When the all-new VW Golf went on sale in the UK back in February, customers could choose between two 1.5-liter gasoline engines and two 2.0-liter TDI diesels, plus a 1.5 eTSI mild-hybrid drivetrain later on.
Now there’s a new entry-level engine in the form of a three-cylinder 1.0-liter TSI with 110 PS (108 HP), mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. This configuration drops the base-spec Golf’s price down to £23,300 OTR ($28,750).
As you can imagine, this is not a particularly quick car. You need 10.2 seconds in order to get from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h), before maxing out at 126 mph (202 km/h). However, you do get pretty good mileage – on paper, at least, rated between 49.6 – 53.3 mpg (41.3 – 44.4 US mpg) on the combined WLTP cycle, but in real life, it could depend on how much you’ll have to push that tiny engine to deliver.
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VW will also sell you a mild-hybrid version of this engine, mated to a DSG automatic gearbox as standard, but this setup will only be available at a later date.
“The Golf is one of the UK’s most popular cars, both for new- and used-car customers. One of the many reasons for its success is the way it offers compelling value for money, and this entry-point to the Golf 8 range is a great example,” said VW UK exec Dale Piper. “Featuring the latest technology and highest levels of quality – along with class-leading efficiency – this new 1.0-litre TSI 110 PS option brings the possibility of new Golf ownership to even more people.”
As for what you get in terms of standard equipment on the entry-lever Life trim, there are the 16-inch alloys, automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors with memory feature, and keyless start. You also get VW’s Digital Cockpit Pro with the 10-inch screen, to go with the 10-inch sat-nav infotainment system.
Last but not least, the likes of Adaptive Cruise Control, Dynamic Road Sign Display, Lane Assist and Front Assist help keep you safe at no extra cost.