Although the overall external design changes compared to the mk7 / mk7.5 are evolutionary, and this has tended to be VW’s approach with previous new models of the Golf, relatively small changes have resulted in a car that IMO looks somewhat ill-proportioned and ungainly.
There’ve been plenty of comments about the mk8’s ‘face’ and I think it may always divide opinion, although I think people will become more accepting of it over time. I agree with @Mag_Pie on the rear, but I’m struggling to put my finger on exactly why the rear should look slabby. I think it’s probably a combination of design elements. It may just be an optical illusion but to my eyes, it looks as if VW may have made the rear bumper deeper and the rear screen narrower, increasing the depth of the metalwork between the bumper and rear screen. Those changes give the impression of a taller body - almost SUV-like, and that’s not helped by the rear light clusters looking as if they’ve been lifted straight off the T-Roc.
I agree that dark blue paintwork on a dull day doesn’t show the car in its best light, and IMO the standard wheels don’t do it any favours either (the wheels across the whole mk8 Golf range look a bit ‘meh’ to me).
Based on early reviews, the GTI drives well, and if VW provide sufficient financial incentives to potential customers, it’ll sell well too. However, IMO it’s not one of VW’s finest efforts.
