsewhere in the Volkswagen line-up and in the wider Volkswagen Group. In the Golf, it produces 108bhp and can achieve 0-62mph in 10.2sec, plus a top speed of 126mph.

It yields an official WLTP fuel economy of 49.6-53.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 121-129g/km. It will be offered with a six-speed manual gearbox.

The 1.0-litre engine will only be offered with the basic Life trim, which includes 16in alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, parking sensors and electrically heated door mirrors. Inside, the model features a 10.0in digital instrument display and a 10.0in infotainment touchscreen.

It also includes driver assistance features including Car2X communication, cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.

The new entry-level Golf costs £23,300, compared with £23,875 for the previous base model, which utilised a 128bhp four-cylinder 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine.

A mild-hybrid version of the 1.0-litre powertrain, which will come with an automatic gearbox, will be launched at a later date.

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James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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xxxx 29 May 2020

Basic

That's some basic spec, led lights and digital dash. 

sbagnall 28 May 2020

Blimey bet thats slow!?!?

Blimey bet thats slow!?!? wonder how much they put up the cost of the 1 . 5 cause 575 quid aint much more to pay , unless they taken it off sale!!

martin_66 28 May 2020

Agreed!

sbagnall wrote:

Blimey bet thats slow!?!? wonder how much they put up the cost of the 1 . 5 cause 575 quid aint much more to pay , unless they taken it off sale!!

 

Agreed!

That's not much power for a car the size of a Golf.  I suppose for the sort of person who just wants the car to pop down the shops in it will be fine, but then why not spend less and get a Polo?

si73 28 May 2020

martin_66 wrote:

martin_66 wrote:

sbagnall wrote:

Blimey bet thats slow!?!? wonder how much they put up the cost of the 1 . 5 cause 575 quid aint much more to pay , unless they taken it off sale!!

 

Agreed!

That's not much power for a car the size of a Golf.  I suppose for the sort of person who just wants the car to pop down the shops in it will be fine, but then why not spend less and get a Polo?

Maybe more rear seat space for larger kids?

Power wise it's not far off a mk2 GTi, heavier though obviously, but even recent 1.4 and 1.6 models had less or similar power, and with it being turbo charged and having a usefully high and flat torque curve I'd expect it to perform pretty well.

Mikey C 29 May 2020

Not for real world motoring

Not for real world motoring

0-60 in around 10 seconds is quite fast enough for most needs. 

Mikey C 29 May 2020

Mikey C wrote:

Mikey C wrote:

Not for real world motoring

0-60 in around 10 seconds is quite fast enough for most needs. 

That's reply to the top comment btw, not me thinking that this Golf is "not for real world motoring"!

jason_recliner 30 May 2020

Jesus Christ!

What a beautiful water cooler!