HIS SORRY FAMOUS MAJESTY VW GOLF VIII (VIDEO)
Content
Impeccable technology, controversial design, intricate interior
I'll start by explaining that the new VW Golf is a great car. Purely as automotive technology brought to perfection.
I give this clarification because there is a little criticism ahead of us. My first impression of the eighth generation of Europe's best-selling car is that it's the ugliest Golf ever made. Of course, design is a matter of taste, many people with whom I discussed it did not agree with me. But personally, I can't accept the pointed front end and "crooked" headlights, especially when combined with typical hatchback pedestals. With over 35 million units sold worldwide, design continuity is very important, which explains why the Germans took a conservative approach. The profile and rear end are almost identical to the previous generation, and to me personally, this front end looks like a poorly installed patch.
The new Golf actually "rides" on the platform of its predecessor called MQB, but has lost 35 to 70 kg, depending on the version. This explains the identical dimensions of the car - length 4282 mm (+26 mm), width 1789 mm (+1 mm), height 1456 mm (-36 mm) with a wheelbase of 2636 mm. Aerodynamics have been improved as the factor has been lowered to 0,27, but in the rear seats space is already slightly behind other competitors in the segment, and the trunk remains with the same capacity of 380 liters.
Shock
Opening the door may shock you a little.
Not only does the interior look nothing like the previous Golf, but it doesn't look like any car show today. Here we acted truly revolutionary in the direction of absolute digitalization and digitalization. Buttons in the usual sense of the word can now only be found on the steering wheel, doors and around a small “pimple”, which is the gear lever. Everything else is touch buttons and screens that control all the functions in the car (10,25" on the dashboard in front of the driver, almost merging with the center console panel which is standard 8,5" and optionally 10". Even on the left side of the dashboard, the light is controlled by touch controls. Maybe a generation raised on smartphones will love it and drive anyway, but to me it's all confusing and unnecessarily complicated. I don't like the idea of going through multiple menus to find the feature I need, especially when on the road.
To give a specific example, I go to get a smoker and I want the air conditioner not to supply outside air. In 99% of cars, this is done at the touch of a button. Even if this is my first time getting into a model, I manage to find it in a matter of seconds. Here, I had to press the air conditioning "quick access" button on the center console and then look at the icons on the top screen to select the one I needed. The road was bumpy and bumpy so I had to be very focused and precise with my right hand. Just look how long I've been describing this, and imagine how much it distracted me from the road. Yes, it will be faster to get used to it, but you still need to enter at least two commands instead of one. Blunt.
Assistants
You will definitely need time to get acquainted with household appliances in the interior, especially if you do not have an assistant. Perhaps it was with this idea that VW integrated the Amazon Alexa voice assistant with artificial intelligence. With just your voice, you can control the air conditioner, play music, surf the web, and more. Another innovation introduced for the first time by VW is the Car2X system, which allows data to be shared with other vehicles within an 800m radius (if they have the same system) and road infrastructure. That is, if, for example, there is an accident ahead, the car itself warns those who are behind you.
Under the hood of the eighth Golf, you can now find as many as 5 hybrid versions. We're driving one of them, a mild hybrid 1,5-liter turbo petrol engine with 150 horsepower and 250 Nm, coupled with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The hybrid system is a 48-volt starter-generator that adds 16 hp. and 25 Nm at certain points - when starting off and accelerating, which is great for overtaking. So the car is pleasantly agile, reaching 100 km/h in 8,5 seconds. and offering excellent responsiveness in variable driving.
The perfection of the Golf lies in the way purely automotive technology works. Extremely precise, sophisticated and simple, typical of luxury brands. This is where the machine really sets the standard. The road behavior is also very impressive for the segment. The golf retains its agility, but significantly improves driving comfort. And with such arguments, both the design and the interior look much more acceptable.
Under the hood
| Дvigatel | Mild Gasoline Hybrid |
| drive unit | Four-wheel drive |
| Number of cylinders | 4 |
| Working volume | 1498 cc |
| Power in hp | 150 h.p. (from 5000 rev.) |
| Torque | 250 Nm (from 1500 rpm) |
| Acceleration time | (0 – 100 km / h) 8,5 sec. |
| full speed | 224 km / h |
| Fuel consumption | |
| Mixed cycle | 5,7 l / 100 km |
| CO2 emissions | 129 g / km |
| The weight | 1380 kg |
| Price | from BGN 41693 with VAT |
