The eighth-generation VW Golf will soon receive a mid-lifecycle update and a prototype of the hatchback was caught testing it is most revealing form yet. The 2024 VW Golf might not look that different to the untrained eye, as designers opted for an evolutionary approach, typical of the German brand. However, if you put it side by side with its predecessor you’ll notice the sharper front bumper featuring similar intakes with rthe ID.3, and the new headlights which got slimmer and more aggressive. Predictably, the profile is carried over, but there are more changes at the back including the updated LED taillight graphics. Those remain hidden behind the camouflage stickers that resemble the old units, something that is a common tactic among VW prototypes. The charging port on the front fenders and the eHybrid badge on the tailgate mean that this Golf comes fitted with a PHEV powertrain.

Spy photographers managed to grab a few shots of the updated interior which had already been revealed in earlier prototype sightings from September 2022. The dashboard is dominated by a significantly larger free-standing infotainment touchscreen that appears to measure 15 inches like in the electric ID.7. Another important change is the physical buttons on the steering wheel, replacing the heavily criticized touch-sensitive controls of its predecessor. Finally, we expect new materials with improved quality and additional tech features. VW recently updated the safety equipment of the Golf which will likely be carried over to the facelift.

 

The facelifted Golf will sit on an improved version of the MQB Evo architecture, just like the last batch of ICE-powered models from VW. We expect small updates to the mild-hybrid 1.0 eTSI and 1.5 eTSI, likely retaining the same power outputs. The bigger 2.0 TSI will definitely make a comeback to the GTI/R hot hatches but the future of the 2.0 TDI diesel is not so certain. The automaker will put more emphasis on the plug-in hybrid variants (eHybrid/GTE) which could get upgraded powertrains producing up to 268 hp and allowing a zero-emission range of up to 100 km between charges.

With a market launch expected next year, the 2024 VW Golf will rival the likes of the Peugeot 308, Opel Astra, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30, and Honda Civic, hoping to regain the reigns of the compact hatchback segment. Sales figures show that European buyers prefer SUVs and EVs to ICE-powered hatchbacks which were the traditional best-sellers of the past, but VW hopes that the updated Golf will attract more people into its dealerships. Recently, the automaker decided in favor of keeping the iconic nameplate alive in its EV-only era, which means that the next generation that is coming towards the end of the decade will in all likelihood be fully electric.