On sale in May Volkswagen's Mark 8 Golf features as standard the highest level of equipment yet made available on its perennial hatchback, including the near fully autonomous open road capability afforded by way of VW's new IQ.DRIVE.

IQ.DRIVE is the highlight of the Mark 8 range, the three "core" variants of which are known as simply Golf, Golf Life and Golf R-Line.

The umbrella term for Volkswagen's latest generation of driver assistance systems, IQ.DRIVE supports the driver in regular, real-world scenarios including parking, lane changing and accident prevention, all the while increasing daily driveability and comfort. A key feature of IQ.DRIVE is Travel Assist, Volkswagen's semi-autonomous setting that is capable of accelerating, braking and maintaining the Golf's position within its lane in open road driving – clearly a boon during a typically monotonous long range freeway trip.

The full suite of IQ.Drive fixtures – standard to all core Golfs – includes:

• Travel Assist
• Front Assist with Pedestrian and Cyclist Monitoring
• Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
• Lane Assist
• Oncoming vehicle braking when turning
• Driver Fatigue Detection
• Side Assist
• Rear Traffic Alert
• Rear View Camera (RVC)
• Park Assist
• Parking distance sensors, front & rear
• Manoeuvre braking, front & rear
• Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator

To these, the Golf Life and R-Line add Emergency Assist and Exit warning system

The theme of high-tech standard specification continues with Digital Cockpit. In the entry Golf, Digital Cockpit takes the form of a high-resolution (1280 x 480 pixel), 10.25" colour display with a static, single view display of all driving functions.

Digital Cockpit Pro is standard to Golf Life and Golf R-Line. It shares the above dimensions and resolution, adding numerous skins (different colours and styling by model) and multiple customisable views. Graphical functions include animation and transparency.

The Innovision Cockpit that debuted in Volkswagen's Touareg is standard in the Golf Life and Golf R-Line. Combining Digital Cockpit Pro with the 10-inch Discover Pro navigation system, the Innovision Cockpit offers an even larger range of customisable functions via its digital display. The vast screen of the Discover Pro is augmented by touch buttons and finger-tip operated touch sliders.

In addition to IQ.DRIVE, the core Golf range's standard safety systems include:

• Driver's airbag
• Front passenger airbag
• Front side airbags
• Rear side airbags
• Curtain airbags, front and rear
• Front and rear seat belt tensioners
• IsoFix and top tether child seat anchors
• Proactive occupant protection system
• Multi-collision brake
• Front and rear seat belt unfastened warning

The Golf has received the full five star crash safety rating from the benchmark European NCAP agency, naturally endorsed by its Australasian relation.

The core Golfs are powered by the 1.4-litre direct injection turbo petrol four cylinder engine with 110kW and 250Nm – the latter all on tap from 1600rpm. Not only does the Golf continue with what is by far the most responsive petrol engine among its immediate competitor set, it is also the most fuel efficient. Driven via an 8-speed Aisin torque converter automatic though the front wheels, the Golfs consume 5.8 litres of premium unleaded per 100km. The sole (6-speed) manual Golf is good for 6.0L/100km. All core Golfs feature stop-start functionality, electro mechanical parking brake, Hill Start Assist (autos) or Auto Hold (manual).

Where most rivals make do with a basic back axle, the Golf on its MQB platform retains its independent rear suspension in addition to MacPherson struts at the front. Disc brakes, ventilated at the front, are standard to all variants. The Golf rides on Norfolk 16x7" alloy wheels with 205/55 R16 tyres; the Golf Life on Ventura 17x&.5" alloys with 225/45 R17s; the Golf R-line in 18x7.5" alloys and 225/40 R18s. The Golf R-Line employs sport suspension of a firmer tune than the Golf or Golf Life, riding 15mm lower than these with the progressive steering rack from the Golf GTI and R.

As standard the Golf and Golf Life are available in standard Pure White paint with the options of four metallics - Reflex Silver, Dolphin Grey, Atlantic Blue, Pomelo Yellow Premium Metallic – or Deep Black Pearlescent. Golf R-Line's metallic palette differs slightly with Moonstone Grey Premium instead of Reflex Silver. The other colour options are shared.

Within the Golf comes in standard cloth seats and decorative inlays; the Golf Life with Comfort seats or the option of Comfort sports seats in microfleece cloth and brushed inlays. Sports seats are standard in the R-Line with carbon grey inlays.

The core Golf range is available with a Care Plan for five years at $1900 (saving the cost of the first scheduled service) or three years at $1100.