Volkswagen Golf GTI

Road Test

Your Say

Test Date 04 January 2005 Price When New £20,825

Verdict

With this attempt to reinvent the Golf GTi, VW could have followed one of two routes: either produce a basic, lightweight Mk1 successor to take the GTi back to its roots, or take up where the more refined, grown-up Mk2 left off. The first option would have been almost impossible to achieve with the current Golf, which is bigger, safer and better equipped than ever — and inevitably heavier — as the market demands. The smaller Renault Clio Cup 182 owns the minimum weight/maximum fun market, and consequently beats the Golf for thrills down a twisty country road. But this Golf is nevertheless a great entertainer, in stark contrast to the last two generations of GTi. It is also refined, road noise apart, and impressively capable in almost all conditions.
The best hot hatches have always been the automotive equivalent of the Swiss army knife: fun, fast, sporting cars with the ability to adapt to your every need when one car must fit all. The new GTi is just such a car — it should be great to own. It only misses out on five stars because the major controls — steering, brakes and throttle — could all offer more feel.
The GTi has returned, and this time it has image and ability.