Mention the title GTI and most people with even the slightest interest in cars will automatically think VW Golf.
The original hot hatch came into being 36 years ago and now the sixth generation has arrived. The original petrol model was planned as a limited edition of 5,000 cars, since then through five generations 1.7 million have been sold worldwide. Now we have the 2-litre, TSI 210PS latest petrol powered three and five door GTI versions with prices from £22,415 up to £24,305, plus option costs of course. Proving
that you cannot have too much of a good thing and reflecting the change
in the market, particularly for down-sizing high mileage company car
users, Volkswagen has also recently introduced the identically styled 2.0-litre, TDI 170PS diesel power version of the iconic sporting hatch, the GTD. Prices for three and five door versions range from £21,850 to £23,745. Volkswagen UK expect to sell 950 GTIs this year rising to 1,750 in 2010, its first full year of sales. Around 75pc of GTI models are the five-door type and there will be a 50/50 split between customers choosing a manual or twin-clutch DSG automatic transmission. Retail customers will take up 75pc of UK sales. As for the new hot
hatch Golf GTD, this is new territory but given the potential the
company car/fleet markets offer VW UK estimate 1,200 units will be registered this year and 2,200 next. As with the GTI around 75pc of orders will be for the five door versions but retail customers will only account for 25pc of sales. When it comes to gearbox preferences, it is estimated that 70pc
of business customers will opt for the less expensive manual model
because of Benefit-in-Kind tax. The GTD’s exhaust emissions (139-147g/km) over the GTI (170-173g/km) also reduces the tax burden for company car drivers. Top sped of GTD models is 138mph and 0-62mph takes 8.1 seconds, for the GTI it is 149mph and 6.9 seconds respectively. As for official combined cycle fuel economy the GTD returns 53.3mpg and the GTI 38.7mpg. The
Golf GTI has always been the ‘quality’ go-faster GTI type of car during
its lifetime to date and the new sixth generation continues that theme.
There may be faster competitors but none have the refinement, quality
looks and the desirability. It
is a little like buying ‘designer’ clothes against similar massed
produced high street garments, you get what you pay for - just as well
because with prices starting from £22,415 the Golf GTI TSI doesn’t come cheap and there are numerous must-have options which put the price up even higher.
For instance the ACC Adaptive Chassis Control costs an extra £705
but in all honesty the handling and general balance of the car in its
standard GTI form with the standard lowered sports suspension is so
good I wouldn’t bother with it.
My test model, the
three door, six speed manual transmission model, carries the starter
model price tag but extra cost options such as the DVD touchscreen
navigation/radio/communication system adds another £1,900, the ACC chassis control £705, attractive alternative 18-inch alloy wheels £415, winter pack with headlight washers, heated front seats, heated windscreen and washer jets another £390, front and rear parking sensors cost £390.
The luxury pack
which includes electrically foldable door mirrors, door puddle lights
and reverse kerb view adjustment for the nearside door mirror costs £115 and gas discharge bi-Xenon headlights which has automatic range adjustments increase the price further by £1,025. So the total cost for this model ended up being £27,305. Very hefty and just as well the latest Golf GTI wears its ‘premium’ label well. However
if the customer stays away from the options the GTI is still well
equipped and has as standard, electronic stability control including
differential lock and traction control, a full airbag array including
curtain ones for front and rear passengers, 2Zone climate control, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, electric windows, cruise control, split folding 60-40
rear seats, front sports seats, sports lowered suspension, aluminium
look pedals, leather trimmed gearknob, handbrake grip and a leather
bound, flat bottomed height and reach adjustable sports steering wheel
with multifunction controls, smart cloth trim and of course GTI badging
inside and out. Styling changes outside the car makes the GTI
and GTD identical and distinctive over mainstream Golfs. At the front
is a slim honeycomb grille and an under bumper wide air grille. At the
rear is a neat roof spoiler and of course signalling the sporting
intent - twin exhaust tailpipes. The revised 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection engine enjoys being revved and power is increased by 10PS to 210PS (207bhp) over the previous generation GTI. More importantly torque is also up, now 206lb ft (280Nm) from just 1,750rpm,
brilliant for a petrol engine, making this unit very responsive even
for the relaxed lazy driver who doesn’t want to change gear more than
necessary. Top speed is 149mph and 0-62 takes 6.9
seconds. There might be faster competitors out there but none gives
this very useable mid-range performance in such a refined manner. The
fuel economy doesn’t suffer unduly either. Officially this model will
return 38.7mpg in the combined cycle and my test car returned 36.4mpg
over all types of driving, motorways, fast A and B roads, slow in town
traffic and the usual lengthy spells of stop and start driving. By the
way under acceleration you will enjoy the rasping exhaust note. The
GTI, like all new Golfs and the excellent sister model the cheaper
Scirocco, is beautifully poised and well balanced in the handling
department. It transmits precise information via the very sharp
steering back to the driver and the grip seems endless. The ride can be
firm and unsettled at higher speeds over our very poor road surfaces
but ride comfort is certainly not spine joltingly harsh. On the
downside I would choose a five door model just for ease of access for
rear seat passengers and the folding rear seats do not fold completely
flat so making use of the very large boot and extended load space is
not simple. However three or five door layout the two rear seat
passengers will enjoy the head and legroom. Anybody in the market
for a C-segment hot-hatch, has to consider the Golf GTI, or the more
frugal and only slightly slower but cheaper to buy and run GTD, if they
want the best buy on the market. It is not a cheap vehicle but like any
premium and classy product quality costs and enjoyment is virtually
guaranteed.
MILESTONES.
Volkswagen Golf GTI 2.0-Litre TSI 210PS, 3-Door, 6-speed manual £22,415 (£27,305 as tested) Engine/transmission, 2.0litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged direct injection petrol, 210PS (207bhp), 206lb ft (280Nm) from 1,750rpm, 6-speed manual, front wheel drive
For: Iconic model even better for the sixth time around,
fantastic build quality, classy styling, mid range responsive
performance, good fuel economy, it is great at whatever it does. Against:
Expensive, and extras, some of which should be standard, add even more
cost. Rear seats do not fold completely flat for load carrying.
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