This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on July 20, 2016.

Volkswagen Malaysia’s upgraded Golf comes in two variants — the Golf Highline, priced at RM159,888, and the Golf Comfortline, at RM 149,888. It also boasts new and added features but at a lower price.

The Golf is recognised worldwide having won numerous awards such as the World Car of the Year in 2009 and 2013 along with the European Car of the Year in 1992 and 2013. This is due to the fact that the Golf depicts a distinctive appeal to the masses and is still considered as one of the most preferred models in the Volkswagen range. 

Armin Keller, managing director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia said: “The Golf has always been one of Volkswagen’s iconic models since its debut in 1974. Seven generations later, the Golf has undergone impressive advancements in system technology featuring the best of German engineering. It is also a car that Malaysians have come to love. 

“With the upgraded Golf, we believe that drivers will find these added features useful and will complement their driving. Now at a lower price and packed with added features, Volkswagen Malaysia is staying true to our commitment to making our cars accessible to Malaysians.”

One of the newly added features is the keyless entry and push start engine start-up technology that permits drivers to start a car by just pressing a button without inserting a key into the ignition.

Additional useful features such as “park assist” and “rest assist” were added to further enhance the overall driving experience. These features give drivers the convenience of having the car to park itself with a touch of a button leaving only the pedal work to the driver, and a state-of-the-art fatigue detection system that senses fading concentration levels by intelligently measuring your pedal and steering-wheel use.

The Golf’s upgrades include 17-inch Madrid wheels which not only look better but also provide a steady drive. Then there is light-emitting diode safety tail lights that have been fitted for better visibility on the roads. Another upgrade for new Golf drivers is a sportier feel with the new sport seats with “Mel Stripe” fabric for better grip and hold, allowing drivers to be seated and fitted comfortably when driving. 

The upgraded Golf’s 1.4L TSI turbocharged direct petrol injection four-cylinder petrol engine has an increased output of 150PS, a 10PS increase from the outgoing model and a maximum torque of 250Nm accelerating in from as low as 1,500rpm to 3,500rpm. The engine is paired with a seven-speed direct shift gearbox enabling it to accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 8.2 seconds and reaching a maximum speed of 216kph.