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Volkswagen Golf GTI 2009 road test report

GTI 2009

Volkswagen has a struggle on its hands with the Golf GTI to come up with a hot hatch to satisfy the masses yet not encroach on its more extreme performance models. The new GTI pulls off this balancing act with great aplomb.

Road Test Reports Says 4 star rating
A front-facing image of the Volkswagen Golf GTI 2009

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ALISDAIR SAYS

Performance Performance - 4 stars

Volkswagen has a struggle on its hands with the Golf GTI to come up with a hot hatch to satisfy the masses yet not encroach on its more extreme performance models. The new GTI pulls off this balancing act with great aplomb. It dashes off 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds, so it’s quick but not so fast as to worry more powerful versions such as the Golf R. That’s not as quick as many rivals in the hot hatch class and there are plenty of rivals that offer more performance for less cash, but it’s the way the Golf GTI delivers its performance that also justifies its inclusion in any list of the best of the current hot crop. The 207bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre engine pulls with urgency from just over tickover and keeps going all the way to the car’s 149mph top speed, regardless of whether you prefer the six-speed manual or DSG twin clutch gearbox for shifting the gears. In give-and-take driving conditions, the GTI is just as polished and can pull off the businessman’s express impression just as ably as it does the sportscar.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 5 stars

For some, a hot hatch will always have suspension with next to no give and a ride that leaves your kidneys hoping to be transplanted somewhere less punishing. Not so in the Golf GTI. It blends sporting firmness with just the right amount of supple leniency to come up with a hot hatch that flicks from comfortable family transport to smile-inducing sportscar in an instant. This is down to the way the suspension soaks up bumps without ever wavering into soft-set wallow. The GTI just keeps itself toned, honed and on the line through a corner dictated by the driver. It also helps that the steering has plenty of feel without ever fidgeting in the driver’s hands and helps place the car with pin-sharp precision, yet when it comes to parking up the steering is light and offers a tight turning circle. Of course, there’s plenty of grip in corners and off the line, thought the Golf still provides plenty of warning when the limits are being approached rather than simply rely on its ESP traction control to guard against the unwary driver.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 4 stars

If you’re going to buy a hot hatch as an everyday prospect and want it to look as good as the day it rolled out of the showroom after three years, the Golf GTI is the car for you. There’s a toughness and durability to the way the GTI is built and the fabrics and plastics used in it construction, as well as they are screwed together, that imparts a sense of long lasting ability. The engine may have a little more power than its predecessor’s, but it’s a proven motor and the gearboxes are all time tested. As for the rest of the GTI, it should stand up more than well to the rigours of daily life.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

There are no fewer than seven airbags inside the Golf GTI, including one specifically to protect the driver’s knees in the event of a collision. There’s also ESP traction control and anti-lock brakes. Security is dealt with by an alarm, immobiliser, deadlocks and a visible VIN number that makes quick identification of the car easy should it be stolen.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 5 stars

It’s a Golf, so the GTI has practicality in its genes from the get-go. The three-door GTI is a shade less practical than the five-door, though many would argue it’s also the better looking of the pair. Access to the rear seats in the three-door is good for this type of car as the front seats slide forward and their backs tilt to aid entry and exit. Once in the back, there’s plenty of room for two adults or three kids. Go for the five-door GTI and it’s a doddle to get into and out of the back thanks to wide opening doors. The boot is just as generous in either the three- or five-door versions of the GTI and the rear seats splits and folds 60/40, even if it doesn’t fold completely flat. Up front, it doesn’t matter how many doors the car has as the GTI offer’s a great driving position, plenty of adjustment and decent vision in all direction except over the shoulder due to the thick rear pillars of the Golf body. The instruments are easy to read and the centre console is uncluttered.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

The Golf GTI is about as safe a place to put your money as you’re likely to find if you want a hot hatch. A huge following for the GTI means used values are steady, while affordable running costs will not leave your wallet gasping for air. Both three- and five-door models turn in 38.7mpg combined economy (38.2mpg for DSG-equipped cars) and give 170g/km carbon dioxide emissions (173 for DSG versions). Insurance is not excessive with a group 17 rating. Most of the equipment you’d hope for is standard, including alloy wheels, sports seats, CD stereo, climate control, though you do have to pay extra for leather seats, metallic paint, climate control or rear parking sensors, which seems a bit steep given the list prices of the Golf GTI models.

Submitted: 19/11/2009 14:45:44

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