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.
Good for a GTI: this new engine returns an acceptable 38.7mpg (38.2 with the DSG transmission) and emits 170g/km of carbon dioxide (173g/km DSG), a lower-tax improvement on its predecessor.
Volkswagen parts and servicing costs are dearer than those of, say, Ford or Vauxhall, but aren't too exotic, and insurance should be reasonable for a car this powerful.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volkswagen Golf GTI
wrote on 04 02 2008
wrote on 19 09 2007