2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI First Drive REVIEW – Still The Benchmark, But A Missed Opportunity?
VOLKSWAGEN’S GOLF GTI HAS EARNED ITS STRIPES OVER THE YEARS.
‘Icon’, ‘benchmark’, ‘legend’ - just a few of the words thrown around to describe the German hot hatch, as it has rightly crafted a reputation as the hot hatch by which others are measured.
As part of a mid-life update for the Golf range, the GTI comes in for a light going-over in 2017.
The brand's seventh-generation GTI arrived in 2013, bringing a significant increase in performance as well as a lighter, stronger platform and more polished interior. It ticked all the boxes owners could ask for, and that's before more potent versions arrived in the form of the focused GTI Performance and limited-edition GTI 40 Years.
This year's model, then, was always going to be impressive.
Vehicle Style: Small Hot Hatch
Price: Approximately $40,000 (price TBC - excludes on-road costs)
Engine/trans: 169kW/350Nm 2.0 litre 4cyl turbo-petrol | 6sp manual or 6sp automatic
Fuel Economy claimed: 6.4 l/100km
OVERVIEW
The 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI builds on a solid foundation with more power, sharper styling and an updated interior that offers technology rarely seen in cars priced under $100,000.
Visual changes include sharper bumpers with revised intakes that take inspiration from the GTI 40 Years, along with larger exhaust tips, new LED tail lamps and redesigned 18-inch wheels or 19-inch items pinched from last year's anniversary model.
The result is a more focused-looking car that adds an extra dollop of aggression to a model that already offers significant aesthetic appeal.
THE INTERIOR
Inside, the emotional pull continues with classic GTI touches in tartan seat trim and a golf ball-inspired gearknob.
Modern touches include a fully digital 12.3-inch widescreen driver's display, and a 9.2-inch high-definition infotainment screen with touch-less gesture control.
That Audi-sourced dash is a revelation, offering customisable views including beautifully rendered maps, in-depth trip computer info and a lap timer for track day junkies.
We can't say the same about the central infotainment screen however, with its annoying lack of a volume knob and hit-and-miss gesture control that take off an otherwise beautiful and functional element.
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