A performance hatch for ‘grown-ups’
GTI is an acronym that tugs at the heartstrings of anyone who is even mildly obsessed with cars.
Sure, it’s never been the fastest performance hatch on the block, and some of the middle generations (I’m looking at you, Golf 3 and 4) have been a little iffy, but no hatchback can lay claim to the kind of cult status and mass appeal the Volkswagen Golf GTI has enjoyed over the years.
Classy yet classless, and with its lovable blend of Vrrrpha acoustics, driving excitement and everyday useability, the GTI is to hot hatches what the Porsche 911 is to sports cars. It’s also relatively attainable by performance car standards, although the latest Veedub’s price tag of R669 300 is perhaps stretching things a bit.
But does the Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI live up to its legendary predecessors?
Following its launch in September, we spent a week with the latest hot hatch to find out if it has the winning recipe.
Engine and performance
Let’s start under the bonnet. The Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI is powered by an uprated version of the familiar EA888 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The tinkering has given it an extra 11kw and 20Nm, bringing the grand total to 180kw and 370Nm.
And yes, rivals like the Hyundai i30 N are technically more powerful, but somehow the Golf GTI feels faster than the numbers suggest.
Sure, we’re not speaking of heart-stopping acceleration here; but the Golf GTI satisfies with its ultraresponsive throttle and brisk, effortless acceleration (it takes just 6.4 seconds to get to 100km/h, according to factory claims). It’s perfectly calibrated seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is instrumental here, and it works like a charm when left to its own devices.
“Flappy paddles” are in place for the occasions when you feel like being in control, although I did wish the levers were a little bigger.
How does it handle?
Sadly, the GTI has become a little portly, with gen-eight tipping the scales at 1 463kg, but Volkswagen’s engineers have done a great job at honing the chassis to ensure that its overall agility impresses.
Given its weight and the fact that (unlike the Golf R) it is driven exclusively through the front wheels, the Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI handles very tidily and it inspires confidence when pushed hard through corners.
Revised suspension settings and a new aluminium subframe keep it at the sharp end of its game, as does the new Vehicle Dynamics Manager control system, which looks after the XDS differential lock and the optional adaptive shocks. If you dig deep enough in the central infotainment menu you’ll also find ESC Sport and ESC Off functions, which make things a bit more playful, albeit without as big a safety net.
I enjoyed the steering too. It feels solid, perfectly-weighted and provides just enough feedback in fast corners.
That’s all good and well but, as a daily driving machine, you’re going to want a comfortable ride quality, and the Golf 8 GTI impresses no end here. Sure, there is a little firmness as you’d expect in a performance car, but I never found the ride to be uncomfortable. In fact, there are many non-performance cars that don’t ride as comfortably as the Golf.
As you’d expect at this level, there are a few driving modes that drivers can play around with, including Eco and Sport, and these are easily accessible through a “modes” button on the dashboard. The “Sport” setting isn’t loud and overbearing like the equivalent in some other cars, nor does it try to hold on to gears for too long, which I really appreciated. You could happily drive around in Sport mode all day, every day, without wanting to switch to a more comfortable setting.
That said, this car could do with a bit more vrrrpha as the exhaust sounds too muted from the cabin.
Come on, VW, this car deserves adjustable exhaust flaps.
Is the new cabin too digitised? Speaking of cabins, the Golf 8’s biggest design departure is its fully digital cockpit. The interior designer surely had an obsession with clean, uncluttered lines because there are no rotary knobs and hardly any buttons on this dashboard and almost everything has been swallowed by the large 10-inch infotainment screen.
As we’ve found in cars with similar set-ups, this results in a lot more menu digging for basic functions like controlling the ventilation. Granted, it’s not the worst set-up we’ve encountered and there is at least an easy-toreach shortcut button for the climate controls, but the screen set-up makes it more difficult to change things like fan speed than it would be if conventional controls had been used. This could lead to distracted driving.
But is the GTI practical? Stepping into the back, rear legroom is a bit on the tight side, but it should be perfectly tolerable for the around-town trips. The 374 litre boot is par for the course in the hatchback segment.
As you’d expect there is a lengthy options list and standard features include Vienna leather seat upholstery, cruise control, park distance control, 30-colour ambient lighting, Composition Media Radio with App-connect, inductive phone charging, keyless start and a heated leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel.
VERDICT
The Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI is a logical evolution of its predecessors from generation 5 onwards and while it doesn’t necessarily deliver outright driving thrills, it continues to impress as an all-rounder in most respects.
It’s fast, yet dynamic and comfortable, grown-up but still youthful enough to remind you of why you love cars in the first place. But perhaps a little more in the way of #vrrrpha would make this the perfect package.