Volkswagen Golf GTI 2014 Review
The previous hot hatch champ faces fierce new competition, and on-track the differences are beginning to showVolkswagen Golf GTI
It’s a rorty sports car no doubt, but underpinned with always-evident refinement, high levels of safety and Germanic styling restraint.
By comparison, the MINI is calculatedly quirky, the Megane purely sexy, the WRX seemingly the work of multiple stylists and the Focus simply modish and well-balanced.
The GTI’s cabin accommodation is only restricted by the sculpted front seats that eat into rear-seat legroom, while all-round vision from the driver’s seat is a mere notch down on the best-in-test WRX.
There’s a handy 380-litre boot, expandable to 1270 litres via a 60/40 split-fold backrest, and a general premium air about its overall presentation.
The materials used contrast, in particular, with the much more basic Subaru WRX. Also like the WRX, there’s no push-button start.
The GTI is not as subdued as a regular Golf on the open road in terms of general noise level and suspension comfort. The nicely controlled firmness of the ride and the gentle tunes from the relatively mild 162kW engine should be seen as a bonus, not a detraction.
Although the paint and panel gaps were up to Volkswagen’s usual high standard, and although the interior fitted together exceptionally well, there were small details that had us scratching our heads.
Chief among these was an annoying vibration through the dashboard when ‘Sport’ mode was selected from the Drive Mode Selector. Yes, the idea is to inject a little more intake note through the plenum, and through to the drive, but the noise was such that it detracted from the warble of the engine. In the end, it just drove us nuts.
Also, the flap of leather used to cover the steering column when it’s adjusted to its lower level looked a lot like an afterthought, and out of step with the quality of the remainder of the dash.
Otherwise, the Golf GTI was a fine example of just what one should expect for the money in this category.
You might say it’s the ‘cheese’ to the Subaru’s ‘chalk’.
The GTI was comfortably the most refined car on test, with a comfortable driving position and a nicely resolved ride/handling balance impressing judges.
It did, however, drink more fuel than expected, returning 7.1L/100km against an ADR Combined figure of 6.2.
On-track, the Golf GTI was competent in each area, without being overly inspiring.
“It does everything to a solid standard and is clearly quick, but it’s quite benign,” Youlden commented.
“Even when it is switched off, the stability has an annoying habit of spoiling the fun, cutting power just when you need it most – and it’s often caught between gears on this circuit.”
The GTI’s lap time of 1:01.01 bested the more powerful Focus, as did its 0-100km/h time of 7.2sec, showing off its traction, flexibility and relatively light weight (1313kg).
Surprisingly, 60-0km/h braking took 14.4m, beating only the Focus.
As the only vehicle on test with a touchscreen infotainment system, the Golf GTI was intuitive to operate. Likewise, the connecting of our Apple iPhone 4S via Bluetooth was the easiest of the lot.
Volkswagen has installed an excellent audio system that encompasses a pair of SD card slots for the loading audio files, and an in-glovebox CD/DVD player.
The HVAC controls of the dual-zone climate control system had a simple layout but, like those of the Subaru WRX, could look a little more sophisticated and offer better tactility.
Like the Focus ST, the Golf GTI had lots of steering wheel buttons – 18 in total – but they were more sensibly organised. The trip computer was also more detailed in resolution, and simpler to operate.
All windows featured one-touch functionality and the Golf GTI was the only vehicle on test to offer an electronic park brake with auto-hold function.
Like the Subaru WRX, the Volkswagen Golf GTI didn’t have push-button engine start. It was the only car here not equipped with LED daytime running lights.
There’s no quibbling over equipment levels, nor with the performance delivered, but the GTI is constantly under attack by relentlessly strong competition, especially the base Renault Megane RS that can be bought for just $36,990 (plus ORCs).
The GTI brings BlueMotion fuel-saving technology (including idle stop-start), satnav, a reversing camera, electro-mechanical parking brake, electrochromatic rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and safety technology that stretches to seven airbags, auto-flash brake lights for emergency situations and driver fatigue detection, in addition to all the usual active electronic aids.
The Golf GTI is covered by Volkswagen’s three-year / unlimited kilometre warranty, as well as roadside assist for the full warranty period.
A capped-price servicing scheme covers the first six standard scheduled services that come every 15,000km / 12 months, whichever is first.
Resale is strong: A year-old GTI can be expected to bring 87 per cent of its original purchase price in the private-sale market.
motoring.com.au's 2014 Small Performance Car Comparison
>> Subaru WRX
| Price: $42,490 (as tested, plus on-road costs) |
Performance figures (as tested): |
| Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol |
0-60km/h: 3.7 seconds |
| Output: 162kW/350Nm | 0-100km/h: 7.2 seconds |
| Transmission: Six-speed manual | 80-100km/h: 2.1 seconds |
| Fuel: 6.2L/100km (ADR Combined) | 60-0km/h: 14.4m |
| CO2: 144g/km (ADR Combined) | Lap time: 1:01.01 |
| Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP |
| What we liked: | Not so much: |
| >> Strong resale value | >> Poorer braking performance |
| >> On-road refinement | >> Minor build quality niggles |
| >> Resolved ride/handling blend | >> Intrusive stability control |
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