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Volkswagen Golf GTI Gallery
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| DRIVING RATING: |
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Forget the softened, watered-down experience that Golf GTI-driving had become over the last decade. The Mk5 version is a properly focused hot hatchback with the easy, deep-seated pulling power that made the old eight-valve Mk2 such a disdainfully capable point-to-point car (only now there's much more of it) and a driving feel at once keen-edged and forgiving. The steering, with more weight and better feedback than in a regular Golf and little of the return-to-centre viscosity that spoils some electric systems, is quick and accurate. It gives a fair feel of the road through the leather-rimmed steering wheel, too, at least for a modern car - though a brief drive in two of Volkswagen's own Mk1 GTIs reminded us what modern cars lack in true feeling.
This meant that on the test route's wet roads we had to work up gradually to the grip limit, gaining information from other senses beyond hand touch and muscle tension in the arms. In the old cars we could feel what was happening more clearly, and drive near the limit of grip more confidently.
But a session on the Paul Ricard test track soon put things right. Helped by the huge grip, in dry and wet conditions alike, of the Bridgestone Potenza RE050 tyres we could discover just what the new Golf can do. All the test cars were on the standard 17in rims, incidentally; the 18in ones are entirely unnecessary for handling and would probably compromise the ride, so choose those only if you think the 17-inchers don't look tough enough (which is surely unlikely). Now we could confirm what we suspected on the road, that this Golf GTI's keen, positive responses, completely devoid of the Mk4's rubberiness, were not a gateway to a flailing tail despite a great turn-in and a degree of 'throttle adjustability'.
Partly this is down to a very effective but non-nannying ESP system, partly it's because the suspension design and set-up make for a very forgiving car. We could splash at speed through a curve drenched with enough water to trigger some major aquaplaning, yet the Golf would stay pointing straight. On a soaked hairpin, deliberate provocation by braking hard into the corner would flick the tail momentarily, then the ESP would take over, selectively brake wheels and apply throttle, and pull the Golf back on course. It was a remarkable, if unintended, demonstration, and proved that there's little to fear from a wet road. With ESP switched off some electronic systems remain activated, notable the traction control and the MSR which prevents engine braking from causing a skid, and the GTI is still barely fazed by soaked surfaces.
Armed with this knowledge, a damp road or even a dry one holds little fear. This is a grippy yet highly entertaining companion, able to devour twisty, bumpy roads with terrific traction, a calm if firm ride and amazing agility. A true hot hatch, in fact.
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