Today’s Volkswagen event isn’t just for the launch of the latest Golf GTI. Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is also opening order books for the 2022 Golf R-Line. Like the hot hatch, this starter Golf was previewed late last year, so it’s not a surprise. VPCM says that the expected price of the R-Line is from RM155k to RM165k.
The previous Golf R-Line, the Mk7.5, was launched here in 2018 for RM166,990. Like the GTI, the Golf R-Line is now locally assembled in Pekan, Pahang. We’ve had CKD Polos and Passats before, but the Golf – whether in TSI or GTI form – had always been a CBU import, until now.
We’re getting the familiar 1.4 litre TSI engine with 150 PS and 250 Nm from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. The Mk8 has a 1.5 eTSI mild hybrid option with Active Cylinder Management (ACT), a 48-volt belt starter generator and a 48-volt lithium-ion battery, but we’re not getting that.
No big loss if you think about it. There’s no strict emissions regulations here, Malaysian car buyers aren’t too concerned about that, and most probably wouldn’t want cylinder deactivation if given a choice – the Golf is a rather premium option here, not an econobox. In any case, the 1.4 TSI is still a clean, modern downsized turbo engine and it makes the same 150 PS/250 Nm as the 1.5 eTSI.
The engine is familiar, but it now has a new transmission partner in the form of an eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The Aisin-sourced 8AT replaces the DSG dual-clutch gearbox in the previous Golf R-Line. This powertrain combo is similar to what Australia gets, and if it’s clean enough for those Down Under, it would be more than clean enough for Malaysia. 8AT over DSG – what say you?
Moving on, the Golf R-Line is named after its trim level, which is the sportiest available with plenty of gloss black bits. In fact, it’s getting harder to tell the R-Line apart from the GTI, because the hot hatch’s looks is based on the R-Line, but with additional (and rather subtle) details to distinguish it, such as wheels, pipes and grille inserts.
The R-Line wears 17-inch Valencia alloys (225/45 Bridgestone Turanza T005) and gets LED Plus headlights, LED light bars that go all the way to the logo (not DRLs) plus LED taillights with dynamic signals. The badges now show just the ‘R’ without the ‘Line’, which might confuse some for the top dog Golf R, but I’m sure that prospective buyers wouldn’t mind. The only big loss over the GTI in exterior style are the chrome decorative trim masquerading as exhaust tips.
Inside the Mk8’s newly minimalist cabin, you’ll find manual Sardegna fabric seats with suede-like Art Velours sections and an embossed R logo – I think these chairs look even sportier than the GTI’s. VW has gone all out in its quest to kill physical buttons and knobs – the 10.25-inch digital instrument panel sits alongside a 10-inch Discover Media infotainment touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and seven speakers.
The lighting controls and cluster between the central AC vents are touch sensitive, and the steering buttons capacitive. The only knob you’ll find is for the wing mirrors; even the “gear knob” is nothing more than a tiny protrusion on the sloping centre console.
The kit list also includes keyless entry with push start, triple-zone climate control (rear vents with temp control), an electronic parking brake (but without auto hold), auto-dimming rear-view mirror, heated wing mirrors, ambient lighting with five presets and auto headlamps/wipers. As for charging, there are two USB-C ports in front and two at the back. The cabin theme is all-black including the headliner as this has the R-Line package, but the light coloured seats are a good contrast.
As for safety equipment, the R-Line gets the usual six airbags, ABS and ESP. However, it doesn’t come with any driver assist tech like autonomous emergency braking (AEB), never mind the semi-autonomous stuff. There are Isofix points on the front passenger seat, not just the rear seats.
Lastly, colours. The Golf R-Line will be available in five shades – Moonstone Grey (solid), Kings Red and Atlantic Blue (metallic) and Deep Black and Oryx White (pearl). As usual for VPCM, the Golf R-Line will come with five years of unlimited mileage warranty, three years free maintenance and five years of roadside assistance.
GALLERY: 2022 Volkswagen Golf R-Line
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Nice hatchback. I would love to take one
Haha.. after CKD but still so expensive ah..
Lagi kena tapao by the cheaper Honda Civic and X50 ah ..
People complain about civic wind noises
Toyota reliable gearbox
this new gearbox is torque converter Aisin (read Japs made) source 8 speed…..as reliable asany Japs gearbox & way better than than a CVT…
Better choice from Volkswagen MY
Whaaat CKD only 10k less? Must well stick to CBU.
CBU complain expensip.
CKD pun complain expensip.
Better u stay with ur Myvi la.
Jangan marah, bro. RM10k mungkin bukan jumlah duit yg banyak dari sudut pandangan bro sebab bro ni org berada, tapi bro kena bertimbang rasa lah sikit perasaan org lain yg tak sekaya bro.
