VW announces several model changes for ‘24

VOLKSWAGEN has this week announced three key changes to its model year 2024 (MY24) range expected in local dealerships late this year.

Although the German importer has yet to advise pricing of its updated portfolio, the announced changes see important technology and safety revisions affect several models in the Australian line-up, including Golf, Polo and T-Roc.

Importantly, the Golf small hatch line will now start with the dearer Life grade from the end of this year, with Volkswagen Australia noting a preference for more highly specified variants within the range.

Volkswagen says it is removing the Golf 110TSi from its line-up due to slow sales, the model  accounting for fewer than five per cent of all variants sold.

“The overwhelming majority of Golf customers select the Life, R-Line, GTI or – when available – R model grades,” said a Volkswagen Australia spokesperson.

“Reflecting these customer preferences, this now means each model line in the Volkswagen passenger vehicle range will commence with the well-equipped Life model grade or higher.”

The importer will delete the current entry point Golf 110TSI model when the updated MY24 Golf range arrives ushering in a likely price increase of $2300 or more.

Currently, the Golf Life is priced from $38,590 plus on-road costs, well above rivals including the Hyundai i30 (from $24,000 +ORC) and Mazda 3 G20 Pure (from $30,320 +ORC).

From the end of this year, the current eighth generation Golf (which arrived in Australia in the middle of 2021) will be almost $10,000 more to purchase than it was two years ago. At launch, the Golf was available from $29,350 plus on-road costs.

Following semi-conductor related shortages, Volkswagen Australia is set to return key collision avoidance technologies to its Polo Style variant after a one-year absence.

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert – which re-join the model’s comprehensive Proactive Occupant Protection suite of safety technologies – will again be offered as standard on the updated Polo Style, the model due in Australia dealerships later this year.

While related price changes are yet to be advised, it is expected the model’s list price will increase by at least $550 – the same value discounted from the Polo Style when the aforementioned technology was cut last year.

The Volkswagen Polo Style current retails from $31,490 plus on-road costs.

“The additions to Polo Style mean that key Polo, Golf, T-Roc, Tiguan and Tiguan Allspace model grades now include features such as Side Assist with Rear Traffic Alert,” the spokesperson said.

Further, Volkswagen has said this week that it will move away from its controversial steering wheel capacitive touch controls on Polo GTI and T-Roc R-Line models, returning to physical switches after nearly five years in the market.

The maligned touch-sensitive controls were introduced on a range of VW models in 2019, controlling HVAC, cruise control, infotainment, and other systems. Polo GTI and T-Roc R-Line will be the first to return to traditional buttons and dials when the model year update arrives later this year.

Volkswagen Australia has not stated which models will be next to ditch touch-sensitive steering wheel controls.

GoAuto notes that Golf GTI, R and R-Line, Polo GTI, T-Roc R and R-Line, Tiguan R and R-Line, and Tiguan Allspace R-Line, variants are offered as standard with the technology, as are the Arteon and Touareg model ranges.

Volkswagen Australia said it has strong stock levels across the range in the lead up to the arrival of its MY24 range, with drive-away pricing continuing to be offered on selected models.

“There remains strong MY23 stock in Volkswagen dealerships, and this will continue through 2023. The Polo GTI, Golf Life, Golf R-Line and Golf GTI remain with special drive-away pricing,” said the VW Australian spokesperson.

More information is available on Volkswagen’s public website.