Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7 Review (2019)
No matter how ubiquitous the letters 鈥楪TI鈥?become, they are synonymous for much of the population with only one car: the Volkswagen Golf GTI. This has less to do with their original placement and more to do with serious, unbroken longevity. There has been a Volkswagen Golf GTI on sale for as long as any of the current Autocar road test team has been alive. Although other manufacturers have been dabbling in hot hatches for close to four decades, none comes close to imprinting a single model identity on the segment in the way that VW has done. But while it may stand alone as a recognisable icon of the class that it pioneered, the Golf GTI has been acknowledged as its leader only sporadically. Instead, VW has sought to stretch its 鈥榟ot鈥?brief as thinly as possible so that it might be pulled down over a car of incredibly broad appeal. There are few model introductions as notable as the Golf GTI鈥檚 debut at the 1975 Frankfurt motor show. In the UK, the car struck a chord, and what started as a trickle of left-hand-drive Mk1 cars in 1977 turned into a torrent by 1989, when the all-conquering Mk2 sold a remarkable 16,000 GTIs in one year.
And the moonroof is perfect when cruising on a warm summer night. Does the allure of new technology prevail? Derek: Okay, I admit the cabin of the 2012-2013 model looks a little dated compared with the 2018 model. Some might suffer from screen-envy because it doesn鈥檛 have the fancy 12-inch digital cockpit display. It also doesn鈥檛 have the large-ish 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. But for old-school gearheads like me, the analog gauges with the blue needles fit right in with the car鈥檚 performance personality. The all-business interior has excellent build quality, just like the Mk7.5 model. In my humble opinion, it has the best front seats from any German or Japanese automaker. They鈥檙e comfortable, the side and thigh bolsters keep me in position when lateral Gs are pulling, and the quality leather feels rich. Derek: Nevertheless, the 2018 Golf R powertrain is pretty darn smooth and powerful. I can tell right away the Mk7.5 has a broader powerband, is quicker off the line and has better mid-range torque.
Those new 19-inch wheels look bitchin鈥?when in motion but the tires are holding back the car鈥檚 potential. You have to admit those ContiSportContact tires give up too quickly compared to the Continental鈥檚 latest generation max-summer tire. The ExtremeContact Sport tires on the Mk6 Golf R have better feedback and better traction on dry or wet pavement. Alex: I totally agree. The 2018 Golf R is more powerful and has better power delivery overall. That said, the power advantage isn鈥檛 helping when I have to brake earlier or be a little less aggressive blasting through the corners for fear of sliding off the road. Plus, it could use a little more lively handling dynamics. For me, handling is a tad bit too composed. I want the R to be light on its feet and dancing around those corners. On the plus side, I like the shifter on the Mk7.5 better.
It鈥檚 a subjective thing, but the Mk6 shifter feels rubbery and vague by comparison. Derek: Okay, the advantage goes to the Mk7.5 Golf R because VW improved the shifting feel. For the Mk6 Golf R, most of the vague and noodly shifting feeling went away after installing the short-shift kit. However, it still doesn鈥檛 match the quality of the Mk7鈥檚 manual transmission. Ultimately, the on-road behavior of the Mk6 has a high degree of agility and responsiveness. That鈥檚 despite the older Golf lacking VW鈥檚 Dynamic Chassis Control. As a car I drive daily, the Mk6 Golf R鈥檚 suspension has the right amount of firmness. It won鈥檛 punish you when you鈥檙e just driving to the grocery store. Take it to roads less traveled and it still magnificently holds its composure when the speed picks up, and the turns get tighter. Flat out, the engine performance delivers the thrills and chills of a high-strung 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-banger. The generous amount of torque begins feeding in at 1600 rpm and ramps up quickly.