Owning a conti at whatever segment is never cheap. The car can be affordably priced but not for spares & servicing. That is normal. If 10k is such a big deal, go buy something else. If you cannot afford it then yeah, better stick to that mybi.
No worries, Jezza. Many average Malaysians may be unhappy for not being able to easily afford your collection of luxury & exotic cars, but at least they do not let such unhappiness make them go around getting inebriated, assaulting their colleagues verbally & physically, and getting sacked.
Halo Mazda 3, im here
Isn’t it CKD? Is Malaysian’s salary same as Germans? If not why is it priced almost same as CBU?
No aeb is a no no in 2022
German Beast
to be honest, i dont mind even without those ADAS etc., but at rm155k to 165k, i think it is freaking expensive when it is CKD and without ADAS etc.! should be around 140k unless VPGM provide justification for the price..
No prob. Just wait for HUGE discount. Pre-reg also melambak.
Finally no more DSG… Its Japanese gearbox.. I’ve been driving with Aisin’s 6AT for the past 8 years… so far so good..service on time for ATF change.. no issues
Of course the DSG is much better feeling and quicker response. But if the Torque converter works just fine, it is a better proposition.
One thing about VW with the DSG DRY clutch is that, the selling value is so bad, that owners drive them until the loan is completed or almost, before selling their cars.
Look at the GTI, R, with WET clutch the second hand values are still very high.
And oh yes, Civic CVT is the worst gear feeling.
For your info, the golf mk8 1.5eTSI which Spore and Europe get is with the same DSG7 wet clutch as per GTI/Golf R/ Passat 2.0/ Arteon.
8AT over DSG – what say you?…we lose a lot since the 1.5eTSI combo is with the same wet 7 speed DSG used by the GTI/R/Arteon R….Spore got this due tp their strict emission
That’s good
For various reasons, it actually costs more to CKD assemble a car in Malaysia than to CBU import it. Always been this way since the 1970s. Yet from the customer’s perspective, CKD models typically have a lower retail price than equivalent CBU models. It’s because our government (MITI) subsidises the higher actual cost of CKD cars with excise tax rebates under the Industrial Adjustment Fund. The rebates given to a car company are proportional to its impact or value to our automotive industry. A car company which invested billions for local assembly, parts stamping, R&D, vendor chain development, export programs etc. will qualify for the highest proportion of rebates. The car companies typically pass on the rebates as savings to the consumer by way of lower retail prices or higher standard equipment.
For VPCM’s scenario, it seems that the Mk8 Golf R-Line doesn’t cost much less than the outgoing Mk7.5 despite local assembly. Apart from the fact that the Mk8 is based on the more sophisticated MQB Evo platform, I’m guessing other factors such as VPCM’s low localisation (low local content, weak VW AG vendor support base in ASEAN) and poor economies of scale (even for Malaysian standards) were also part of the equation. VPCM also lacks any export program for their CKD models unlike some low-volume CKD assemblers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo, Peugeot etc..
Hopefully, this will all change later on, if VPCM can sell enough new cars in our market (consistently year-round, not just within the first few months following a new model launch) to justify more localisation and possibly an export program (could be parts & component exports too, not necessarily just CBU exports) to other ASEAN markets.
From a broader perspective, since the lauch of the Mk7.5, our ringgit has weakened further against the US dollar, and to a lesser extent the Euro. The current global semiconductor shortage and rising energy costs have and will continue to push prices up in the medium-term. In the longer-term, our annual inflation (CPI) will determine what we pay for near-everything. Just some food for thought ; RM100 today is equivalent to RM84 10-years back, RM66 20-years back, and just RM49 30-years ago…
Well articulated Bro!
Way more expensive for a local assembled Golf.. This time around VW is having a good product to become a best seller but the pricing is not going to help much.. In the past local assembled Jettas were quite fairly priced but infamous model name and DSG issues didn’t help it much. But the present GOLF which is about the same class could have been priced right.. After the SST holiday is over the price of this car would be much higher..
reliability is biggere concern here than its price.
shud be more reliable wt the torque converter 8 speed gearbox which is sourced from Aisin (Japan)….while the 1.4tsi has been around for quite sometime …..yeah, the msian & Oz version wt this combo looks more reliable compared to the newer version 1.5etsi & dsg 7 wet (same as R/GTI/Arteon) which European & Spore got due to their tough emission regulations
Hahahaha…its not just the ADASS/AEB is missing….there’s no electrical folding side mirror too….what a laugh!! hahahahahahahaha ….park and fold the mirror sendiri mcm Proton Saga dulu2….hahahahaha