Review: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf (2017-20)

Overview

Released in Australia in July 2017, the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf was a small, five-door hatchback. Manufactured in Wolfsburg, Germany, the front-wheel drive Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf was available with 1.4-litre turbo petrol (‘110TSI’) and 2.0-litre turbo diesel (‘110TDI’) engines. To reduce fuel consumption, both engines had Stop/Start systems which enabled them to shut down when the vehicle was stationary in traffic. The Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf was available in standard, Trendline, Comfortline and Highline editions.

In October 2018, the Golf Mk7.5 hatchback range was revised as the diesel-powered 110TDI variants were withdrawn from the Australian market due to production constraints and the entry-level, ‘Standard’ editions were also discontinued.

Please note that the related Mk7.5 Golf Wagon , Mk7.5 Golf Alltrack , Mk7.5 Golf GTi , Mk7.5 Golf R and Mk7.5 Golf R Wagon have been reviewed separately.

Comparison with Mk.7 Golf

Compared to the Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf , the Mk7.5 Golf could be identified by its re-profiled bumpers, LED running lights, full LED tail-lights and alloy wheels designs. Whereas standard models were fitted with new halogen headlights, models previously fitted with xenon headlights upgraded to LED headlights. Inside, the Mk7.5 Golf featured larger infotainment screens; the standard ‘Composition’ media system had an eight-inch display.

Body and dimensions

Like the Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf , the Mk7.5 Golf was underpinned by Volkswagen’s MQB (Modularer Querbaukasten) platform. The Mk7.5 Golf hatch was 4258 mm long, 1799 mm wide, 1452 mm tall and had a 2620 mm long wheelbase. The Mk7.5 Golf hatch had a luggage volume of 380 litres, though this increased to 605 litres when the rear seats were folded down and luggage was filled to the roofline.

Suspension and steering

The Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf had MacPherson strut front suspension with lower A-arms and independent, four-link rear suspension; both the front and rear suspension had coil springs and an anti-roll bar.

The Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf had rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assistance; its turning circle is 10.9 metres.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf included dual front airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

As standard, the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf is fitted with the following active safety technologies –

• Front Assist with Pedestrian Monitoring: used a radar sensor located behind the VW badge in the radiator grille to detect if the Golf was closing too quickly on the vehicle ahead. If this occurred, Front Assist 1) provided audible and visual warnings to the driver; 2) brought the brake pads into contact with the brake discs and increased braking assistance to prepare for an emergency stop; and, 3) briefly applied the brakes (a ‘jolt’) to alert the driver. If the driver failed to respond, Front Assist would apply the brakes automatically to avoid or reduce the severity a collision;
• City Emergency Brake: an extension of Front Assist, City Emergency Braking operated at speeds up to 30 km/h and used a radar sensor and front camera to monitor the area ahead for vehicles and pedestrians. If a collision was anticipated, City Emergency Braking pre-charged the braking system, increase braking assistance and alert the driver via visual and audible warnings. If the driver failed to respond, the system would initiated autonomous emergency braking (AEB);
• Fatigue Detection: monitored driver behavior at speeds in excess of 65 km/h for signs of fatigue. If the driver exhibited signs of fatigue, a tone would sound and a warning would appear in the multi-function display; and,
• Multi-collision brake: after a collision, multi-collision brake would automatically apply the brakes for controlled deceleration to reduce vehicle speed and the likelihood of a second collision.

Driver Assistance Package

As a $1500 option, the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Trendline, Comfortline and Highline could be specified with a Driver Assistance Package which included the following technologies –

