The Fast Lane Car
Your Ultimate GTI Buyer鈥檚 Guide is here! In this episode, Tommy and Michael compare a 2015 and 2018 VW Golf GTI. 2018 represents a mid-cycle refresh for the GTI, including a number of aesthetic and mechanical changes. We do an in-depth ultimate GTI buyer鈥檚 guide to give you a good idea of all the changes, as well as give you some advice on which GTI is the best buy. The most noticeable changes for the Mk7.5 GTI are certainly the aesthetic ones. Starting at the front, Volkswagen completely refreshed front end. There鈥檚 a new bumper, new headlights, and some other small tweaks to the front fascia, including a piano black grill and new VW badge. Also included in the aesthetic changes is a new set of standard 18鈥?alloy wheels. Now named 鈥淗ouston鈥?(not pictured) rims, these wheels feature the same dimensions as the previous rims, but with slightly different styling. Moving to the back there are some new tail lights, an updated rear bumper, and some larger exhaust tips (which actually sound a bit louder). Furthermore, the interior, while largely the same, has seen a couple key changes.
The trim has changed to a piano black finish and there is a new 8.0鈥?touchscreen display. Nothing mechanical is actually different for 2018. The 2018 VW GTI is still powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder turbo that makes 220 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Power is still sent to the front wheels through your choice of a 6-speed manual, or a 6-speed dual clutch automatic. However, the way in which you get certain options is quite different, and much more simplified. Where the 2015-2017 had a number of options and packages, the 2018 model is super simple. You have a choice of three trim levels: S, SE, and Autobahn. Each comes with a different set of standard features. 1,100 for the DSG). To hear about the trim-specific standard features, and to hear our recommendation on what GTI to buy, be sure to watch the whole video. Subscribe to The Fast Lane Car and TFLnow on YouTube for all the latest videos on your favorite new (and some old) models!
The clear and powerful styling of the Volkswagen Golf being offered as a two-door and four-door in the 鈥淭rendline鈥? 鈥淐omfortline鈥?and 鈥淗ighline鈥?equipment lines is showing the entire brand the way to the future. The Volkswagen鈥檚 acoustic properties and overall comfort tear down class distinctions. Innovative engine and transmission technologies reduce fuel consumption by up to 28 percent. All gasoline and diesel engines fulfill emission limits of the future Euro-5 standard. Assistance systems such as 鈥淎CC Automatic Distance Control鈥?- as well as developments like 鈥淒CC Adaptive Chassis Control鈥?(DCC) and 鈥淧ark Assist鈥?- bring additional top technologies to the Volkswagen Golf class. The exceptionally high value of the new Golf is reflected par excellence in its stylish design; all key body elements were redesigned: 鈥淲e have cast the Volkswagen Golf鈥檚 core components in a precise new mold鈥? explains Walter de Silva. And he emphasizes this: 鈥淭he Volkswagen Golf is the global icon of car making.
So the architecture and styling of new model are also absolutely clear and unique.鈥?At the same time, the sixth Volkswagen Golf has a sportier and more distinctive image than any previous generation of the model series. Especially in a direct comparison of generations VW Golf V and VI, it becomes evident just how much the new Golf has changed. The design team - headed up by Walter de Silva, Klaus Bischoff and the Group鈥檚 director for creative design, Flavio Manzoni - crystallized out the Volkswagen Golf鈥檚 essential DNA and sent it on a trip to the future. Style features include the clarity of the first generation鈥檚 front end and the C-pillar that was perfected in the fourth generation. The roof section now rests - similar to the new Volkswagen Scirocco - on a prominently contoured shoulder section. Responsible for this is a dominant curved line that - like a muscle trained down to the last fiber - extends from the headlights back to the taillights. This side profile line - which Volkswagen Design calls the 鈥渃haracter line鈥?- also gives the VW Golf a fuller, lower stance on the road from a lateral perspective.
