Volkswagen Golf 8.5 Life Plus 1.4TSI (2025) Video Review

Chad reviews the much-anticipated Volkswagen Golf 8.5 TSI. The non-performance variant of the Golf has returned to the market for the first time in five years! Does this have what it takes to compete with all the crossovers and SUVs in its price bracket?

Ryno Fourie

19 May 2025 · 08:559 min read

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When the Golf 8 originally debuted in South Africa, the German automaker only offered it in the GTI specification. Later, in 2023, the Golf 8 R joined the line-up. Now, after a mild update, the Golf 8.5 is also available with the 1.4 TSI petrol engine in four derivatives.

Related: Volkswagen Golf R (2023) Video Review

But before you search for new or used Volkswagen Golf models on AutoTrader here, remember that you can sell your car quickly and easily on our website here. Let's see what the new Golf 8.5 is all about.

Volkswagen Golf 8.5 Life Plus 1.4 TSI Video Review

In this video, Chad will touch on:

Styling

The Drive

Performance

Space and Comfort

Safety

Fuel Consumption

Price

The Verdict

Interested in buying a Volkswagen Golf?

Written by Ryno Fourie

Ryno started his career capturing press images of the latest and greatest vehicles which have subsequently adorned the covers and pages of prominent motoring titles locally and internationally. After a short stint as a photography lecturer, he once again joined the automotive industry as a sub-editor and photographer for a local publication, however, currently, you will find him spending most of his time in the studio creating written, video, and photography content as part of the AutoTrader content team.Read more