UAE- Review: Volkswagen Golf GTI

Date

1/28/2016 4:06:25 AM

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

As one tweet from philinhongkong succinctly put it during a recent BBC online call for reactions to the emissions scandal which has rocked VW over the last few months: "I'm pretty sure I didn't buy a golf GTi based on its carbon footprint #Volkswagen."

While there's no doubt the carbon revelation which VW has admitted and is attempting to rectify has affected customers of the brand around the world going green isn't always at the forefront of a GTI fan. The two headline reasons for choosing this incarnation of the Golf are 99 per cent of the time handling and its turn of speed. The latter of which requires burning more fuel than your average run-around.

The latest GTI reaches 244 km/h and has a 0-100km/h time of 6.5 seconds. You're not going to get that in a standard Yaris. The six-speed DSG automatic gearbox means all of the 220 horsepower is put to best use during acceleration especially in Sport mode. Knock the gearstick down to switch the driving style to 'S' and with the help of the turbocharger you'll have the revolutions per minute screaming in second gear before the car opts to change to third.

It is this let's be honest fun which has had GTI loyalists coming back for 37 years. 1.9 million sales cannot be a fluke and has cemented this hot hatchback as the firm favourite. You only have to look at the number of t-shirts and hats adorned with the car's logo that float about to appreciate that.

Other aspects of the GTI which sets it apart from the competition are of course the way it looks - spot on for a vehicle of this type- but also the luxurious interior. The instruments are pretty standard across the VW range yet cloaked in the car's leather- bound racing pedigree character take on a more clinical edge. What we're trying to say is driving a GTI evokes a sense of danger or excitement in a way which can elevate the mundane to the magical.

There is almost nothing to dislike about this car. It is perhaps a little showy if you're more into understated glamour but since when has that ever been a factor for drivers in this segment? Overall it is a great bundle of amusement.

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