Volkswagen Golf upgraded for 2023
Safety tweaks and some mild trim upgrades headline MY23 Volkswagen Golf line-up – without price increasesThe Volkswagen Golf has been upgraded a little over a year after the Mk8 model’s Australian launch in mid-2021, with a series of passive and active safety measures added to the iconic German small car range for the 2023 model year for no extra cost.
First Aussie customer deliveries are still some months away, however, with production of the MY23 Volkswagen Golf and Life variants starting late last month and production of MY23 R-Line, GTI and R variants not beginning until late November.
According to Volkswagen Australia, all MY23 Golf hatchbacks and wagons will gain a centre airbag as standard, along with revised lane assist and travel assist driver assistance systems.
The two driver aids have been tweaked to more accurately detect narrow roads and subsequently be less invasive if a driver moves closer to the outside edge of a lane.
Other MY23 changes include a new steering wheel airbag cover for all variants, and new door trim inserts for the base Golf, Life and GTI – the latter of which also gains revised ‘interior décor inlays’ and GTI-embossed sports seat covers.
The digital instrument clusters have also been subtly updated to “more readily show the digital speedometer even when pop-up information is being shown in the cluster”.
Surprisingly, the changes aren’t accompanied by any price increases, with the range still kicking off from a cool $34,690 plus on-road costs for the ‘Golf’ hatch and topping out at $68,990 for the Golf R Wagon.
“The Golf has quickly followed the Polo in offering a potentially lifesaving centre front airbag as standard equipment,” Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles brand director Michal Szaniecki said.
“While we have been challenged with semi-conductor shortages for MY23, this safety upgrade illustrates Volkswagen’s commitment to provide leading systems as standard across the range wherever possible.”
How much does the MY23 Volkswagen Golf cost?
Golf (a) – $34,690
Golf Wagon (a) – $36,390
Life (a) – $36,990
Life Wagon (a) – $38,990
R-Line (a) – $39,990
GTI (a) – $54,990
R (a) – $65,990
R Wagon (a) – $68,990
* All prices exclude on-road costs
Related: Volkswagen Golf R 2022 Review
Related: Volkswagen Golf R Wagon 2022 Review
Related: Volkswagen Golf R 20 Years revealed as hottest Golf yet
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