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): using a radar sensor, ACC could apply the vehicle’s brakes to reduce vehicle speed and maintain a pre-set distance to vehicle ahead. ACC could also cause the vehicle to accelerate back to its cruising speed when the road ahead cleared;
• Lane Assist (lane departure warning): using a camera to recognise lane markings, Lane Assist could detect unintentional lane drifting or changing and provide corrective steering actions for up to eight seconds. If the corrective steering actions were insufficient, the driver would be alerted via steering wheel vibrations;
• A Blind Spot Monitor: active at speeds above 15 km/h, the Blind Spot Monitor used rear radar sensors to detect other vehicles up to 20 metres behind the Golf. If detected, an LED indicator in the door mirror would illuminate to alert the driver to their presence. If the driver indicated that they were intending to change lanes, the indicator would flash more brightly as a warning signal;
• Rear Traffic Alert: when the driver was reversing from a parking space, Rear Traffic Alert system used radar sensors in the rear bumper to detect traffic up to 50 metres away that may cross the vehicle’s intended path. If approaching traffic was detected, the driver received visual and audible warnings. If the driver did not respond to the warnings and there was an immediate collision risk, the brakes would be applied automatically;
• Park Assist 3.0: could detect parallel and right angle parking spaces and provide automated steering for 1) parking manoeuvres while the driver controlled vehicle speed, and 2) when exiting a parallel parking space. In contrast to its predecessors, Park Assist 3.0 could provide automated steering for forward parking manoeuvres; and,
• Proactive occupant protection system: in a potential accident situation, the seatbelts would be tensioned and windows closed.

The Driver Assistance Package also included a ‘Driving Profile Selection’ function that enabled the driver to choose from five drive modes – Eco, Sport, Normal, Comfort and Individual – which adjusted steering assistance, throttle response and transmission programming.

Euro NCAP testing

In Euro NCAP testing , the related Volkswagen Mk7 Golf received a five star safety rating which included a 94 per cent adult occupant protection rating and an 89 per cent child occupant protection rating. In the frontal offset crash test, occupant protection was generally assessed as good, though protection for the driver’s lower leg was rated as adequate. Maximum points were awarded in the side impact test though, in the more severe pole test, chest protection was rated as marginal and abdominal protection as adequate.

Features: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf

Standard features for the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf included 6.5J x 16-inch ‘Hita’ alloy wheels with 205/55 R16 tyres, Volkswagen’s ‘Composition’ media system with an eight-inch display, an eight speaker sound system, MP3/WMA/AAC-compatibility, 3.5 mm auxiliary and SD card inputs, Volkswagen’s ‘App-Connect’ USB input for smartphone integration (including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink), Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming, air conditioning, cruise control with a programmable speed limiter, LED daytime running lights, a rear fog lamp, a rear view camera, steering wheel audio controls, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, 40/60 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, an electromechanical parking brake, tyre pressure monitoring, a 12 volt power outlet in the centre console, a trip computer and an immobiliser.

Features: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Trendline

Compared to the standard Mk7.5 Golf, the Golf Trendline was further equipped with 6.5J x 16-inch ‘Toronto’ alloy wheels, front seat lumbar adjustment, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, a load-through centre rear armrest with cupholders, a kerb view function for the passenger’s side door mirror when reversing, and an auto-dimming rear view mirror.

Features: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Comfortline

Relative to the Golf Trendline, the Golf Comfortline added 7.0J x 17-inch ‘Dijon’ alloy wheels with 225/45 R17 tyres, Volkswagen’s ‘Discover’ media system with navigation, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, ‘Comfort’ front seats, a storage drawer under the front passenger seat, a 12 volt power outlet in the luggage compartment and chrome highlights (interior and exterior). The Golf Comfortline was also equipped with Volkswagen’s ‘Media Control’ app which enabled a tablet or smartphone to be used as a remote control for the vehicle’s infotainment system.

Features: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Highline

The range-topping Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Highline was distinguished by its 7.0J x 17-inch ‘Karlskoga’ alloy wheels, ‘Comfort’ front sport seats, ‘Vienna’ leather-appointed seat upholstery, power adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, heated front seats, LED headlights, front fog lights with static cornering lights, proximity key (i.e. keyless entry), power folding door mirrors with memory function, push-button start, interior ambient lighting, LED reading lights, carpet floor mats, panoramic glass sunroof and a colour multi-function display.

The Volkswagen Golf Highline could also be specified with an R-Line Package for $2500 which included 7.5J x 18-inch ‘Sebring’ alloy wheels with 225/40 R18 tyres, sports suspension, progressive steering, rear privacy glass and R-Line styling. The R-Line package, however, omitted the front fog lights.

Specifications

• Specifications: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf and Golf Wagon (July 2017)
• Specifications: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf Hatch and Wagon (September 2018, MY19)