New cars in Australia the best value in the world

New cars in Australia are better value than ever before thanks to standard equipment inclusions, yet towards the bottom end of the market, cars available to us are also better priced than anywhere else in the world. 

Moving further up the pricing chain reveals how expensive Australian cars can get thanks to the Luxury Car Tax (LCT), yet below $60,000, Australian cars are seriously good value when compared with many global markets. 

We're using the Mk7.5 Volkswagen Golf hatchback as an example, which is currently available for $24,990 drive away as a Trendline 110TSI six-speed manual. Is the Australian-delivered car is better equipped and priced than in any other market globally?

Well, not only is the Australian Golf Trendline more spec-rich than in most markets - 16-inch alloy wheels, AEB with forward collision warning, front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, rear AEB, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a leather steering wheel with audio controls and cruise control are all standard - but every new Australian-spec Volkswagen comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty as well. 

All of our regular Golfs are equipped with the 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine, which is the most powerful regular engine offered in the Golf worldwide. 

The Canadian Golf is available in this lovely shade of green not offered locally. Boo!

Most similar in pricing to Australian Golfs is Canada, which offers the same 110TSI engine in Comfortline spec with a six-speed manual for $22,500 CAD ($23,875 AUD), though it features smaller alloy wheels and a smaller 6.5-inch multimedia screen. In addition to that, VW Canada offers an inferior four-year/80,000km warranty.

North American buyers can also optionally choose an eight-speed torque converter auto that we wish was offered locally in favour of the seven-speed dual-clutch (DSG) unit.

Even more annoying is that Volkswagen Canada offers a much wider range of colours for its Golfs, including ‘Peacock Green’, which is only offered locally on the Amarok. 

Across the ditch in New Zealand, pricing starts at NZ$29,990 ($28,389 AUD) for the Comfortline. The NZ spec is similar to Australian Trendline, though it features the lower output 92kW/200Nm 1.4-litre turbo-petrol and only a three-year warranty. It does, however, feature lane assist as standard, and metallic paint - ‘Oryx White’ aside - is free-of-charge. 

You don't even get body-coloured mirrors in South Africa.

South African Golfs are not only more expensive than Australian models - they’re priced from R320,800 ($31,802 AUD) - but aren’t anywhere near as well equipped. The wheels are smaller, as is the multimedia system (6.5-inch), cruise control is an option, as are auto lights/wipers, a reversing camera and smartphone mirroring tech. AEB isn’t available at all, and the engine used is an 81kW 1.0-litre turbo-petrol. South African-spec Golfs are made in South Africa. 

Much like the greater Volkswagen range, Chinese-spec Golfs offer a wider range than their global cousins. An 85kW/155Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is standard, though both the 1.2TSI and 1.4TSI are available on higher models. Priced from 121,900 yuan ($26,000 AUD), the Chinese Golf gets kit like a 6.5-inch screen, AEB, 16-inch alloy wheels and cornering front fog-lamps - so for equipment, it’s not bad. Shame about that old-school non-turbo engine, though.

Like Canada, the American-spec Golf is made in Mexico. Featuring broadly the same spec as its northern neighbour, the American 1.4TSI S is priced from US$22,740 ($32,496 AUD) and is equipped with blind-spot monitoring, AEB and rear cross traffic alert, though a manual handbrake and no rear air vents are also part of the deal. American Volkswagens have the longest global warranty at six years/72,000 miles (115,872km).

Australian models are positively luxurious compared with Euro equivalents.

Moving to Europe, things get expensive. Both Germany and France offer the 63kW 1.0TSI with a five-speed manual transmission as the entry level drivetrain for the Golf. Both countries offer a two-year warranty, as well as 15-inch steel wheels, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, no reversing camera, no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, a urethane steering wheel and optional cruise control. The entry Golf is priced from €19,520 ($33,434 AUD) in Germany, and €20,650 ($33,144 AUD) in France. 

Yet while that's expensive, the most expensive in the world is the British Golf, which is priced from £20,945 ($39,478 AUD) for an 85kW 1.0TSI six-speed manual in S spec. The UK Golf S offers 15-inch steel wheels, an 8.0-inch multimedia system, AEB and electric windows/mirrors. Yet, it’s not equipped with a leather steering wheel with audio controls, cruise control, auto lights/wipers, front and rear parking sensors or a reversing camera, and optioning them pushes the price to nearly $42,000 AUD. Volkswagen UK offers a three-year/60,000 mile (97,000km) warranty. 

Despite being made there, the Octavia in Australian spec costs $14,000 more in the Czech Republic.

The same is true for multiple models on sale locally. Despite being made locally, the Skoda Octavia is up to $20,000 cheaper in Australia than some European countries, as is the BMW 1 Series. The Japanese-made Mazda3 is also better equipped and cheaper to buy here than in many markets as well, including Japan, and the Subaru XV in base 1.6L form is around AUD$47,000 in the UK. 

With such good value on offer, does buying a new car in Australia make sense? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.