This is a car that enthusiasts in India have been eagerly awaiting for years. It is, of course, the Volkswagen Golf GTI, and by now you probably know quite a bit about this hot hatch. We spent a good amount of time hammering it around the NATRAX test tracks, but now, we’ve finally brought it to our home turf to see how it deals with real-world challenges – speed breakers, broken roads, traffic, and more.
Volkswagen Golf GTI performance and refinement – 9/10
The 0-100kph sprint takes just 5.73sec, while quarter mile is dealt with in under 14sec.
Let’s start off with the most interesting bit – the performance. With 265hp and 370Nm on tap from this 2.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine, of course, the Golf GTI is really quick. We started off by subjecting it to our performance testing using a VBox, and while Volkswagen claims a 0-100kph time of 5.9sec, we managed 5.73sec. This makes it over half a second quicker than its closest rival, the Mini Cooper S; impressive. But perhaps, what was even more impressive was the fact that it managed a sub-14sec (13.78sec) quarter mile time.
| Volkswagen Golf GTI powertrain | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4 cyls, 1984cc, turbo-petrol |
| Power | 265hp at 5250-6500rpm |
| Torque | 370Nm at 1600-4500rpm |
| Gearbox | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Drive layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive |
Roll-on acceleration is strong too, with the GTI completing the 20-80kph sprint in 3.3sec and 40-100kph in 3.78sec. As for the brakes, they provide a strong bite and good feedback, bringing this 1,454kg hatch to a standstill from 80kph in 26.37m, which is just shy of the Cooper S.
| Volkswagen Golf GTI acceleration from rest | |
|---|---|
| Speed | Time taken |
| 20kph | 1 second |
| 40kph | 1.98 seconds |
| 60kph | 3.01 seconds |
| 80kph | 4.16 seconds |
| 100kph | 5.73 seconds |
| 120kph | 7.58 seconds |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI in-gear acceleration (in kickdown) | |
|---|---|
| Speed | Time taken |
| 20-80kph | 3.3 seconds |
| 40-100kph | 3.78 seconds |
Volkswagen Golf GTI ride comfort and handling – 9/10
With all the power being channelled to the front wheels, there is torque steer, but it’s manageable and, in fact, even adds to the playful drive experience. Another thing that enhances the experience is the exhaust in Sport mode, which, though piped through the audio system, does sound really good; especially on downshifts, when it crackles and pops.
Clever e-diff counteracts understeer and pulls you in for tighter lines around corners.
With 370Nm being sent only to the front wheels, you’d expect understeer from the GTI, but it is very well contained thanks to the clever electronic differential. You can even feel it pulling you in for a tighter line around a corner, which only makes you want to drive harder. And then, when you do drive it hard, you can even induce some oversteer, which is super entertaining.
It belies its size from behind the wheel and shrinks around you.
It’s also very eager to turn into corners thanks to its quick steering. The steering, which is light at low speeds, picks up weight in a progressive manner as speeds rise, which aids confidence. The GTI hugs corners like few front-wheel-drive cars do – there’s barely any body roll, and on the whole, it’s an absolute hoot to drive around some twisty roads.
Light steering is a boon in traffic
The low speed ride may be jittery but it settles down as speeds rise.
But not everyone who buys this car will be reserving it just for weekend drives on good roads; the VW will also have to be capable in the daily grind. The Golf GTI measures 4.3 metres in length, 1.7 metres in width, with a 2.6-metre wheelbase, which is comparable to a Hyundai Creta, but being a hatchback, it seems a lot smaller from behind the wheel. You get a good view out of the cabin, there aren’t any blind spots, and the light and quick steering make it super easy to navigate in traffic.
Creep function can feel a bit too strong
One thing you have to be mindful of is the creep function, which can feel a bit too strong. And that also goes for the throttle, which feels a bit too sharp initially but can be dulled slightly by using Eco mode. Once you get used to it, you’ll actually appreciate it as it makes darting in and out of gaps a breeze. Parking is also easy. There isn’t a 360-degree camera, but the rear view camera is good enough; what helps matters are the front parking sensors.
The GTI is surprisingly capable over bad roads and speed breakers.
