GTI hits the road!

THE new Golf GTI is fantastic to drive and the chassis well suited to UK roads. Its 207bhp output lags behind gutsy rivals – but few can match its road manners, or the quality of its finish. It’s just as capable on a twisty road as a motorway. The GTI is a subtle, mature hot hatch and still as desirable as ever.

It's 33 years since the first Golf GTI hit the road. Now, the sixth generation of the daddy of hot hatches is here – and Auto Express has driven it.

VW has pulled out all the stops to make the MkVI GTI the best yet. Trademark red pinstriping shows off the edgier nose as front foglamps accentuate the wider, lower grille. At the rear is a discreet roof spoiler, while the tailpipes now sit far apart, either side of a diffuser. Touches such as the sill trims give a leaner, meaner look, although the ‘telephone-dial’ wheels are near identical to those of the MkV GTI.

Inside, the Golf is a grade above rivals. Piano black trim contrasts with shiny aluminium, and the controls exude a real air of VW quality.

The steering wheel is fully adjustable, so it’s easy to get comfortable in the tartan-trimmed seat. Options such as the touchscreen sat-nav and reversing camera (located under the boot release) complete the premium package. Under the bonnet is the same turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine as found in the VW Scirocco, but it now has an extra 10bhp. That takes power to 207bhp between 5,300rpm and 6,200rpm.

It doesn’t have the punch of the Ford Focus ST or new 247bhp Renaultsport Mégane, but the Golf is still fast, covering 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds. Throttle response is sharp, and power is delivered throughout the rev range. The short-throw, six-speed manual box has a superb snappy change, too. Despite the 10bhp power hike, the GTI is more efficient. It returns 38.1mpg economy and emits a mere 170g/km of CO2.

Also lifted from the Scirocco is Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC), which allows the driver to switch the suspension’s pneumatic dampers between ‘Comfort’, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’ modes. Changes are subtle, but the Golf always delivers a taut ride and ‘Normal’ is a strong blend and perfectly suits winding back roads.

The chassis grips harder than you’d imagine, and with well weighted and accurate steering, you can corner with the utmost precision. The Golf is lighter on its feet and reacts more neutrally than the Focus. VW has fitted an electronic limited slip differential to aid traction. Known as XDS, the all-new system works with the car’s ESP to actually pre-empt and cancel out any wheelspin before it happens.

At cruising speeds, the car is hushed and refined, adding to its mature feel. The latest model is less of a leap forward than its predecessor, but it’s none the worse for that. VW has made several well judged improvements – and the end result is the best Golf GTI yet.

Rival: Ford Focus ST
AT £17,172, the Focus is much cheaper, more powerful and quicker off the mark than the Golf. But it’s also thirstier and falls into a higher tax band.