Guide To The Volkswagen GTI Range
Now, the GTI line-up consists of three models - all of which are compact cars that look to offer everyday fun behind the wheel. We take a look at the Up! Polo and Golf GTI models - all of which are great in different ways. Based on the popular city car, the Up! GTI line-up and is the most compact sporty offering Volkswagen provides. Volkswagen adding racing stripes on the side sills, red GTI detailing and large 17-inch alloy wheels - as well as the red and black tartan GTI upholstery and red trim. Features include a smartphone mount - so your device can act as the vehicle鈥檚 infotainment system - and a DAB radio with Bluetooth. Air conditioning, heated front seats and a leather trimmed steering wheel are also fitted. Prices for the most compact GTI start from 拢14,055 - with three- and five-door body types on offer. As the middle of the range option, the Polo strikes the perfect balance between the Up!
Golf by packing plenty of performance but still being a great supermini that can be a dependable companion around town. With the most recent Polo released at the start of 2018, this GTI is the most up-to-date of the three, as it is fitted with a large infotainment display and a virtual instrument screen in the binnacle. Customers also able to spec multiple safety systems. Adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring are both available as optional extras, while the driver alert system, front assist and pedestrian detection are all included as standard. Features fitted include the iconic tartan upholstery, red GTI trim both outside and in, large alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel and sports seats. Prices for the Polo GTI start from 拢21,140. The Golf GTI is the daddy of the hot hatchback market and has held this crown for 40 years now. Fitted with high-end technology, the Golf GTI can come with front assist with adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist and blind spot sensors, as well as an optional front differential lock for improved cornering. Although the Golf is due an update in 2019, this GTI still comes with a large central display and virtual cockpit screen in the instrument binnacle. The Jacara upholstery is fitted, as well as a golf-ball style gear knob, subtle red trim and a leather steering wheel.
Still, the rear seat in particular is spacious and comfortable, with a pleasantly angled seatback. Folding those back seats expands cargo capacity from 24 cubic feet (the same as before) to 62 cubic feet (a little more than before). The doors also open a little wider, and the rear hatch opening is slightly bigger. Like many similarly priced cars, the Soul uses hard plastics throughout its interior, although pricier models have more soft-touch bits. Assembly is impeccable, however, and the overall style feels more aspirational than before. An inductive phone charger is optional; it sits in a useful cubby ahead of the shift lever, above a separate bin where a pair of 12-volt outlets and USB ports live, so you can charge multiple devices simultaneously. A 7.0-inch color touchscreen is standard, while a new, 10.3-inch widescreen unit is available. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included on both, and the system's menu structures are easy to navigate. And Kia finally has added some active-safety features to the Soul's option sheet.
The Soul still isn't available with all-wheel drive, but we don't view that as a reason to revoke its subcompact-crossover card, even if nearly every competitor does offer the option. Most customers in this class are looking for a commanding driving position, not Jeep-like abilities for clambering over rocks. We drove the Soul in light snow, and it survived; you'll do just fine. Besides, the Kia has a decidedly un-car-like 6.7 inches of ground clearance, up from 5.9 inches last year. Kia's only other concession that the Soul perhaps isn't SUV-ish enough for some is a new X-Line trim tested here. Functionally no different from the base LX, S, or EX trims (so you can consider its test numbers, included below, as applicable to essentially the entire lineup), the X-Line gets tougher-looking bumpers and plastic fender flares. We also drove the new GT-Line trim that sits opposite the X-Line and essentially replaces last year's Turbo model, wearing a more street-friendly look with a center-exit exhaust, monochromatic bodywork, and a sportier suspension tune.
