As a US consumer, the choices for a fun to drive yet practical, reasonably priced runabout are getting slimmer as each year passes. Add in a desire for a manual gearbox, and you can probably count on two hands what your options are. Faced with this dilemma, I looked towards Volkswagen, as they have continually offered the GTI in the US across all generations of the vehicle, and thankfully, you can still have it with a 6-speed manual transmission.
Right about now is when I’m expecting to hear “but the DSG gearbox is faster and more efficient!” True as that may be, I still prefer to drive a certain way. As good as the DSG gearbox may be (now with seven speeds for 2019), it will not replace the involvement of having a gearshift and clutch pedal in my car. Now that I have addressed the gearbox issue, let's move on.
When I purchased the GTI, I was tempted by the allure of the Golf R with its Spektrum Program option. In addition to five standard colors, Spektrum allows you to order your Golf R in 40 optional colors. That kind of customization is almost unheard of in the US market, at least for cars costing under $50,000 USD. Personally, I was attracted to Sarantos Turquoise or Violet Touch Pearl, similar to two lesser seen colors from Porsche (Mint Green and Viola Metallic, respectively). Sadly, one feature that was lacking in the Golf R was a sunroof, so it was back to the GTI I turned. Truthfully, I didn’t need the extra power or all-wheel drive which the Golf R included, so opting for a GTI SE in Great Falls Green (Peacock Green in the home market) made sense. Released in 2018, it’s a color that changes with the lighting, looking almost teal in the sunlight, but closer to British Racing Green at dusk.
Coming out of a 2006 MINI Cooper S and into this brand new GTI took some adjustment. Even though it performed well on the test drive, I will be honest. It took me a while to warm up to this new car. It was larger than the MINI and didn’t have that chuckable feel to it. Then I took a long road trip. I suddenly realized why automotive journalists had been singing the Mk7 GTI's praises for so long. This car just eats up miles. Not only was it much more economical than my R53 Cooper S, but the selectable drive modes and power delivery from the EA888 2.0 turbocharged four cylinder engine (upgraded to 228 hp for 2019) made for a great travel companion. I had never owned a turbocharged car, and frankly, wasn’t ever sold on buying one. This engine has been a decent introduction to living with one. Turbo lag is minimal and the powerband is usable in most real world situations. That being said, I do miss the never ending torque that the R53 Cooper S provided with its 1.6 liter supercharged four cylinder engine.
The feel and quality of the GTI’s interior are very impressive for what turned out to be a sub $30,000 USD vehicle. Fit and finish match my mother’s 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 4matic. I’m not sure how Volkswagen does it for the price, but kudos to them for focusing on the details. I’ve experienced similarly priced new cars and have been quite underwhelmed in comparison. Being behind the wheel of the GTI feels just a bit more special than anything in its class. The infotainment system was very easy to grasp for a person coming out of a 13 year old vehicle with minimal tech. Apple Car Play makes quick work of getting up to speed on this front.
The most important point of the GTI is one that is overlooked in an automotive landscape dominated by so-called Sports Utility Vehicles. The Volkswagen GTI is the original SUV. Sure, it might not be able to go off-road like some crossover vehicles can, but let’s be honest. At least 95% of these homes on wheels will never leave the tarmac. If they venture off-road, it’s likely to traverse the mild undulations of a football field. In comparison to this scenario, I’ve taken my GTI on some steep gravel passes in the country. Sure, it struggles a bit on 18” all-season tires, but gear down, and you can make it just fine with front-wheel drive. The rest of the time, this four-door hot hatch has plenty of space and pace to make it the perfect all-rounder for a single person, couple, or small family. It combines a sporting nature with utility like few others can. Long live the GTI. It does everything well and doesn't masquerade to be something that it isn't.
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