The Hot Hatch India Has Been Waiting For:-
This is a car that enthusiasts in India have been waiting eagerly for years. It is of course the Volkswagen Golf GTI and by now you probably know quite a bit about it. We did do an in-depth review of the Golf GTI, but that was at the Natrax test track. And now we finally got it out here in the real world to see how it deals with realworld challenges such as speed breakers and potholes.
Explosive Performance From a 2.0 TSI:-
With 265 horsepower and 370 Newton meters on tap from this 2 L TSI turbo petrol engine, the Golf GTI, of course, is really quick. In our performance test, we managed to clock a 0 to 100 kph time of just 5.73 seconds, and that’s over half a second quicker than the Mini Cooper S. We even managed a sub4second time in the 1/4 mile run, and it is potent in gear, too. Here’s a quick look at all the acceleration figures. Now, with all that power being channeled to just the front wheels, of course, there’s some torque steer present, but it never feels unnerving. In fact, it actually adds to the driving experience and makes it feel even more entertaining. What also adds to the experience is the exhaust note in sport mode. Sure, it’s piped through the speakers, but it does sound really good. And it also lets out an occasional crack and pop on the downshift, which sounds really, really good. So, in normal everyday city driving, this 2 L TSI is refined, chilled out, and very dosile. But if you want performance and that quick burst of acceleration, you know, you have 265 horses under your right foot and it just explodes to life.
Immersive Exhaust Note Adds Emotion:-
There is a prominent step up in performance and that just adds to the whole experience. But that’s just in a straight line. What’s it like around corners? Being a front-wheel drive, you’d expect some under steer around the bends in the Golf GTI, but it is very well contained and you can barely even notice it thanks to that clever electronic differential. Sometimes, in fact, you can even feel it pulling you inside to take a tighter line around the corner. And if you do drive it hard enough, you can even induce some over steer, which is quite entertaining. It’s also very eager to turn in thanks to this quick steering. The steering is light at lower speeds, but it does pick up weight in a very progressive manner, which does add to your confidence when you’re pushing around bends, and it makes you want to drive even harder. The GTI hugs corners like few front-wheel cars do. There’s barely any body roll to speak of, and on the whole, it feels like an absolute hoot to drive around some twisty roads. But not everyone who buys this car will be reserving it just for weekend drives on good roads. The Volkswagen will also have to be capable in the daily grind.
Cornering Confidence: A Front-Wheel-Drive Surprise:-
Measuring around 4.3 m in length, 1.7 m in width with a 2.6 m long wheelbase, the Golf GTI is around the size of a Hyundai Creta, but of course in a hatchback form. So, it does feel more manageable and easier to drive. What’s also good is that you get a great view out of the cabin. There aren’t any blind spots, so you can place the car exactly where you want, and that’s a big boon in city traffic. One thing that you have to keep in mind in bumperto-bumper traffic is that the creep function can feel a little too strong. So, you have to keep your foot on the brake and modulate it constantly. But, you do get used to it over time. In fact, even the throttle can feel a little too sharp initially, but you do get used to it, and in fact, you’ll appreciate it later as it makes closing those gaps in traffic and darting in and out of gaps really easy. Eco mode does dull throttle response slightly, but it can still feel a bit too sharp for the uninitiated.
Compact Dimensions, Urban-Friendly Character:-
There isn’t a 360° camera, but the rear view camera is good enough, and what helps matters are the front parking sensors. With a ground clearance of 136 mm, you’d think it’ll have a tough time clearing speed breakers as I’m approaching one right now. But if you’re really careful, it’s really not an issue at all. Though, it’s worth keeping in mind that when the car is fully loaded, you can scrape the belly on some of the really large speed breakers. The Golf GTI is also surprisingly capable at tackling bad roads so long as you’re really careful. Sure, it does get jittery and you get a bit of vertical movements at lower speeds, but that’s expected from a hot hatchback. You expect this kind of firm setup which rewards you in the corners. The GTI sits on large 18-in alloys, and the stiff suspension setup means that you do feel large bumps inside the cabin. On really bad sections, you have to exercise caution. But on the whole, you’d be surprised as to how well it absorbs bumps. And that’s especially impressive considering the India spec model doesn’t come fitted with dynamic chassis control via which one can soften or stiffen the suspension. So on the whole, yes, the GTI is a car that you’d enjoy more on night drives and on some weekend runs, but it can easily do the duty as your daily driver as well. The GTS cabin is a practical place.
Ground Clearance and Ride: Surprisingly Capable:-
You get large door bins. You get two trays here for your smartphones, two large cup holders, and there’s space under the center armrest as well. Other than that, really like the GTI flourishes this cabin comes with. So you get red detailing all around. Really like these seats which are upholstered in Alcantara and this tartan fabric upholstery. It looks really cool and it holds you in place around the bends. And you also get sporty metal pedals and this flat bottom steering with the GTI logo. All of which adds a bit of spice to the cabin. At the back too, you get large door bins which can easily hold large water bottles. There are seatback pockets with special slots for your smartphone. So that’s really nice. There’s also a fold down armrest with cup holders and you also have USB type-C charging ports. There’s actually sufficient leg and headroom, and you aren’t sitting knees up as well, but this is best for two as it’s short on width, and there’s a huge transmission tunnel in the center. The boot volume is 380 L.
A Practical, Sporty Cabin:-
And while that might not seem like a lot, it’s actually a properly usable space and it can easily swallow up your luggage for a weekend, as you can see here. What’s also nice is that the loading lip isn’t too high and the opening is wide, so you can fit in items quite easily. And since it doesn’t get a spare tire, there’s even more space under the boot floor to store some soft bags. And you can even split and fold the rear seat for even more room. So yes, the GTI is practical, too.The GTI does come well equipped with things like this large 12.9 in touchscreen that’s slick to operate and easy to navigate. You also get this 10.25 in digital instrument cluster that’s highly customizable. You get a threezone climate control, a sunroof, a wireless phone charger and some other things. But some of the options that are available in Europe haven’t been ticked for India.
Feature List: Well Equipped But Missing Some Premium Bits:-
Things like a 9- speakeraker Harmon Carden audio system, leatherrett upholstery, electric adjust for the seats, and seat ventilation. In fact, this gets seat heating since it’s a UK spec car. And yes, if it did have those options, it would have just upped the feelgood factor even more. In terms of safety also, you’re well covered. You get seven airbags and ADAS features like autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane keep assist. But since it’s a CBU and a UK spec car, the ADAS features do feel a little too sensitive and intrusive for our road conditions. And you can do that via this nifty shortcut in the center console. But a downer is that you have to turn them off every time you get into the car. It’s worth mentioning though, the next batch of GTI being imported will get a spare tire and keyless entry. Priced at rupees 50 lakh x showroom, the Golf GTI is expensive and considering that it misses some feelgood features and the fact that it is a hatchback tips the scales further away from it. But then again, this is not a rational buy. This is something that you buy with your heart over your head. And in that sense, the Golf GTI delivers in spades. The Golf GTI is meant to be fun and emotional, and that it definitely is. So, if that’s something that you’re after, then yes, this hot hatchback is definitely worth it.