Volkswagen Golf GTi

In the hot hatch world the VW Golf GTi is legendary. It's become the benchmark for the class and for good reason. It really is the complete car.Good for bumbling along to the shops, yet able to transform itself into a stunning sportster when some enthusiastic driving is needed. A car for every purpose and everybody, the GTi is more than a great compromise, it's a cleverly engineered and sophisticated car that few will find fault with. This is the five door version.

 

As mentioned in my previous post on the Golf VII, I once drove a three door GTi Pirelli,quite quickly through some challenging bends and it was one of life's sheer delights.
The Turbo 2 litre engine in this model, develops 162 kw and 350 nm.
Flooring the throttle, even in D, results in instant, compelling urge, shoving you back in the seat as the twin clutch six speed DSG transmission rapidly snaps through the lower gears with enough grunt to chirp the front tyres. Incredibly, there is no torque steer. This enormous thrust accompanied by the GTi's distinctive  "pop" from the twin exhausts, as the next gear is selected. Changing down, whether using the steering wheel paddles or the console shifter, sees the engine "blip" itself to keep the car's engine speed at the appropriate level, to match the driven wheels.

Select Sport mode and the excitement factor leaps tenfold.
The latest GTi has adaptive suspension and it's a real winner, despite the selector button being on the wrong side of the console for a RHD car. Touching that button,opens the central screen to select which mode you want.

I have driven many cars that claim to have this feature, but in reality, selecting Comfort, Normal or Sport in quite a few of those vehicles, doesn't seem to make much difference at all to the ride.
However in the GTi  there is a noticeable change to the suspension. In Comfort, it really is comfortable. The car effortlessly absorbs almost all normal road imperfections, and even in Sport,  the ride firms up, but not excessively so, delivering a poise and grip that has to be experienced to be believed. On the move, the GTi is whisper quiet, with nary a squeak or rattle.
Creature comforts and niceties abound in the cabin.

The tartan cloth seats on the latest GTi hark back to the first GTi's similar seat coverings.
They are supremely supportive and comfortable from the moment you first sit in them.
 During my week with the car, the daily temperature hovered over 40 degrees, but it didn't faze the engine, nor the air conditioning system. It was positively arctic on the minimum setting. Back seat passengers also benefitting from rear vents in the central console.The GTi incorporates the latest engine idle stop/start technology, which can be overridden, thankfully.On those hot days,I wanted the engine A/C compressor running all the time! 
Rearward vision is enhanced with a camera, the lens hidden beneath the VW badge on the tailgate. It tilts up when reverse is selected.

At night the interior is a nice place to be. White on black instruments and information screens are clear and concise. There's a thin red lighting accent line on the door scuff plates and on the upper edges of the front doors, Footwell lighting adding to the prestige feel of the car. The GTi has a self releasing electric parking brake, which is a feature found on many cars these days and I like it.

The accolades for the GTi and the Golf VII it's based on, keep coming, being judged World Car of the Year in 2013, along with many other individual awards around the globe.
Priced around  44K the VW GTi is simply one of the best all round cars you could possibly ever want or need. 
Peter Sellen.