March 2024 marks fifty years of VW Golf production, and five since the Mk8 version has been on sale, which seems like the perfect excuse to release and updated version. The anniversary may be a bittersweet one however, with rumours persisting that after over 37 million sales, the 8.5 might be the last of its kind, maybe even the last Golf - as the next generation car will be moving to an EV platform.

VW then, is keen to make sure the new Golf comes out swinging, with Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen making a bold statement “with even higher efficiency, comfort and quality and a new operating concept. The Golf does not get any better than this.”

On the surface, the changes are subtle. The new look is restricted to revised LED headlamps and taillights, a more aggressive front bumper, new alloy wheels and for the first time, the VW roundel is illuminated. The GTI's alloys pay homage the alloys from the MKV, however if you worked in Alfa Romeo's styling department you'd certainly be forgiven for throwing a fiery Latin temper tantrum.