• Photo gallery: This is the Volkswagen Golf 8
  • Prices: Volkswagen reveals the price for Spain of Golf 8

Eight generations and 35 million units sold later, the Volkswagen Golf continues to arouse the same expectation as the first day, when it arrived (in 1974) as a relief nothing less than the Beetle. Now, the strength of the SUV and segment B has relegated - at least in Spain - to its niche market to fourth place ... but its charisma and validity remain unchanged.

There was a lot of expectation to lead a generation that we have already told you that it has taken a great leap towards digital (here you can read our first impressions upon discovering it in the static presentation), but now it was time to go further. Check how your personality has changed with so much technology inside and see what's new in its range of engines , very rich and with more variants than ever.

In this first contact with the charismatic German compact we have had the opportunity to assess the 1.5 TSI engine in its 150 horse version, the most powerful of which will be offered initially. There will be four: two petrol (1.5 TSI of 130 and 150 hp , the latter with an additional DSG version associated with a microhybrid system that gives it the name ETSI and the ECO label) and two diesel , both on the 2.0 four-cylinder TDI with 115 and 150 hp , the first with manual gearbox and the second with DSG.

These versions can be ordered in a few weeks (when we will also know the price of each of them, since so far we only know the access to the range, which will be 22,900 euros, with discounts included) and will be completed during the year 2020 with a barrage of possibilities.

Gasoline three-cylinder engines (1.0 TSi of 110 hp with manual transmission and micro-hybrid DSG) and an eTSI version for the 130 hp will arrive ; a diesel of 115 hp with DSG change; two plug-in hybrids (the Golf eHybrid of 204 hp and a GTE of 245) and a TGI version of compressed natural gas and 130 hp. And sports: GTi, GTI TCR and R. In total, no less than eight propulsion options will be offered, as many as generations of Golf has been so far.

Although it will be more towards the summer of 2020 when the more 'alternative' variants of Golf begin to disembark, we have already had the option of testing one of the new engines with some degree of electrification . At the moment, just the 150 hp eTSi with 48 volt microhybrid system, enough to give it the ECO label .

The system does not move the car by itself, nor does it modify the performance (the power is similar, the torque also and the maximum speed and acceleration are the same, according to the manufacturer), although it should improve the consumption. And we speak in conditional because the official figures have not yet been approved, although the savings with this system should be around 10 percent .

Together with the 150 horsepower engine, it forms a solvent set, which complies but does not excite. The engine pushes enough, but without bragging , blatantly seeking efficiency more than performance. In fact, slightly above 7 liters with the 'standard' version and at 6.5 with the eTSi . This light hybridization system will be available with the three gasoline engines (110, 130 and 150 hp) and always associated with the DSG change. Later there will also be versions of 4Motion all-wheel drive and Avant bodywork.

Dynamically it is where we find the least variations. The Golf 2020 continues to maintain the MQB platform of the Golf 7 , with some minor adjustments in the suspension and electronics , which hardly mark differences with the current model. The same happens with the interior space, practically identical to the current one (the car barely grows 3 centimeters, up to 4.28 meters), like the trunk, which is still 380 liters.

Aesthetically, the Golf 8 may not have impacted you, although its lower nose , the LED taillights or the detail of the horizontal light band that runs throughout its front in some versions will give it a lot of personality. But inside the thing changes, because almost everything is new.

The cabin has been delivered to digitalization , with many handling functions similar to those of our mobiles ... and even the smart speakers that we use more and more. Thus, we will have to start two screens : the instrument panel (standard on the entire range with a diagonal of 10.5 inches) and the central one, which in the finish Golf is 8.5 "but in the rest jumps to the 10 ".

There are hardly any buttons in the entire cabin. There are only four under the main screen flanking the emergency lights and giving direct access to important menus : driving modes, air conditioning, assistants and assisted parking system. They come well because the touch screen layout is not very intuitive first, and it is difficult to find some functions, although it is only a matter of learning.

At the base of the central screen there are camouflaged keys that support, in addition to pressing, gestural operation . For example, we can raise the temperature or volume of the radio simply by sliding your finger on them to the right. It is very simple to operate, but it could be more precise, because you usually end up opting for keystrokes to find the desired level.

We also use this same touch mode to open the sunroof (just slide your finger back through a small panel to open it, or forward to close it) and until the control of the lights or the air conditioning of the windows is done through keys , this time in a module to the left of the watch box, as some Audi also have.

We can also handle voice commands , either through the command 'Hello Volkswagen' or, if we have an Android device, through the Alexa assistant . In fact, for example, the system has some predefined orders for the air conditioner, such as "warm hands" or "cool feet" , which the car will recognize ... detecting even if the order comes from the driver or co-driver to adjust the air conditioning to the desired level.

The Volkswagen Golf 8 changes the name of its equipment that, according to the manufacturer, are richer than those of the previous generation. Now, its finishes will be called Golf (the entrance), Life , Style and R-Line (the sportiest).

All Golf that are marketed in Spain will have air conditioning (monozone), 16 "alloy wheels, involuntary lane change and autonomous braking assistants, Car2X communication , active cruise control and LED headlights. Life step adds a three-zone air conditioner, automatic parking system, 10-inch central display (the standard one is 8.5) and an assistant against side impacts.

The two richest equipments will be the Style (with 17 "rim, rear camera, Performance LED headlights with light assist, and the Travel Assist assistant package) and the R-Line , which adds a sports interior and exterior finish package, flywheel with capacitive controls and specific tires As a detail, the name of each version will appear on the front wings.

The most interesting thing about the equipment of the Golf 8 is the introduction of Car2X technology , which communicates our car with the rest of the vehicles and with the infrastructure (traffic lights, panels ...) to prevent dangerous situations. It is standard throughout the range but ... to be really useful it would require its massive implementation, and we are talking about a pioneering model.

In addition, the new Golf also includes assisted driving systems, included in the Travel Assist , a set of assistants that allow, for example, that the car can operate brake, gas and steering autonomously up to speeds of 210 km / h ... although always under the supervision of the driver (the steering wheel has sensors that detect the presence of the hands and alert us if we remove them for too long, being able to even stop the car completely if it considers that the driver may have a problem).

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