India! Meet the latest pocket rocket, the Volkswagen Golf GTI! A legend in its own right, the Golf GTI finally lands on Indian shores and we had a chance to take it for a fast, furious and a ferocious spin at NATRAX, India's premier automotive proving ground. The Golf GTI proved to be a delight and sure, the conditions were also controlled and it won't be easy to replicate the performance on regular roads. But then again, this was more of an opportunity for VW to showcase just how capable the Golf GTI is. Before we dive straight into it let me regulate my emotions and take a deep breath and then begin writing.
Volkswagen Golf GTI: Design
Let's start with the looks. The GTI doesn't scream for attention, but it's got that unmistakable 'I'm fast, and I know it' attitude. Red accents on the grille and that signature honeycomb fog light design all whisper 'performance' with a German accent. Then you have the illuminated VW logo up front and a GTI-themed welcome lights that lights up the ground as soon as you enter the car. Viewed in profile, you notice the car's low-slung silhouette and those EV-like alloys, which I think rob some sheen off the look. But all of it is an effort to keep the drag co-efficient as low as possible.
The rear section is typical of a Volkswagen hatchback, but the two chrome exhaust pipes do give it a subtle, sporty flavour. Adding to that are the 'GTI' badges that are peppered generously all over the car. The overall look of the Golf GTI is subtle, yet has enough heat and kick to it.
Volkswagen Golf GTI: Interior & Features
Step inside, and the cabin feels like the cockpit of a premium German car. Well-bolstered tartan-cloth seats (a GTI tradition), red accents all over, GTI badge on the steering wheel and embossed on the seats, a 12.9-inch touchscreen angled towards the driver, a digital console that looks straight out of Forza Horizon, and a steering wheel that begs you to hold tight and take corners at ridiculous speeds. The cabin doesn't scream sporty but all the elements inside suggest that you take the car very, very seriously.
Now, you have features like ADAS, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, 7-speakers, an electric sunroof and the likes. What is missing though are a couple of items that I think should have been offered as standard. First is the dynamic chassis control (DCC), which would have made the car even more fun (Fun fact, the Tiguan R-Line gets it) and secondly, the front seats have to be adjusted manually. On a car like this, you would also expect ventilated seats, but I am ok with those not being offered.
Volkswagen Golf GTI: Engine Specifications & Performance
Under the hood is a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine pumping out 261 horses between 5,250 and 6,500 rpm. Peak torque output is a healthy 370 Nm between 1,600 to 4,500 rpm. The engine is paired to a 7-speed DSG. With the numbers out of the way, lets dive into the performance.
Now, we were driving the car on the high-speed test track and the handling test track at NATRAX, with no distractions whatsoever and while we had limited time with the car, there were a few things which immediately stood out. First, the Golf GTI is fast, really fast and the way it builds up speed is just exhilarating. The turbo lag is minimal and there is power available right across the rev range. The meaty bottom end and mid-range means that the 0-100 kmph sprint is done in 5.9 seconds, which is at par with more powerful rivals. The 7-speed DSG snaps through gears like it's horribly late for a meeting. You mash the throttle, carrying dizzying speeds and the moment when it is time to slow down, you appreciate the sharp brakes and quick-acting DSG, which shifts down smoothly, keeping the drama alive, with the lovely pops and crackles from the overrun. We hit a top-speed of 267 kmph on the high-speed testing track and did it for an extended period of time too. The engine proved its mettle, now it was time to see how the Golf GTI handled.
Volkswagen Golf GTI: Handling
We moved to the tight, technical handling test track which had near zero runoff area, the perfect playground for the Golf GTI to flex its handling ability. And the hot hatch did not disappoint. At near triple digit speeds, the Golf GTI impressively held its line through tricky switchbacks, even with the tyres squealing under protest. We suspect that the XDS electronic front differential has something to do with it. A neat piece of tech indeed! In the Sport mode, the steering feels artificially weighted, although there's decent feedback. There's a hint of body roll when you are aggressively entering a corner, but nothing that mars your driving experience.
Now, we did drive the Golf GTI in a tightly controlled environment, but there is no doubt in our mind that the when we drive the car out in the real world - the suspension will feel stiff and may not exactly play well with the road conditions that we usually have in our cities. Also, the 136 mm ground clearance isn't exactly SUV-like, so going over big speed breakers, bumps and potholes will have to be an exercise in patience.
Volkswagen Golf GTI: Practicality
But the real magic of the GTI is how it balances performance with practicality. It's got just about enough boot space for a weekend getaway's worth of luggage for two and cramped but comfy rear seats for the occasional third-wheel friend. Although we suspect that the fuel economy might make you weep at the pump. But then again, if you can afford to buy the Golf GTI, then the fuel bill shouldn't be much of a concern.
Volkswagen Golf GTI: Verdict
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is full of personality. It is fast, furious and a lot of fun. The sheer drama and the visceral driving experience is likely to find lots of fans on Indian roads. I mean the first batch of 150 cars is already sold out, without the price being revealed. But a word of caution for those who buy it. It will be the easiest thing to get carried away by the kind of performance it offers, coupled with its compact footprint. But if you don't care much about practicality, like authentic, spirited cars and have deep pockets, then the Volkswagen Golf GTI is something you should definitely add in your garage.