With a ground clearance of 136mm, you’d think it would have a tough time clearing speed breakers, and yes, you do have to be really careful over the big ones. Getting to our shoot location involved some large speed breakers, but the GTI didn’t scrape its belly even once. But you’ll have to be even more cautious when the car is fully laden.
| Volkswagen Golf GTI dimensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length (mm) | 5,289 | ||
| Width (mm) | 1,789 | ||
| Height (mm) | 1,471 | ||
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,627 | ||
| Tyres (f/r) | 225/40 R18 | ||
| Ground clearance (mm) | 136 | ||
India-spec Golf GTI misses out on Dynamic Chassis Control
Mumbai is notorious for its bad roads, and the extended monsoon means that quite a few now closely resemble the surface of the moon. The Golf GTI sits on large 18-inch alloys, and the stiff suspension setup means you do feel the bumps inside the cabin, especially the large ones. Low-speed ride is jittery, and there is some vertical movement, though it settles down as speeds rise. A lot of it depends on the road surface too, though.
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 the Dynamic Chassis Control (adaptive dampers) via which one can soften/stiffen the suspension. So yes, you can easily daily drive this hot hatchback.
Volkswagen Golf GTI interior space and comfort – 8/10
What furthers its usability is the practical cabin. Inside the Golf GTI, you get a sizeable glove box, large door pockets that fit big bottles, two trays for your smartphones in the centre console, two big cup holders and some storage under the centre armrest. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that your phone will fly off the top tray under hard acceleration.
Narrow cabin and transmission tunnel mean it’s best for two at the back.
Other than that, I really like the GTI flourishes this cabin gets. The seats feature Alcantara and tartan fabric upholstery, and they are superbly bolstered, the flat-bottom steering with the red details feels great to hold, and the sporty metal pedals do their bit to add spice.
The rear seat space in the Golf GTI is about the same as a compact SUV. There’s actually sufficient leg and head room for six-footers, and you aren’t sitting knees up as well, which is nice. But this is best for two as it’s short on width, and there’s a huge transmission tunnel in the centre, which robs the centre passenger of foot room. At the back, you get seatback pockets, cup holders in the fold-down armrest, and the door bins can hold 1-litre water bottles.
380-litre boot has a wide opening, low loading lip, and can fit in a lot.
The boot volume is 380 litres, which might not seem like much, but you can easily fit a weekend’s worth of luggage for your family. The boot opening is wide and the loading lip isn’t high, which makes loading items easy. The rear seats also split and fold to fit in more cargo. And since it doesn’t get a spare tyre, there’s even more space under the boot floor to store some soft bags. But the downside to this then is that you only get a puncture repair kit.
Volkswagen Golf GTI features and safety – 7/10
The Golf GTI is brought in as a CBU, and it comes pre-specced. It is fairly well equipped, with a large 12.9-inch touchscreen that’s slick to operate and easy to navigate, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, Matrix LED headlamps, heated front seats, a sunroof, 3-zone auto climate control, a wireless phone charger, and more.
No 360-deg, but rear camera and front sensors make it easy to park.
However, there are many options available abroad, which haven’t been ticked for India, like a Harman/Kardon audio system, leather seats with power adjust and ventilation, Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), among others, which would’ve really lifted the feel-good factor and made you feel more like you’re getting your money’s worth.
Safety kit includes 7 airbags, and ADAS tech like adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and autonomous emergency braking. The ADAS features, though welcome, do feel a bit too sensitive and intrusive for our road conditions. They can be turned off via the handy shortcut buttons in the centre console, but they will turn back on every time you start the car.
Volkswagen Golf GTI price and verdict – 7/10
The GTI is fun, emotional and quite easy to live with too.
Priced at over Rs 50 lakh (ex-showroom), there’s no doubt the Volkswagen Golf GTI is expensive. And considering it misses some feel-good features and the fact that it’s a hatchback tips the scales further away from it. However, this was never meant to be a rational buy; it was always meant to be a heart-over-head decision. The Golf GTI is meant to be fun and emotional, and that it definitely is. And to top it off, it is also easy to live with and quite practical.
