VW Golf GTI Clubsport 45 - A GTI Turned Up To 11!
The ultimate version of the Mk8 GTI?
The new VW Golf GTI has been out for sometime, but even so, I've not had a chance to drive one. That recently changed, but I dived straight in at the Clubsport 45, a car, which as you may have guessed, has been built to celebrate 45 glorious years of the car that arguably made the hot hatch popular. It's not the first ever hot hatch, though - just sayin'.
What's so special about the Clubsport 4?
If you're expecting a Nurburgring busting, rear-seat-deleted Clubsport S you may be disappointed. It has five doors, five seats, and sadly, a 7-speed DSG - no choice of manual. However, step inside and you'll find chunky sports seats in the front with plenty of red stitching, GTI embroidered logos and a honeycomb effect to boot.
Don't think for a second that all you get is a snazzier cabin, oh no. Fire up the 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine and you're greeted with a satisfying low burble that almost feels uncouth compared to what you would normally expect from a standard GTI. The noise is thanks to the exhaust masters at Akrapovic. The engine in which its attached to may offer the same amount of power - 300hp - but at least it sounds more angry.
The Clubsport 45 also offers a black roof and spoiler, gloss black 19" 'Scottsdale' alloys and a speed limiter that has been lifted, meaning the top speed is now 166mph, not the usual 155mph. It's not a cheap car, though, as it's yours for £41,495, which is difficult to swallow, especially when you bear in mind adaptive dampers are still an optional extra.
How does it drive?
Thankfully, the car I tested DID have the adaptive dampers - VAG call it Dynamic Chassis Control - meaning the ride comfort can be adjusted with the driving modes. In the car's most docile setting the car rides very well, so much so that you could be fooled in to thinking you're driving a standard golf. However, select the 'Special' driving mode and everything gets turned up to the max, making it very clear this is definitely not a standard Golf.
I drove this shortly after the Cupra Leon, so it was interesting to see how this compared. The Clubsport 45 definitely feels sharper, more focused. The cornering is tighter, the brakes are more responsive, and I felt as if I could carry more speed in the corners. Speaking of speed, the Clubsport 45, believe it or not, is 0.3 seconds slower than the Cupra Leon, although I doubt you'd notice the difference in real world conditions.
Power is the same as the Cupra Leon; 300hp along with 400Nm, which is almost fed to the front whees via a 7-speed DSG. There's no limited slip differential, but you do get VAG's XDS which is an electric diff. One thing that does in the favour of the Leon - apart from the price - are the seats. The bolstering in the Golf GTI is more forgiving, which is great for comfort, but in hard cornering it offers less support. Not a deal breaker, but a bit of a downer, especially as the rest of the car is more racey than the Cupra Leon.
I do like the fact you do have a dedicated button - albeit touch sensitive - for the driving modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport, Special and Individual) whereas in the Cupra Leon you have to faff about with the touchscreen. The digital display is a nice touch, with sporty graphics that become more racy as you go up through the driving modes.
Tackling the twisty turny bits of the Millbrook Proving Ground was a blast in the Clubsport 45 as the brakes were strong, the grip was high, the steering was responsive and the weighting was decent. This is a car that will certainly hustle its way down a B road with very little complaint - I'd love to see how this would compare against an R as wonder if there will be much in it in the real world.
Final Thoughts
I'll be honest, I thought the Clubsport 45 would be a bit neutral, a bit safe. I thought it would the usual "It's a solid car as it's a Golf, but a bit too sensible" kind of vibe, but the Clubsport 45 is a good example of how good the GTI can be when made a bit more spicy. It's a shame the price is equally as spicy, so much so it may make your eyes water. The car I tested was over £44,000 and for a GTI I think that's bordering on absurd.
Mind you, we now live in a world where cars seem to be getting more expensive overnight and a fully spec'd Golf R will cost almost £54,500!!! Price aside, the Clubsport 45 is a cracking car, and arguably the ultimate version of the GTI but for some, the price may be too much to swallow.
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Comments (4)
The mk8 is a downgrade compared to the 7.5 !!!! Its a cost saving exercise by vw all over the place.
If only VW didn’t cheat on diesel emissions, then this would be so good
Prices have gone crazy. I drive a leased 7.5 Golf R that listed at 33K GBP when I got it in Dec 2019. Only one option - the paint job. I know the R is heavier, and has less boot space, because of the 4WD system. But the grip I get taking corners hard on wet A and B roads counts for more in my book.
the channel has progressed really well. Whenever you'd like to review a scirocco on the channel you can film mine , its APR stage 2 , and would compare nicely to your cupra .