The last ICE-powered Golf will bring a series of improvements in styling, technology, and efficiency, hoping to retain its role as a benchmark for its segment
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by Thanos Pappas
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This story contains speculative renderings that are not related to, nor endorsed by VW.
The VW Golf is one of the most popular nameplates in the automotive world and despite the fact that globally, compact hatchbacks have lost their sales dominance to SUVs, it still remains a very important model for the German brand. VW CEO Thomas Schäfer has confirmed that a mid-lifecycle update for the eighth-gen Golf is coming in 2024, so we gathered all the information we have together with some speculative illustrations showing what to expect from the facelifted model.
The current eighth-gen Golf was originally introduced in 2019, so it is no surprise that VW is planning an update for 2024 (previously thought to be introduced later this year). In general, the VW Group has a rather subtle approach to facelifts, but this doesn’t mean that the Golf won’t get important visual and technological revisions.
Read: What The 2025 VW Tiguan Will Look Like And Everything Else We Know
Renderings: Jean Francois Hubert/SB Media for Carscoops
Prototypes of the facelifted VW Golf have already made their first appearance on the road but they are still hiding under the current model’s bodywork and lighting units. The renderings we created depict the possible changes on the compact hatchback which will remain instantly recognizable as a Golf, honoring its heritage and VW’s evolutionary approach for this particular model.
While the greenhouse and profile will be carried over, the new bumpers with redesigned intakes could help give the model a fresh look. More importantly, the new LED graphics for the headlights and taillights could be inspired by the ID. family of EVs. VW will likely retain the distinct bodykits for the performance-focused GTI/GTD/GTE and R trims. However, even the base Golf is expected to look sportier than its predecessor, similar to what happened with the facelifted 2024 VW ID.3.
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Larger Screen And More Tech
Our spy shots have given us a glimpse of the interior changes, as prototypes have revealed some of the new components inside the cabin. The centerpiece will be a significantly larger touchscreen for the infotainment system. This new screen, which looks very similar to the 15-inch unit found in the fully electric VW ID.7, will be a major upgrade. However, lower trims may come equipped with a smaller 12-inch screen like the one on the ID.3, which is still larger than the current Golf’s 10-inch display.
Volkswagen has pledged to get rid of the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel and the Golf might be one of the first models to revert back to physical buttons. The new steering wheel will eventually find its way to the entire VW range. The facelifted Golf might also get new materials of improved quality, and new tech features like the digitally controlled “Smart Air Vents” that will debut on the ID.7. Furthermore, it should be expected that the new model will come with a more generous dose of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), in addition to the central airbag that was introduced for the 2023 model year which allowed it to achieve a five-star EuroNCAP rating.
Updates Under The Skin And Heavier Electrification
The 2024 Golf will be based on a slightly improved version of the MQB Evo architecture, which will also be used by the mechanically-related Tiguan and the larger Passat Variant among other models from the VW Group. Engineers will improve the chassis setup, handling, and ride of the model which has always been treated as an all-around benchmark in the compact segment.
In terms of powertrains, the facelifted model will most likely be the last ICE-powered Golf before VW becomes an EV-only brand in 2033, which is why there won’t be any surprises under the bonnet. The updated 1.5 TSI Evo2 turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine will sit at the core of the range featuring mild-hybrid tech, while the entry-level 1.0 eTSI might also get some updates to improve its environmental credentials. We don’t know whether the 2.0 TDI will make one last appearance before the demise of the diesel. However, the 2.0 TSI will certainly make a comeback in the GTI and R hot hatches, possibly with a small dose of electrification.
More emphasis will be given to the eHybrid / GTE which could gain the next-gen PHEV system based around the 1.5 TSI and a seven-speed DSG instead of the old 1.4 TSI and six-speed DSG setup that is currently used. VW has hinted at a combined power output of up to 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS) for its future PHEVs, alongside a significantly increased targeted zero-emission range of up to 100 km (62 miles) between charges thanks to a new battery pack.
While some rivals including the Peugeot 308 and the Opel Astra have expanded their range with EV-only variants, VW won’t invest in electrifying the MQB when it already has the MEB architecture in hand. The fully electric ID.3 is very close to the Golf in terms of footing and market positioning, although there are reports about a slightly smaller ID. Golf. The latter could be offered as an alternative to its ICE-powered counterpart until the end of its lifecycle which could happen anytime between 2028 and 2030.
With the official debut of the facelifted VW Golf Mk8 coming in 2024, we expect more revealing shots of production-bodied prototypes later this year, giving us a better idea of its exterior and interior design. Thankfully, VW recently decided to keep the legend of the Golf alive in the EV era, which means that the updated model won’t be the last to bear the iconic moniker.
