New on this mildly updated Golf GTI includes a bit more power under the hood and the return of physical buttons on the steering wheel!
A little over a year since its international debut, Volkswagen Malaysia has finally brought the updated Golf GTI to our shores. This mildly refreshed version of the Granddaddy of hot hatches continues to arrive in locally assembled form, now priced at RM 255,990.
Exterior alterations on the Mk8.5 Golf GTI might require a bit of eye-spy to spot the difference, but one easy way to tell is from the new illuminated VW emblem that sits above a slightly revised bumper. New too on the lighting front are IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights that incorporate a revised high-performance main beam, as well as redesigned IQ.LIGHT 3D LED taillight clusters which come with dynamic turn signals and animated rear graphics.
Similarly under the hood, the familiar 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine and 7-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission pairing remains. However, Volkswagen has managed to squeeze out an extra 20 horses, bringing total output to 265 PS and 370 Nm of torque. The refreshed GTI also benefits from refined underbody panels and aerodynamic tweaks for improved airflow and stability — handy for those keen to explore its 250 km/h top speed.
Moving along inside now, Volkswagen would like to tout new(ly enlarged) 12.9-inch infotainment display (with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) that goes along with 10-inch fully-digital TFT dashboard. But what is perhaps the more blessed news is for physical buttons to have finally made a welcome return to its leather-wrapped steering wheel, replacing the rather unintuitive haptic items that came before.
While it unfortunately still retains the same haptic sliders for its climate controls too, Volkswagen has finally saw sense to make them illuminated. Standard within the GTI are an Air Care Climatronic 3-zone automatic climate control system with allergen filter, enhanced air filter and controls for rear passengers.
Other creature comforts include a 480-watt 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, and a wireless charging pad. On the safety front, this hot hatch packs Volkswagen’s IQ.DRIVE suite of advanced driver assistance systems, which brings with it Front Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring, Travel Assist with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Rear Traffic Alert, Exit Warning, Park Distance Control, Driver Attention Detection, as well as Side and Lane Assist.
As mentioned earlier, the Mk8.5 Golf GTI is priced from RM 255,990 inclusive of the Volkswagen Assurance Package, which covers five years or 75,000 km of free maintenance, a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, and five years of complimentary roadside assistance. The first 50 buyers who register their cars before 31st December 2025 can enjoy an exclusive price of RM 249,990, inclusive of the VAP package.
The Mk8.5 Golf GTI is offered in five colourways: Oryx White, Moonstone Grey, Grenadilla Black, Kings Red, and Anemone Blue.
