Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen Golf

Is the legendary Volkswagen Golf GTI meeting our high expectations or, after six months, is it just too early to tell?

Pros
  • GTI's styling and image, engine power and response, cabin layout and great seats, gearchange, grip and poise
Cons
  • Keeping white car clean, slow sat-nav, runs best on expensive super unleaded
Find your Volkswagen Golf
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

What on earth was I thinking? I can remember the exact moment we decided that specifying our long-term VW Golf GTI with Candy White paint would be a good idea - and funnily enough, that was on a hot day last July.

However, a wet autumn was closing in by the time we finally took delivery in September, and with hindsight it wasn't the cleverest choice we've ever made.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Not for financial reasons (the GTI is too new to be able to calculate how the white car will fare on the second-hand market), but simply because it's such a pain to keep clean. I spend most weekends hosing, scrubbing, polishing, wiping, sponging, spraying... and moaning. I don't regret the colour choice as it looks great when clean, but in winter, that only lasts for a few hundred metres, and then you're back to square one again.

However, even the endless scrubbing doesn't dampen my spirits, because I absolutely love the GTI. True, it's not an ideal family car, as getting my two small kids into the back seats highlights the fact we should have opted for the five-door instead. But features like the exposed, accessible Isofix mountings show real attention to detail. For day-to-day driving, I can't think of a better vehicle in which to do my 40-mile journey to work.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Sportage

2021 Kia

Sportage

22,368 milesAutomaticPetrol1.6L

Cash £22,138
View Sportage
Corolla

2022 Toyota

Corolla

64,566 milesAutomaticPetrol1.8L

Cash £15,000
View Corolla
Corsa Electric

2022 Vauxhall

Corsa Electric

28,334 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £12,000
View Corsa Electric
Crossland X

2020 Vauxhall

Crossland X

14,498 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L

Cash £12,600
View Crossland X

Although stiff, the suspension acquits itself well on motorways, the controls are light in traffic and, when the road clears, the ultra-responsive turbo engine and taut chassis mean not much can keep up. Plus, the Golf returns more than 30mpg on my mixed route commute - although bear in mind it is meant to run on costly super unleaded.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Colleagues are equally enthusiastic, with the exception of one thing: the satellite navigation. The system is CD-based, instead of running off a DVD, and that means it's slow to program and even slower to react. Given our time again, we'd leave the £1,845 option off our list - although there's not much else we'd tamper with. We still love the Interlagos check cloth trim, which has yet to show any sign of wear, the gearbox is great and we have no regrets in sticking with the standard 17-inch wheels, rather than upgrading to the 18s.

The Golf GTI is poised, agile and huge fun to drive any time, any place, anywhere. Maybe we should have opted for a red five-door for practical reasons, but extra cleaning is only a small price to pay for such a cracking-looking machine. Now, where did I put that chamois leather?

Second opinion

What a car! The legend that is Volkswagen's Golf GTI certainly lives on in the latest model. This machine is comfortable, quick, responsive and has pin-sharp handling with superb brakes. It looks fantastic without appearing brash, and offers true five-person transport for a reasonable journey, even though there are only three doors on our long-term car. Hard to fault but easy to drive, for me the initials GTI have to surely stand for: "Gosh, that's immense."
Tom Johnston, associate editor

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £1,882 off RRP*Used from £18,900
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,568 off RRP*Used from £12,295
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,704 off RRP*Used from £7,649
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £1,676 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering
Opinion - Shanghai Auto Show

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering

This new brand of cars might have battery tech on their side, but European buyers want much more than that
Opinion
25 Apr 2025
Leapmotor B05 family hatch on route to the UK with sub-£30k price and 400-mile range
Leapmotor badge

Leapmotor B05 family hatch on route to the UK with sub-£30k price and 400-mile range

The Stellantis-backed brand will launch a Volkswagen ID.3-rivalling small car with almost 20 per cent more range
News
23 Apr 2025
Buying a modern used car for under £10k is almost impossible
Opinion - £10k used cars

Buying a modern used car for under £10k is almost impossible

Phil McNamara discovers that it’s harder than ever to find a good-value car at the affordable end of the market
Opinion
24 Apr 2025