Volkswagen Golf GTI
FIRST DRIVE We drive hottest Mk7.5 GTI. Is it worth the extra outlay?
Is Performance version of Mk 7.5 hot hatch worth extra outlay?
AFTER more than 40 years on sale, the Volkswagen Golf GTI has rightly earned its status as a performance icon.
And now this facelifted Mk7.5 Performance version, fitted with VW’S seven-speed DSG dual-clutch auto gearbox, aims to further build on the car’s core values: pace, practicality, image and value.
So what do you get for the £31,505 this five-door hatch costs? Well, over and above the standard GTI, there’s a power hike to 242bhp, bigger brakes and a clever limited-slip front differential that helps put that extra grunt to the road.
Traction is strong for a front-wheel-drive performance car with this level of power. Admittedly, the GTI Performance still scrabbles for grip a little off the line, but its launch control helps to dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in just 6.2 seconds.
That locking diff definitely helps through corners. Trim your speed on the way in, apply the power smoothly and the nose locks on to a line, working with the accurate, nicely weighted steering and taut chassis to deliver an impressive level of agility and traction.
The engine has plenty of punch in the mid-range, and better still, it doesn’t run out of puff towards the red line like some turbo engines do. It sounds good, too. And the brakes are excellent, helping to rein in the GTI with reassuring stability.
The cabin is constructed from plush materials and gets lots of tech, with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring sat-nav and Bluetooth, as well as Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
Our test car was also fitted with £830 Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive dampers, which give a welcome level of compliance in Comfort mode. However, on larger 19-inch alloy wheels (£990) you still feel wheel movements over lumpy surfaces.
The Golf’s package isn’t flawless, though. There’s not much feedback through the steering, even if the grip on offer is more than you’ll need on most occasions.
The seven-speed DSG (the standard automatic GTI uses a six-speed DSG) isn’t as snappy as we’d like either, slurring shifts a little, even in Sport mode.
However, it’ll take more than this to take the shine of an accomplished package. With a roomy cabin and a 380-litre boot, claimed efficiency of 44.8mpg and 144g/km of CO2 emissions, it has practicality and usability to go with the pace and performance.