Volkswagen Golf GTI

The Volkswagen Golf GTI retains the modern and feature-rich cabin of the standard Golf, with added features and sporty highlights to make it feel special over the latter. The all-black cabin of the Golf GTI is well-accentuated by contrast red stitching and highlights all around, with the car having Vienna leather upholstery and sports seats as standard offerings.

The youthful-looking driver’s cockpit of the Volkswagen Golf GTI is a combination of a flat-bottom tilt and telescopic multi-functional sports steering wheel and a full-TFT 10.25-inch digital cockpit pro instrument console. Attached to the instrument console housing is an 8.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which gets slanted buttons placed on its lower tips. The controls for the climate control are embedded in this infotainment screen, which is also a window to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 6-speaker audio system.

The middle layer of the dashboard below the infotainment screen has horizontal AC vents neatly integrated within it. The cabin feels properly sporty and premium with features like heated front seats, an 8-way powered driver’s seat with memory function, power-adjustable lumbar support, push start-stop button, 30-colour ambient lighting, three-zone automatic climate control, USB type-C charging ports, wireless charger and sunroof. If you select the optional Infotainment package, the features list gets upgraded with a larger 10-inch screen for the infotainment system, Harman Kardon sound system and head-up display.

Based on the standard Golf hatchback, the Volkswagen Golf GTI boasts of a shot of visual tweaks, which make the sporty hatchback look even spicier, thus matching its real element under the skin.

The front profile of the Volkswagen Golf GTI has the very familiar sleek-looking thin trapezoidal horizontal grille, which has an offset GTI logo placed on the left. On either end of this grille, there are large-sized all-LED projector headlamps, which also come integrated with daytime running LEDs. The entire width of the front bumper is covered by hexagonal mesh, with an air dam in the middle. One can even spec this front bumper with dotted X-themed auxiliary lamps.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI has a low-slung stance when viewed from the side, with the hatchback having a lowered ground clearance and large 18-inch Richmond alloy wheels. One has also the option of upgrading to larger 19-inch Estoril or 19-inch Adelaide alloys for an added premium. The taut line flowing from the front fender to the edge of the tail lamp adds character to the side profile of the Golf GTI, along with the trademark wide C-pillar, fender garnish, door-mounted rearview mirrors and red brake callipers.

The rear profile of the Volkswagen Golf GTI has a cleaner and more elegant look for the boot lid, which is also characterized by crisp creases and gets a combination LED tail lamps with tapered inner and outer edges. For added sportiness, the Golf GTI has a roof-mounted large spoiler and twin chrome exhaust ports integrated into the rear diffuser.

Apart from the mind-boggling performance of its TSI engine, the Volkswagen Golf GTI further impresses with the tautness of its chassis and suspension setup. The precise steering setup and stiffer springs over the standard Golf give the Golf GTI a more involving driving experience. And if you want more thrills on tap, you can even spec the Golf GTI with the optional sport suspension for an additional charge.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI has the much-acclaimed 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (TSI) sitting under its hood. With a maximum power output of 245 PS and a peak torque output of 370 Nm, this front-wheel-driven car is one of the most powerful hatchbacks on sale in the world. The powertrain also gets a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission offered as standard.

The extensive list of safety features justifying the premium positioning of the Volkswagen Golf GTI includes multi-collision brake, front, side and curtain airbags, blind spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert ”Side Assist”, rearview camera ”Rear Assist”, front and rear parking sensors, Park Assist, cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring system, driver alert system (rest recommendation), adaptive chassis control (DCC) and electromechanical parking brake with Auto Hold function. For an additional premium, you can also get the optional safety package, which includes adaptive cruise control, two additional airbags, front assist and travel assist with lane assist and emergency assist.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of those small-sized cars which have the power to impress you and trigger the racer boy in you with both its visual appeal and performance and driving capabilities on offer.