2019 Volkswagen Golf details revealed

Volkswagen Australia has released initial details for its 2019 Golf small-car range, which lands in showrooms from October.

Promising more safety and equipment than before, the Golf range will be pared back slightly for 2019 because of new emission testing rules coming into force in Europe.

The new WLTP regime, or Worldwide harmonised Light vehicle Testing Procedure, now requires manufacturers to conduct tests on every model variant and trim grade before it can enter a specific market.

According to Volkswagen Australia, the changes will force many European car-makers to reconsider which variants they will bring into the country in the future.

As such, Volkswagen has deleted the 110TSI entry model from its line-up, and also culled the manual specification Golf R.

The German manufacturer is yet to release pricing, but says the new Trendline entry into the Golf stable will maintain a “strong value focus”.

The Trendline gets as standard: 16-inch alloy wheels, an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, automatic headlights and wipers, single-zone climate control, front seat lumbar adjustment and LED daytime running lights.

The entry model also boasts autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, manoeuvre braking assist front and rear, and a full suite of airbags.

Next in the line-up is the Golf Comfortline. For 2019, it scores 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, power-folding side mirrors, satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control and chrome accenting inside and out.

The flagship Golf Highline adopts a wider suite of standard safety equipment that was previously optional. This comprises adaptive cruise control with Traffic Jam Assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane assist, emergency assist, park assist, and automatic high-beam are all standard.

The same ‘Driver Assistance Package’ will be available as an option on Trendline and Comfortline versions of the 2019, alongside other add-ons like the Sound and Vision package and R-Line package.

The Golf range goes unchanged underneath the bonnet, save for some healthy revisions across the GTI line-up, most notably a new 180kW/370Nm engine tune and, sadly, the omission of a manual transmission.

Choices in the regular Golf range comprise a 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine or a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel producing 110kW and 340Nm.