Car Showroom has driven lots of Volkswagen Golf GTIs over the years and after two weeks in the latest sixth generation model, we’re convinced the Golf again wears the crown of ‘World’s Best Hot Hatch’.
Sure there were periods during the previous five generations and 1.7 million sales when the Golf GTI did not live up to expectations, but in the current model, Volkswagen deserves the accolades and awards it has received.
What You Get
The most powerful GTI yet, with a drive-train set-up for sharp dynamics and engaging driving, the Golf is a high performance hatchback that you can easily live with every day. Oozing style and quality inside and out, the Golf GTI delivers German precision and high levels of technology in a very smart package.
Car Showroom tested two GTIs back-to-back – a five-door fitted with the six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) automatic and a three-door with the six-speed manual.
Engine
Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine – the TSI. Although sharing the same displacement as the previous T-FSI powerplant, the new engine was designed for compliance with Euro V standards with new pistons, a new induction system and high-pressure fuel pump amongst the changes.
‘Packaging’ – the external dimensions and accessories – was revised to suit the sixth generation Golf under-bonnet space, pedestrian safety and crumple zones.
Maximum power of 155kW is achieved between 5300 rpm and 6200 rpm while peak torque of 280Nm arrives in a wide spread from 1700 rpm to 5200 rpm. It’s this tractability which makes the GTI so easy to drive in day-to-day city traffic.
Zero to 100 km/h takes 6.9 seconds and the combined cycle fuel economy is 7.6l/100km (DSG) or 7.7l/100km (manual). The DSG is rated at 178g/km for C02 emissions while the manual is rated at 180g/km.
The Interior
Taking a cue from the very original GTI – created secretly by a team of keen engineers working at night within Volkswagen’s head office in Wolfsburg, Germany – the latest model reverts to tartan cloth for the seats. Not quite the original, but the latest ‘Jacky’ cloth; it looks great (there is also a leather option).
The driver’s seat provides Volkswagen’s usual lever operation for height adjustment and combines with reach/rake adjustment for the thick, D-shaped, leather-wrapped, sports steering wheel to provide an excellent driving position. Alloy pedals provide a sporting touch.
Instrumentation is conventional two dials in separate cowls with trip computer information displayed in a central screen.
A 6.5-inch center console screen provides a display for the audio and climate control information. The audio is an eight-speaker in-dash six CD system that’s MP3/WMA compatible and provides remote control via steering wheel buttons.
A cute feature is the divider for the two cup holders, which is actually a bottle opener.
The rear seat is nicely bolstered and booster/child seats for the Car Showroom juniors were easily installed. Access to the rear seat in the three-door isn’t the easiest in the hatchback segment.
Luggage capacity with the rear seat in place is 350 litres or 1305 litres with the seat folded. The rear seat split folds 60/40.
Exterior & Styling
Responding to criticism that the sixth generation Golf was too visually similar to the fifth (it isn’t really), Volkswagen responded that in these tough financial times a design objective was to make the Golf simpler and hence less expensive to manufacture.
Yes, the current lineup is evolutionary in its looks, but that’s part of the “Golf-ness” of Volkswagen - all Golfs have been evolutionary in their styling. Created by Volkswagen’s relatively new styling team of Walter de Silva, Klaus Bischoff and Marc Lichte, the new Golf models stand out for their clean and sharp looks, which are quite minimalist.
In fact, apart from the rear hatch spoiler, the GTI is without any exterior add-on aerodynamics – a significant difference to some garish rival ‘pretend’ hot hatches.
GTI also gains an aggressive front bumper with a deep honeycomb airdam and vertical fog lights below a new grille element with red trim.
The rear features smoked light lenses and a black diffuser that has been aerodynamically developed, not just stuck on for looks. A large, central Volkswagen badge swivels to open the hatch and mount the optional rear view camera.
GTI rides on ‘Denver’ 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/45 R17 rubber. They look sensational but there are three optional 18-inch designs for those who want more.
On The Road
The choice between manual and DSG transmission is largely personal taste and budget (the auto costs an extra $2500). For our part, we reckon the DSG, driven manually (via beautifully crafted steering wheel paddles), is one of the finest transmissions around.
Volkswagen’s turbo 2.0-litre delivers a brilliant audio track as it works its way up and down the gears. Response throughout the rev range is phenomenal.
GTI secures XDL - an electronic cross-axle control system for improved traction and handling. A functional extension of the electronic differential lock (EDL), XDL responds to cornering wheelspin by braking the inside wheel to reduce understeer.
Our five-door DSG test car was also fitted with the optional driver-select Adaptive Chassis Control System (‘Sport or ‘Normal’ modes) with adjustable dampers and revised mapping for the power steering. DSG-fitted GTIs also come standard with ‘Hill Start Assist’ which operates on hills greater than five per cent and applies brake pressure for up to 1.5 seconds to ease standing starts.
Suspension is front struts and a four-link rear end. There’s the usual high-tech driver aids such as ESP and ABS with Hydraulic Brake Assist.
Bundle all of that together and you get one of the best sporty Europeans money can buy. Ride is firmish but surprisingly compliant compared to say Audi’s S3, and the rest of the dynamics – turn-in, balance and body control – are absolutely top-shelf.
Volkswagen worked overtime to improve the refinement levels of Golf VI and this is noticeable at all speeds.
Around town, the GTI is as easy to drive as a standard Golf and it’s this balancing act between ‘High Performance Drivers Car’ and ‘Every-day Commute’ that Volkswagen has perfected.
Challenges
We were surprised Satellite Navigation and Bluetooth connectivity remain on the options list. Given the demographics and lifestyles of typical GTI buyers, we’d reckon they would demand these contemporary features.
Verdict
Europeans love their hot hatches and a trip to Germany isn’t complete without a drive on an autobahn where Golf GTIs rocket past at stunning speeds. The popularity of this car in Europe and its long list of awards from critics throughout the world point to an obvious conclusion – this is one of the world’s best.
Volkswagen Group Australia has managed to keep the pricing for the GTI very competitive, so to its other features you can also add ‘value for money’.
The Competition
Audi’s A3 Sportback is mechanically very similar to the GTI but all those Audi extras add a fair bit to the bottom line.
Also from Germany, Ford’s sharply priced Focus XR5 Turbo is rapid and a good steer but lacks the GTI’s refinement.
Alfa Romeo’s 147 is a saucy Italian that is competitively priced but doesn’t quite match the GTI for poise in the quick, twisty stuff.
Likes:
Beautifully built; delightful interior; brilliant to drive; value
Dislikes:
For its ‘pinup’ vehicle, Volkswagen should follow the lead of Lexus – make Sat Nav, Bluetooth and the reversing camera standard
