Volkswagen Golf 1.5TSI Life Plus (2025) Review - Welcome Our New Long-Termer

The South African public was robbed of the 8th-generation Volkswagen Golf. If you wanted a Golf 8, you had no choice but to spring for the GTI or R versions. The vanilla Golf TSI wasn't considered, as the T-Roc proved to be more popular with the public. When it came time for the mid-lifecycle facelift, VWSA decided to take a gamble and offer the Golf 8.5 in both Life and R-Line trims, both powered by the same 1.4-litre TSI engine.

When I first tested the Golf TSI, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It wasn't perfect, but it was so well-rounded and practical for my lifestyle that I was genuinely sad to see it go. You can watch that review below.

That Life Plus may have had the head-turning optional extras, but this Volkswagen Golf Life Plus variant trades that for a little more practicality. It joins us in our long-term test fleet, and I was one of the first to spend a few weeks with it.

Trading Appearances For Practicality

The First Golf TSI I tested was fitted with the optional 17-inch alloy wheels, shod with 225/45R17 low-profile tyres. The standard Life Plus trims get a more sensible 205/55R16 fitment. This does two things for the Golf. It gives it a more compliant ride, and secondly, it helps prevent damage from our pockmarked and potholed roads. This is a Godsend, as up here in Johannesburg, the rainy season has not only opened up the flowers, but it's also opened up the surface of the roads.

It comes at the cost of aesthetics, but if you're the kind that isn't looking to draw unnecessary or unwanted attention, then a white Volkswagen Golf Life Plus slides nicely under the radar. It remains a well-proportioned machine and is attractive by design, it just lacks the flair that some owners would want.

Pleasant Powertrain, But...

The 1.4-litre 4-cylinder engine produces 110 kW and 250 Nm and is claimed to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in only 8.5 seconds. This is more than adequate, and the Golf feels peppy and sprightly when on the move. It sends power to the front wheels only through an 8-speed Tiptronic gearbox. The Tiptronic is a conventional torque converter arrangement, rather than a dual-clutch DSG. 

DSG has an inherent delay when pulling away; we've lambasted the Chinese for their lack of throttle calibration and gearbox programming, and VW suffers from the same. Thus, I thought the Tiptronic would alleviate this concern, but I was somewhat disappointed to find that this hesitation exists in the Tiptronic as well. Preempt a traffic light and lift off the brakes a little earlier, and the torque converter will engage, and you'll pull away with traffic without cause for concern. However, it still rears its head, even in sedate commuting.

Sipping Fuel

Volkswagen claims a combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 6.3 for the Life Plus variant, and with a mixed bag of driving, and simply leaving it in the Comfort setting, I was able to see figures as low as 6.1 l/100km. This gave me just over 700 km from a full tank.

Concerns

There's very little to criticise when it comes to the VW Golf 8.5, but with roughly 7,000 km on the odometer, the brakes have started to make a bit of a noise. I haven't yet investigated the cause of the noise; it may have had a rough life before it arrived at my door. It's a groan at low speeds, but I'll keep an eye on it. If a replacement is due, we'll be sure to let you know how that goes.

The Months To Come

I can see this being one of those cars that we all arm wrestle for. It's simply a brilliant solution for those who commute on a daily basis and want to do so with the least amount of fuss. It's got all the features you need, and a few that you want, and just does what it's meant to in a way that is welcoming. You want to drive it. 

Keep an eye out for upcoming reports as it gets passed around the office, put through its paces, and used in a variety of lifestyles.