Category: Hot Hatchbacks 
Price Range: £23,015 to £23,600
Refined, civilised and sophisticated, yet still sporting; containable running costs.
Too cosseting and not raw-edged enough for some.
This grown-up GTI is a consummate all-rounder.
No Volkswagen Golf range is complete without a GTI model. This is GTI Mk6, with the revised chassis and bodyshell of the mainstream Mk6 hatches.
Suitably spiffed-up with a honeycomb grille, wide-spaced foglamps, fat bumpers, subtle tailgate spoiler and twin chromed exhaust tailpipes, the GTI is identifiable as such without sporting any lairy bolt-on extras. Like the Mk1 and Mk2 GTIs, it's a discreet differentiation. Lovers of whale-tail spoilers and tarmac-scraping body kit need not apply.
Under the skin, the GTI gets lowered and retuned suspension, an electronic differential lock and adaptive chassis control system - and an all-new 207bhp 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged engine. Half of buyers are expected to take up the option of the DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) automated-manual in place of the default six-speed stick-shift.
Three- and five-door bodystyles are on offer. UK prices start from £22,410 (three-door manual) and deliveries begin towards the end of May 2009.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volkswagen Golf GTI
wrote on 04 02 2008
wrote on 19 09 2007