Volkswagen Golf - Pictures

Subtle and stylish sums up the GTI’s looks. It doesn’t shout from the rooftops, but neat details such as the twin chrome exhausts, contrasting black trim and honeycomb grille up front help it stand out.

The cabin is understated, but the quality is excellent and there’s an air of sophistication that’s missing in the MINI. It’s not as bold in its design, but the GTI’s layout is fuss-free, and everything works wit

With a standard five-door set-up, getting in and out of the Golf is much simpler than in the Clubman. There’s more leg and headroom inside, too. Leather is a £1,645 option, but we think the cloth trim looks great.

The Golf feels more tractable from low revs, but it lacks the raw appeal of its rival, and the DSG gearbox robs you of a sense of acceleration. The steering rack is slower geared than the MINI, but ride quality is excellent.

Five-hole Monza alloys are unique to the standard GTI, while our test car was fitted with the optional Monza II 18-inch versions. They cost an extra £465, but really enhance the sporty look of the Golf.