We have a VW Golf GTi 2.0L TSI 6 Sp manual 3 Door to cruise around in. This is the 6^th generation GTi and it is more powerful, lower, and more responsive than all before it. The MLP is $38,990

The original hot hatch, now older and better but not fatter.

Fantastic! I love it. It’s just FUN FUN FUN! 

The word that describes the GTi is balance. There are faster hot hatches, ones that handle better, ones that are more powerful but none come close to achieving the level of balance the GTi has.  

The performance, handling, economy, accommodation trade off is almost perfect. Better in the four door as the accommodation is better but the 3 door GTi is just an absolute bundle of fun. 

It is so easy to drive on a daily basis and yet when the mood or road allows the GTi changes character and allows you to feel the road and engages you in the process like few others in the price range. 

This is a car you drive and it responds, but you don’t need to wrestle it like some others. Many performance hatches either feel like they will get away from you or your having to restrain it from doing their own thing. No so with the GTI, it makes you feel you are a better driver than possibly you are. It is so smooth from the slick 6-speed manual transmission through to the corner responsiveness.  

For a vehicle that was originally meant to be limited to 5,000 vehicles and has now sold more than 1.7million around the world the GTi has been a success and now in its 6^th generation it has evolved to the point where it is faster and more powerful than any standard GTI before it. However, the day-to-day usability of the GTI has not been forgotten and it is cleaner, safer and more efficient than ever before.

What is Good?

• Leather steering wheel – one of the best
• Chassis dynamics almost defines balance
• Driver comfort. 

What is not so Good?

• No Bluetooth
• Rear access is tight
• Lowered front end means care is needed 

The 6^th generation GTi could be described as the most attractive Golf yet. The basis of the GTI is the chassis structure of the new Golf, onto which is added an aggressive new front bumper. 

This features a deep honeycomb airdam framed by vertical foglights, which sit below a new grille element adorned by a GTI badge. As with the new Golf, the GTI uses horizontal lines to make the new car appear lower and wider than it really is.  

In reality, the new GTI is 27 mm wider than the car it replaces. At the rear, a diffuser is located between an all-new exhaust system with separated tailpipes to further lower the stance of the car. A subtle rear wing sits above a pair of smoked rear light lenses and a single “GTI” badge. 

The 3 Door GTi has an overall length of 4199mm, wheelbase of 2574mm, width of 1785mm and height of 1464mm. Tare mass is 1360kg and the turning circle is 10.9m.  The GTi rides on 17-inch “Denver” alloy wheels and 225/45 R17 tyres

The first thing you notice when you sit in the GTi is the snugness of the drivers seat, especially for drivers with larger rear ends like me! It has bolstered sides and preempts what is to come.  

In front of you is the 3-spoke leather rimmed flat-bottomed sports steering wheel with Audio and Multi-function Display controls. It really is one of the better steering wheels out there. Being height and reach adjustable means that in combination with seat adjustment you can get almost a perfect drivers position.  I would opt for the electrically adjustable leather seats for more comfort.

(DSG Option and Sat Nav Option shown)

Taste is a very personal thing and to my taste the ‘Jacky’ GTI sports cloth seats with red decorative stitching are pretty ghastly however others really liked them?  

The dash directly in front is pure Golf, which means clear, easy to use and read dials and MFD. The centre dash houses the AM/FM security coded radio (RCD510) with 61 ?2” touch screen display with unique GTI skin, MP3/WMA compatible SD card slot and 6 disc CD changer (in dash). The auxiliary input audio socket is in the front centre console.  

Other features include dual zone automatic (2 modes) climate control A/C, front centre armrest with storage box, cup holders with a bottle opener as a divider, power front windows, with roll-back function, driver with one-touch up-down, etc. There are also larger bottle holders in the doorsills and a decent sized glove box.   

In the rear are two seats, individually sculptured, rear cup holders (2), rear seat centre armrest with load through provision and rear A/C outlets. Legroom is restricted behind tall drivers. This is especially so as the drivers seat has HEAPS of travel for taller drivers. Big tick for that.  

The Multi-Function Display (MFD Plus) includes trip time, trip length, average speed, average and current fuel consumption, distance till empty, outside temperature, audio and convenience menus. It works well, is intuitive to use and provides useful information.

The Golf was awarded a maximum five-star rating by the EuroNCAP crash-testing agency along with a maximum five-star safety rating by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). 

It comes as no surprise then that the GTI features class-leading levels of safety with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) traction control which are integrated into the Golf’s Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL & XDL), Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist (BA).  

It also includes seven airbags, including for the first time a knee airbag, as well as driver and front passenger airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags, curtain airbags, front and rear all standard. Seat belts include front height adjustable with pre-tensioners and belt force limiters and 3-point seat belts for all passengers 

Another feature not widely known is that the VW Golf GTi comes equipped with a Crash Impact Sound Sensor (CISS). This clever feature detects the sound frequencies of noises typically made during an accident and crosschecks them against deceleration sensors.  

So when that screeching brake sound of the approaching car is heard the split-second calculation activates the airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners when needed, in above-average time. CISS also recognises minor accidents ensuring your airbags will not unnecessarily deploy.

Powering the GTI is an advanced new version of Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre TSI engine, mated to a six-speed manual transmission driving through the front wheels. The 2.0L motor produces 155 kW between 5,300 and 6,200 rpm, which allows the vehicle to accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds. Maximum torque is 280 Nm between 1,700 and 5,200 rpm. There is no discernable torque steer.  

As with many elements about the GTi, the truth lies not in the raw figures but rather how they translate to real world conditions. While the Torque figure is not large it comes in low in the rev range which means that the GTi will happily potter around town in 5^th or 6^th gear which contributes greatly to the economy of 7.7 L/100km (ADR combined). The manual transmission is smooth and easy to use with well-spaced ratios to gain maximum advantage. 

To keep all this planted firmly on the road the Golf GTi’s front axle sports suspension is lowered by 22mm and uses MacPherson struts and an anti-roll bar. The rear axle sports suspension is lowered by 15mm and uses an independent four-link setup with coil springs and an anti-roll bar. 

The overall effect is an exceptionally balanced vehicle with chassis dynamics that are a dream.

The reason that VW has sold over 1.7million GTi’s to date is that they are bloody great. I go back to what I said earlier. No other hot hatch comes close to achieving the level of balance that the GTi does.  

The 6^th generation improvements means the evolution continues to improve the breed. Slightly more power, slightly bigger, more fuel efficient and safer. Change can often bring unwanted results but the evolutionary process for the GTi is well entrenched.  

At a MLP of $38,990 it is a bloody bargain. Personally I would opt for the 6 speed DSG, not because the manual isn’t good, its great, but after a while I would tire of the daily drive changing gears and the DSG does it better.  

Would I buy one, absolutely…. I wonder if VW has a spare one there?????