Volkswagen Golf GTI first drive review
The original hot hatch comes to India, finally
Why do we drive? To commute, to reach a destination or run away from one, to meditate, to enjoy, and for people like us, to communicate. To understand cars in a way that data could be expressed in emotion, not through graphs, crests, or troughs, but words. Should someone buy it or not? Does the car deliver what it promises?
We try to read the data and decode the crests and troughs between the axes of reasoning and the feel of the car. This is why you see an array of impressions, verdicts, and conclusions on the same car from my colleagues and me in different publications, magazines, and channels. This is the beauty of automobiles.
However, once in a blue moon, we end up with a product that makes our task simple. A car with a clear focus, so the scope of our story is clear, the axis predefined. The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one such car. It's the car that defined the hot hatch phrase, the go-to benchmark for evaluating any hatchback that ever claimed to be a fun machine.
Also, as a motoring journalist, when you know that the allotted numbers for the Indian market are booked by customers even before knowing the prices or your drive review, you are free. Freedom, as Instagram reels suggest, is always a good thing. And in our case, better than good.
We had four hours with the Volkswagen Golf GTI at NATRAX test tracks. The first half was on an 11.3 km long high-speed test track with 3.45 km parabolas at the two ends and a banking angle of 37 degrees. It was the obvious favourite, as this is one of the safest tracks to test the top speed of any car. We were told that the Golf GTI touched 270 kmph during a pre-event drive. However, a surprise package waited for us on the track, a 3.6 km long handling track.
There has been a lot of chatter around the Tiguan R-Line and Golf GTI since the day Volkswagen India announced their India launch, especially around the Golf. Being an iconic car, coming through the CBU route, with an expected price tag, its size, and the scrutiny under our usual bang-for-buck calculation, it has sparked debate. However, these arguments are relevant only when there is a gap between the bookings and actual sales figures or when VW India gets more units for the Indian market. Is that a possibility? Is the car that good?
One look at its technical specifications, and you will know why we use the hot hatch pronoun more than the name itself. The Golf GTI is fitted with a 2.0-litre TSI engine, mated to a 7-speed DSG, producing 265 PS of power at 52506500 rpm and 370 Nm of peak torque. While these figures are impressive, they are not exclusive. We have tested and experienced cars with similar figures. The numbers can mean anything or nothing. For example, the 8.5th generation doesn't sound peculiar unless you add that this is the first generation coming to India. And you start wondering, what took it so long?
Now is a good time to give a shout-out to Volkswagen for a drive that helped all of us understand the essence of this car and enjoy it properly. The car isn't all work and no play, which we saw at the event as well. Before the actual drive experience, journalists competed in friendly drag races too. The best part of the experience was the drive time we got with the Golf on the high-speed test track.
As you may have seen on your social media timeline, all of us took advantage of the safe setup and a fast car and pushed the car to its limits, which was 267 kmph in this case. Right from the time of launch, the car felt confident, ready to take on any challenge you throw. The acceleration was not explosive, but quick. We didn't have to cross-check our footage to confirm if it touched 0100 kmph in 5.9s or not. It very much felt like it did.
Then the power surge was linear and smooth. The way the Golf catches speed, accelerates, and moves in high three digits, it starts showing its true color. Or the story of this hot hatch starts unfolding in front of you. Why is this car so iconic and why is it called a hot hatch? The Golf GTI feels very focused in its role and agenda, that is the top speed.
If you ignore the engine noise, it was difficult for me to combine the composure and confidence of this car with the figure flashing on the speedo, 250 kmph. It felt smooth, planted, and eager to go faster. And it did. During our laps, various attempts got us to the same number, 267 kmph.
After a few laps, the Golf GTI reminded me of a feeling you get on superbikes on roads. You hit a speed which is new for you, excites you, and then you slow down. You repeat this again and again. The level of excitement starts to taper down with every attempt. I wondered if I would be feeling the same thing with the Golf GTI. And as usual, I was wrong.
The top speed was just one part of this Golf story. The handling tracks were a different story. The Golf, which excited me on the high-speed track, surprised me on the handling track. The way it changed its character, or should I say got into its character, was dramatic.
I was surprised that the car, which felt so comfortable and smooth like an everyday commuter, changed into a track machine so easily. The track was technical, no doubt, and I took my time to familiarize myself with it. The Golf didn't need any of that. It attacked the corners with controlled aggression, exiting the corner in a composed manner.
The throttle response was quick. The car never felt like it was waiting for power or in a tentative power band. Right from the acceleration to the high triple digits, it felt at ease, not scrambling for the right gear or setting. When you zoom out and see yourself driving, accelerating, and turning like that in a hatchback and not a sports car, you understand why this car is iconic. The Golf GTI makes going super-fast, easy.
The Golf GTI comes fitted with seven airbags. You get an XDS electronic front differential lock and many ADAS features, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Assist, and Emergency Brake Assist with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring. For easier parking and safety, it has a rear-view camera and Park Distance Control.
While the Golf GTI comes with the typical Volkswagen family face, the dimensions, like the lines and creases, are not radically different. That is why we saw many reactions on our social platforms, comparing this car to the Polo. The Golf's length is 4,289 mm, the width is 1,789 mm, and the wheelbase is 2,627 mm.
If we compare it to the latest Polo in the international market, the Golf is 200 mm longer, 20 mm taller, and the wheelbase is 75 mm more than the Polo. The difference between these two cars is long-established and well nuanced in the global market and among hardcore enthusiasts. For the Indian market, this comparison will not matter if VW India wants to focus on a niche, the hardcore enthusiasts only.
With this length comes a compromise, especially in the second row. The knee room and leg space are adequate for two adult passengers. It gets three adjustable headrests and firmly cushioned seats. There is one firm armrest with cup holders and a small AC vent with independent temperature control. This means that the car comes with three-zone climate control.
Looking at the car, sitting in the second row might make you compare this car with other hatchbacks because of its size, shape, and look. But this hatchback is about performance first. Practicality or usability comes second, a positioning that can justify the space, provided you forget the pricing. However, this is an issue we have faced with most hatchbacks originally designed for European markets. The Polo was no exception. So is the Golf.
The first lot is booked out, but Volkswagen India would not want this car to be a limited edition product. It is not. It has been an iconic product for a reason, and ideally VW India would or should look at making it an Indian phenomenon as well. This is not a volume product. It won't be.
Even if production is shifted to the Pune plant, it will be an expensive lifestyle buy for common car buyers here, which is not the target audience for this car anyway. Still, the brand should look at working on an India-focused price. With the Golf GTI, Volkswagen has a big opportunity to change its brand story and narrative while enriching the automotive culture of India.
