2025 Volkswagen Golf price and specs: New tech, lower entry price for small hatch
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A mid-life makeover for the VW Golf hatch has brought updated styling, new features, more power, and at the cost of a few features, a cheaper base model.
- 2025 Volkswagen Golf pricing and specifications
- Updated small hatch brings expanded model range
- Lower entry price for base Life grade
- Priced from $38,690 before on-road costs
The price of the cheapest 2025 Volkswagen Golf hatchback has been reduced by $500 – offset by a trimmed equipment list – as part of a mid-life upgrade for the long-running small car.
The updated Golf due in showrooms by mid-year adds a refreshed appearance, new interior technology, and more power for the flagship GTI and R performance editions.
Volkswagen has lowered the price of the entry-level Life grade by $500, now starting from $38,690 plus on-road costs, while higher grades have climbed by up to $5700.
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Some equipment has been removed from the Life – in-built satellite navigation and three-zone climate control, now single-zone – but technology has been added, such as a higher-power wireless phone charger.
The touchscreen in all models are larger – 10.3-inch in the Life, or 12.9-inch in other models – with new, quicker-to-respond software and illumination for the touch-sensitive climate and volume slider controls.
All but the R now feature physical buttons on their steering wheels, after the previous touch-sensitive designs were criticised for being fiddly and hard to press accurately.
Other standard features in the Life include a 10.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlights, 17-inch wheels, fabric seats, front and rear parking sensors, and a suite of advanced safety features.
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New to the range is the Style, which adds 18-inch wheels, a 12.9-inch touchscreen, and equipment previously limited to performance variants, such as a power-adjustable driver’s seat and high-grade headlights.
It can be optioned with a panoramic sunroof, as well as a Sound and Vision pack that now includes a 360-degree camera for the first time.
Heated and ventilated seats and Vienna leather trim are now standard in the R-Line – $5700 dearer than before – which adds sports styling, seats and steering, plus unique 18-inch alloys.
Powering the three ‘regular’ Golf models is a familiar 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine developing 110kW/250Nm, matched with an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.
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The GTI is now priced from $58,990 plus on-road costs – or an estimated $63,000 to $67,000 drive-away – amounting to $2900 more than its previous, regular RRP.
In recent months, the outgoing model has been offered with every option pack for $59,990 drive-away. Optioning the new model to match its equipment level would push the price to $66,790 plus on-roads, or more than $70,000 drive-away.
Now standard on the GTI are the previously optional 19-inch wheels – rather than 18s – plus a more powerful 195kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto and front-wheel drive.
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It inherits features newly standard in lower grades, including a 12.9-inch touchscreen, while the sunroof has become a standalone option no longer linked with leather seats, so buyers can get a sunroof without losing the base ‘tartan’ cloth trim.
Power in the flagship R has risen by 10kW/20Nm to 245kW/420Nm – matching the same 2.0-litre turbo engine in the defunct R 20 Years edition – enabling 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.6 seconds through all-wheel drive.
It has received a $400 price rise, and the option at launch of a $1500-dearer Black Edition with darkened highlights.
The 2025 Volkswagen Golf range is due in showrooms from April.
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI price in Australia
- Golf Life – $38,690 (down $500, but with less equipment)
- Golf Style – $43,690 (new)
- Golf R-Line – $47,990 (up $5700)
- Golf GTI – $58,990 (up $2900 vs previous RRP)
- Golf R – $70,990 (up $400)
- Golf R Black Edition – $72,490 (new)
Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.
2025 Volkswagen Golf standard features:
- 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine with eight-speed torque-converter auto
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Dusk-sensing LED headlights with auto high beams
- 10.2-inch digital instrument display
- 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen (up from 10-inch) with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio
- Wireless phone charging, now higher-power with ventilation
- Single-zone climate control
- Leather-trimmed steering wheel
- Fabric seat upholstery
- Keyless entry
- Surround vehicle lighting
- Rear-view camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Lane-keep assist
- Lane centring assist (Travel Assist)
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Automatic parking
2025 Volkswagen Golf Style adds (over Life):
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED ‘Plus’ headlights
- 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen with IDA voice assistant
- Satellite navigation
- 30-colour ambient interior lighting
- 14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory
- ArtVelours microfleece seat upholstery
- Chrome exterior highlights
- Privacy glass
The Style can be optioned with a $1900 panoramic sunroof, or the $2000 Sound and Vision Package (details at bottom of story).
2025 Volkswagen Golf R-Line adds (over Style):
- Unique 18-inch alloy wheels
- Drive mode selector
- ‘Progressive’ sports steering
- R-Line exterior and interior styling
- Heated and ventilated front sports seats
- Vienna leather upholstery
The R-Line can also be optioned with a $1900 panoramic sunroof, or the $2000 Sound and Vision Package (details at bottom of story).
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI adds (over base Life):
- 195kW/370Nm (up 15kW) 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with seven-speed dual-clutch auto
- Adaptive suspension
- GTI-tuned progressive steering and drive mode selection
- 19-inch alloy wheels (previously optional, 18s as standard)
- GTI exterior and interior styling, including front sports seats
- X-shaped front fog lights
- Metallic paint
- LED ‘Plus’ headlights
- 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen with IDA voice assistant, satellite navigation
- 30-colour ambient interior lighting
- Tri-zone climate control
- Tartan cloth seat upholstery
- Expanded automatic parking function (Park Assist Plus)
The GTI can also be optioned with a $1900 panoramic sunroof, the $2000 Sound and Vision Package, and $3900 Vienna Leather Package (details at bottom of story).
2025 Volkswagen Golf R adds (over GTI):
- 245kW/420Nm (up 10kW/20Nm) 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with seven-speed dual-clutch auto
- 4Motion all-wheel drive with torque-vectoring rear differential
- R exterior and interior styling
- R-tuned steering, adaptive suspension and chassis
- Unique R drive modes (Race, Special and Drift modes, plus Sport ESC)
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Matrix LED headlights
- ‘Premium’ LED tail-lights
- Nappa leather seat upholstery
- Power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory function
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Harman Kardon audio system
- Head-up display
- 360-degree camera
- Touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons
A $1900 panoramic sunroof is the only option on the Golf R.
2025 Volkswagen Golf R Black Edition adds (over R):
- Black 19-inch wheels
- Black brake calipers
- Black exhaust outlets
- Darkened badges and headlight trim
The $2000 Sound and Vision Package optional on Style, R-Line and GTI adds:
- Harman Kardon premium sound system
- Head-up display
- 360-degree camera
The $3900 Vienna Leather Package optional on GTI adds:
- Vienna leather upholstery
- Power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Heated and ventilated front seats
Optional paint tiers include:
- Metallic paint – $800 on Life, Style and R-Line, standard on GTI and R
- Premium paint – $300 on R-Line, standard on GTI, not marketed on other models
- Premium metallic paint – $300 on GTI, standard on R, not marketed on other models
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