by Kelly Fisher
Few cars in South Africa carry the kind of emotional weight the Volkswagen Golf does. The nameplate has been a fixture on our roads and in our memories for decades. Everyone knows someone who’s owned one, crashed one, fixed one, or still swears their Citi Golf “pulls harder than a GTI.” It’s part of our automotive DNA.
The Golf’s South African story started back in 1978, when the first Mk1 rolled off the Uitenhage production line. It was simple, reliable, and built for local life. Then came the Citi Golf, the little box that refused to die, running for more than 25 years and becoming somewhat of a national treasure. It was fun, affordable, and absolutely everywhere.
As the years rolled on, the Golf grew up. The Mk4 brought refinement, the Mk5 brought speed, and by the time the Mk7 GTI hit, the Golf was a status symbol as much as a daily driver. But recently, with SUVs multiplying faster than Joburg potholes, the humble hatchback started to fade into the background. For a while, the only Golfs you could buy here were the high-performance GTI and R models, which I love to drive, but it’s not exactly accessible to everyone.
That’s why this new Golf 8.5, or as the internet calls it, the “New Golf ATE”, matters. It brings back the people’s Golf. It’s the one for the school runs, the city commutes, and the weekend drives – all of the tasks it completed with no fuss while on test with us.
Visually, the balance is there. The facelift adds sharper lights, an illuminated VW badge, and some R-Line styling. Inside, the tech feels modern and up to date, with a crisp new infotainment system and physical buttons, which I appreciate more than I thought I would. It’s familiar yet modern, and the build quality feels as solid as ever.
Under the bonnet sits the tried-and-tested 1.4 TSI engine paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic gearbox. It’s smooth, efficient, and surprisingly eager. On South African roads, that combination makes perfect sense with enough punch for the highways, calm for the city, and just the right amount of sophistication.
Driving it, you’re reminded what made the Golf special in the first place. It feels planted, composed, and grown-up. It’s not exactly flashy, but it’s satisfying. This Golf feels like VW is telling us they still know how to make a proper car. Not a crossover, not an SUV, not an electrified something or other, just an excellent hatchback.
In a world obsessed with size and spectacle, the new Golf ATE by doing what the Golf has always done best – showing up, looking sharp, and getting on with it.