New Volkswagen Golf priced from £23,875

Dealers will start taking orders for the eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf tomorrow, with prices starting from £23,875.

Buyers will initially be available to choose from two trim levels and four engine/gearbox combinations.

The entry-level Life model is expected to be the biggest seller in the UK, with standard equipment including 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights and parking sensors for the front and rear. Ambient lighting in 10 different colours is also standard, as is a 10.25-inch digital instrument display. There's also a 10-inch infotainment system with navigation.

Style specification adds 17-inch alloy wheels and LED 'plus' headlights, while the interior features sports comfort seats. There are also wooden decorative inserts and three-zone climate control.

A sporty R-Line model will join the two starting trim levels at a later date, as well as the usual Estate, GTE, GTI, GTD and R variants.

At launch, the petrol engine line-up is made of a 1.5-litre TSI available with 130 or 150PS. Both are combined with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Diesel options include 115 or 150PS 2.0-litre units, the former with a six-speed manual transmission. The more powerful diesel comes with a seven-speed DSG transmission as standard.

Volkswagen's popular 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI petrol engine will follow later in the year, as well as eTSI 48V mild-hybrid versions of the 1.0- and 1.5-litre petrols.