There’s also a much larger 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with faster processing speeds and revised software to hopefully solve the buggy system of the pre-facelift model.
The latest Golf GTI is still five-door only, but it has ditched the standard manual for a seven-speed, DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. Pricing starts from just under £39,500 for the regular GTI, with the hotter GTI Clubsport coming in at just over £42,000. The latter puts it within reach of the Volkswagen Golf R, which starts at a little under £44,000.
As ever, the Golf GTI isn’t the cheapest hot hatch around, but you get a generous amount of standard equipment which means it doesn’t feel too spartan. Keyless entry, heated front seats, three-zone climate control, a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control and lane assist are all standard.
Just as it always has been, the Golf GTI is a well-rounded hot hatch that balances being as easy to drive during the daily grind as its regular Golf sibling, while having just the right amount of dynamic flair should the mood take you to enjoy a twisty country lane. It’s a shame there’s no longer a manual gearbox to please enthusiasts, but that does fit in with the remit of making the Golf GTI easy to drive. Read more about the Volkswagen Golf GTI’s engine, performance and drive…
Another area where the Golf GTI lends itself to being an everyday performance car is with its running costs. Fuel economy is respectable as far as hot hatches go and insurance shouldn’t be as costly as rivals like the Honda Civic Type R. You may need to be careful with the options on the regular GTI in order to avoid paying a surcharge for cars costing over £40,000. Read more about the Volkswagen Golf GTI’s MPG, emissions and running costs…
It’s a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” with regards to the exterior styling of the latest Golf GTI. Subtle tweaks have been made, with the biggest being the matrix LED headlights that provide better illumination at night and a larger GTI badge on the front doors. More has been done to address early criticisms of its interior, with physical buttons returning to the steering wheel, and a much-improved infotainment system. Read more about the Volkswagen Golf GTI’s interior, design and technology…
The revised Golf GTI doesn’t gain any more interior space over its direct predecessor, but it continues to be a comfortable hot hatch in which to tackle both a Sunday morning B road blast, and the daily grind of motorways and commuting. As is expected of a practical family car, there’s plenty of space for four adults, although if you want the ultimate in hot hatch practicality, you need to look towards the Skoda Octavia vRS. Read more about the Volkswagen Golf GTI’s boot space, comfort and practicality…
The latest Golf isn’t a favourite amongst owners according to the latest Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, coming in last place in the best cars to own category and the brand finishing near the bottom of the manufacturer table. On a more positive note, the Golf and its GTI variant still has a top-notch safety rating according to Euro NCAP, and there’s plenty of standard safety technology to help keep you out of trouble. Read more about the Volkswagen Golf GTI’s reliability and safety…
Volkswagen Golf GTI alternatives
Despite a number of hot hatches disappearing from price lists, you can still find a respectable representation of fast metal that doesn’t compromise on practicality. There’s the closely related Cupra Leon, the well-priced Ford Focus ST, or the riotous Toyota GR Yaris – although that latter rival isn’t anywhere near as practical as the Golf GTI.
The more potent GTI Clubsport fits more in line with quicker hot hatches like the Audi S3 Quattro, BMW M135i xDrive, and Mercedes AMG A 35 4Matic. The Clubsport is cheaper than the Honda Civic Type R, although perhaps not quite as exciting. For those wanting even more power, there’s also the 328bhp, four-wheel-drive Volkswagen Golf R, although it comes at a premium over the GTI Clubsport.
