Volkswagen Golf GTI : NOW WATCH THIS DRIVE!

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Is the original still the best? Steve Walker takes a look at the MKVI Golf GTI.

Before Volkswagen dreamed up the Golf GTI, there was no such thing as a hot hatchback. Now the phrase has entered everyday parlance and virtually any manufacturer that has a hatchback also has a hot one - or a warm one at the very least. It was 1973 when the original GTI was born and since then, through six generations and with the help of its countless imitators, it has brought performance, handling and fun to the masses on an unprecedented scale. The current GTI is the mark six and by rights, it should be the best yet.

The sixth generation Volkswagen Golf isn't the thoroughly new car that its billing might lead us to expect. It's more accurate to think of it as a thoroughly reworked version of the fifth Golf incarnation. You don't need to be a VW buff to spot the similarities both inside and out while a more detailed inspection by someone who knows their oily bits would reveal a chassis and basic underpinnings that are similarly similar. Far from representing a cop-out on Volkswagen's part, the strong connections between the MkV and MkVI Golfs bode well for the latest GTI version. The fifth generation car was a storming return to form for the famous brand after the shaky efforts of the MkIII and MkIV derivatives. As an improvement and refinement of this winning formula, it's hard to see how the MkVI could mess things up. The imperious 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine that powered the MkV Golf GTI appears again in the sixth generation car. It was a remarkably slick and capable piece of engineering then but revised piston rings, an upgraded oil pump, a high pressure fuel pump and a completely revised induction system promise competence at an even higher level. The maximum power output is 207bhp, a 10bhp increase over the previous generation car and as before, the turbocharged engine piles on its acceleration in a beautifully smooth and progressive manner. That peak power is achieved between 5,300 and 6,200rpm but the maximum torque of 279Nm is generated constantly between 1,700 and 5,200 rpm. The upshot is that while you're idling at the traffic lights, 62mph is just 6.9 seconds away and assuming you're not on a public road, a top speed of 149mph is attainable.

"…the Golf is a more mature proposition these days and it's all the better for it"

Getting the most out of an engine like the 2.0-litre TSI in a front-wheel drive hatchback is a tricky engineering task but Volkswagen's men in white coats didn't shrink from the challenge. The basic suspension set-up mirrors that of standard Golf models, with MacPherson struts at the front and a four-arm multi-link arrangement bringing up the rear. Elsewhere, however, the changes are far-reaching. The springs and dampers have been completely re-tuned to deliver the focused driving experience the GTI is known for, lowering the ride height by 22mm at the front and 15mm at the rear. There are stiffer anti-roll bars to keep the Golf flat through fast corners and Volkswagen's Adaptive Chassis Control technology lets the driver select Comfort, Normal or Sport modes according to their mood. The ACC system electronically adjusts the throttle response, steering assistance and damper settings to affect the way the car drives but perhaps the most significant feature on the MkVI GTI is the XDS electronic differential. This uses the traction and stability control systems to help the front wheels deploy the GTI's power more effectively. It means reduced wheelspin and better traction as you accelerate out of tight corners. The Golf GTI revels in its status as the founding farther of the hot hatchback genre and it isn't about to lower itself by indulging in the lurid colour schemes and tea-tray spoilers favoured by its lower brow rivals. Therefore, its looks are comparatively low key and classy, much like a standard model but with a soupcon of extra aggression bubbling under the surface. Twin exhausts set into the subtle rear splitter, a lower front bumper with large central air-intake and a neat roof-mounted spoiler at the rear are about the size of it. The alloy wheels are 17" in size but the optional 18" items fill the bulging arches more effectively. Inside, the tone of the standard Golf's class-leading cabin is raised by an abundance of chrome detailing. The steering wheel is a pleasure to behold and to wrap your mitts around with its contoured rim, red stitching and three spokes picked out in chrome. The sports seats give good support with their pronounced side bolsters but they're better cushioned than the more extreme chair designs in many of the Golf's rivals. There's a feeling of genuine class in the cabin that no other performance hatch save for Audi's prohibitively expensive S3 can match. With a 350-litre boot and respectable amounts of space in the back despite the fat-backed sports seats, the GTI can even do practical family transport with some aplomb. Buyers have two gearboxes and two bodystyles at their disposal when specifying their Golf GTI. Both three-door and five-door versions are available, with the former sporting slightly more dynamic looks and the latter offering more by way of practicality. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual but Volkswagen's acclaimed DSG twin-clutch gearbox is also available for a £1,200 premium, complete with wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The GTI specification includes dual-zone climate control ESP stability control, ABS brakes and seven airbags, including a driver's knee airbag. The Golf GTI has some tough competition out in the hot hatchback marketplace but the MkV version was widely regarded as the class-leader and GTI number six will be looking to take over at top spot. Pricing is now on the far side of £22,000 which isn't cheap compared to the likes of Ford's Focus ST, SEAT's Leon Cupra and Vauxhall's Astra VXR but the Golf feels a more sophisticated, higher quality product. An equally significant challenge will come from above where a more serious group of performance cars including the Audi S3, BMW 130i, Subaru Impreza WRX STI and Ford Focus RS are now only £3,000-£5,000 more expensive. Despite its increase in power, the latest Golf GTI is more economical and cleaner than its predecessor. 170g/km isn't a small amount of CO2 to be pumping but it's down from 189g/km and isn't too bad considering the performance on offer. Economy is measured at 38.7mpg on the combined cycle, which is far from profligate. The desirability and quality of the Golf GTI are likely to keep demand high and residual values firm. In fifth generation form, the Golf GTI regained its legendary status and it was the role of this car, iteration number six, to build upon that without rocking the boat. It looks to have been successful with the same electric blend of pace, balance and grand touring comfort packed beneath the Golf's unassuming interior. The term hot hatchback implies a certain simplicity combined with raw, adrenalin-fuelled excitement but the Golf is a more mature proposition these days and it's all the better for it. Comfortable enough to drive every day but with the talent to bewitch when the mood takes you and the right road presents itself, it's the hot hatch for the modern era.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Volkswagen Golf GTI
PRICES: £22,410 - £24,300 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 17 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 170-173g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 149mph / 0-60mph 6.9s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 38.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Seven airbags, ABS, ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] Length/Width/Heightmm 4199/1786/1479