2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review | carsales

The Volkswagen Golf GTi has long been revered
as the people’s performance car.
For more than 40 years the GTi formula has
stayed largely the same: affordable and accessible
performance.
However, things have changed slightly for
2019: the price of admission to get into a
Golf GTi is now more than it has ever been,
there is no three door option, and the manual
transmission is gone.
Which begs the question – has Volkswagen
broken with tradition?
Pricing for the Golf GTi is now set firmly
at $45,490 plus onroad costs – that’s an
$8,000 increase on the previous three door
manual entry model.
Now, the GTi’s performance credentials have
now been boosted.
You’re getting 180 kilowatts and 370 Newton
metres from the two litre turbo 4.
You’re also getting a seven speed dual clutch
transmission borrowed from the Golf R. In
addition to that, there’s a new electro-mechanical
front differential lock along with beefier
brakes all round.
That’s a lot of kit.
There is a sporty yet sophisticated edge to
the key controls, and a level of refinement
and maturity that belies the small hatch mould.
The ride feels slightly more firm and fidgety
than before, but that could be down to the
fitment of optional 19 inch wheels to our
test car.
Engine, tractable.
Gearbox, clinical.
Body control and steering, well balanced and
agile to boot.

/> There is a lot to like about the Golf GTi,
and with each generation you kind of know
what you’re getting.
It’s a terrific little device out on the
road.
As for the GTi engine, look, it’s a cracker.
It’s smooth and progressive when you ask
it to be, but then when you put the foot down
you’re getting a really nice tractable power
curve, and an engine that’s actually quite
willing to rev all the way through to its
6,500 RPM cut out.
If anything, probably lacking a little bit
of emotion, even in sports mode you’re not quite
getting the fruitiness that you might be asking
for.
Arguably the bigger issue is spawned from the
lack of a manual transmission.
The problem is that the DSG Auto will always
override the manual shift, even when you have
the car set into the manual gate.
And surprisingly, the Golf has lost its signature
blast or belch between aggressive upshifts,
and that’s been a real signature for DSG in
the past.
Then there’s the price.
The base car starts at $45,000 like we mentioned,
but this particular vehicle has more than
$6,000 worth of options, so well into $50k
territory, mid 50s by the time you add your
onroad costs.
You could counter all that with the fact that
this is arguably the most rounded Golf GTi
that we’ve ever seen.
But I think all in all, from the tartan seats
and three doors through to now, the Golf has
really changed gears.
I reckon the GTi has finally come of age.

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