The GTI gets under your skin
Smiles ear to ear. This little thing makes me grin like a child every single time I drive it. The Mk7 Volkswagen GTI is such a brilliant hatchback. When you utilize its clever use of space, interact with, or drive it even moderately hard, you start to understand why the Beetle is no longer “the peoples car”. That responsibility now belongs to the golf, specifically the GTI. In the US market it sells so well, its no wonder VW is axing the regular Golf and all Beetle models.
Very few vehicles can achieve the overall well roundedness a Volkswagen GTI can for the price. When shopping in this segment, you will be hard pressed to find another car that offers the same combination of performance, utility, and luxury. This is especially true if you find a quality used one, of which there are many. This is a stylish car but it doesn’t go overboard. You get sporty red brake calipers but no over styled rear spoiler. You get dual exhaust outlets but the sound that comes out isn’t loud or obnoxious (although I wish it was louder). You get GTI badging and wheels that have a saw blade shape, but clean body lines and no crazy (or fake) scoops. Theres a balancing act here; its expressing a sensible yet sporty character.
Performance: My biggest takeaway driving the GTI in a spirited canyon setting is that its truly confidence inspiring. It likes being tossed into corners in a way that can make any driver feel like a hero. Albeit a quiet engine, the tried and true “EA888” turbo four in the GTI has gobs of low to midrange punch. So much so that I found myself upshifting early many times only to look at the tachometer with a couple thousand revs left. This isn’t a massively quick car, but it isn’t a slow car either. Its just enough pep to keep up with friends on your weekend drive. The performance pack gives you bigger brakes, an electronic limited slip differential, and power is up to 220hp with 258lb.-ft. of torque. The way it drives is comfortable, natural, and never jarring.
With tires becoming thinner these days its easy to ruin the ride of what is otherwise a compliant suspension set up. It soaks up bumps well but still lets you know whats going on with the road beneath you. The GTI doesn’t disappoint in that it corners fairly flat but allows just enough roll to have a personality. Driving this car is less of a chore, it’s rather refreshing. You can hustle it, but it never feels unsafe to do so. The old ads for the GTI were spot on with their slogan of, “Make friends with your fast.” Insinuating that your sense of “fast” was something within the human body that the GTI was built to stimulate. You do end up making friends with this mysterious 6th sense and the result is a subtle smile and warm feeling inside.
The steering is a bit on the light side but in a way that is smooth and relatively communicative. It never feels jittery like some other systems can. Sport mode offers a slightly heavier steering feel and a more responsive throttle further spotlighting the midrange torque, though I wish this mode made the steering heavier still. The electronic limited slip differential helps the front wheels put the power down very well, no torque steer or one tire fire here. For the price and type of vehicle it is, the GTI offers plenty of everyday performance. Oh, and the DSG transmission is fantastic! Super quick shifts, if you must have an auto. Unlike some dual clutch autos which don’t allow the car to “creep” forward when you let off the brakes, this one has a creep feature built in so it artificially does it for you like a regular auto.
On track the owner of this particular GTI, Aaron Packard, felt a deeper understanding of the level of the engineering that went into the car. He said it made him appreciate it more, and was surprised at how far he could push the car. The upgraded brakes proved to be a strong ally on track. The competent suspension made for both impressive cornering ability on track, and a comfortable drive home further adding to versatility of the GTI. Tracks tend to point out any flaws with cars, and at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Aaron felt he could have utilized a bit more power. On the other hand he felt there was ample power and grip to learn to drive faster, but not enough to get into trouble, which is arguably the most important aspect of track driving.
Utility: GTI seats five, but will only comfortably seat four on long distance drives. The front seats are well bolstered and offer a good amount of squish where its needed. I love the bottle holders in the doors that are lined with felt to reduce rattling and can accommodate large bottles. The rear seats fold down making for a large cargo space. VW’s “CarGo” organizing system is a clever way of making sure your groceries don’t go flying around in the rear cargo area. Its simple yet effective, utilizing a cloth mat that lines the area in which you can place velcro lined plastic separators to organize and contain items. Theres also a cargo cover that closes with the hatch to seal off the cargo area if need be.
Luxury: Yes the Volkswagen GTI offers a decent level of luxury. The Autobahn package adds a ton of niceties including leather seats, dual climate control, heated seats, a huge sunroof, touchscreen infotainment system, and a very powerful Fender audio system with all the bass you could ever want from a subwoofer. I do wish the shift paddles that control such a brilliant transmission weren’t cheap plastic but considering more expensive Audis use the same exact ones, they get the job done in the GTI. The flat bottom steering wheel and polished aluminum pedals are welcome touches.
The VW GTI is a joy to drive. It does all the things you need as a daily driver, and can be utilized as a weekend car. Whether you’re hauling stuff around for a long trip or just taking a quick sprint down a twisty road, its a trusty companion for many types of people and suits an active lifestyle well.