2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Test Drive

VW invented the hot hatch segment when the GTI landed on U.S. shores in 1983. Three decades later, how does the seventh-generation model stand out in the crowded segment it created?

On Sale Date: Mid-2014

Price: $26,000 (est.)

Competitors: MazdaSpeed 3, Ford Focus ST, Subaru Impreza WRX, Mini Cooper S

Powertrains: 2.0-liter turbo I-4, 210 or 220 hp, 258 lb-ft; 6-speed dual-clutch auto or 6-speed manual; FWD

EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 24/34 (est.)

What's New: Volkswagen has sold 1.9 million GTIs since the zippy hatchback debuted as a Europe-only variant in 1976. The new seventh-gen model is an evolutionary step from the previous car, but that doesn't mean VW left well enough alone. Despite a roomier interior and more standard equipment, Volkswagen claims a 55-pound weight savings, thanks in part to the new MBQ platform that features nearly five times more high-strength steel than the old GTI.

The engine finally gets an update as well, with the output now roughly equivalent to that of the 2.0-liter found in the Audi lineup. Preliminary figures credit the reworked engine components for milking 10 more horsepower from the turbo-4 (for a total of 210 hp), while an available Performance Pack amps up output to 220 hp. Torque jumps 51 lb-ft to 258, a 25 percent increase. The Performance Pack also adds bigger brakes and a limited slip differential.

Tech Tidbit: Torque steer is the mortal enemy of front wheel-drive cars, and manufacturers use clever electronics to mask the pesky tugging effect drivers feel at the steering wheel under hard acceleration. Even the GTI has its version, called XDS. But now Volkswagen has gone further to conquer torque steer with an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated limited-slip differential that will come in GTIs equipped with the Performance Pack. When an imbalance in grip between the front wheels is detected, the multiplate differential can direct up to 100 percent of torque to one side, mitigating acceleration-induced understeer and torque steer in one step.

Driving Character: Inside this boxy VW, all the familiar GTI hallmarks are there: the golf ball–shaped shifter with the manual transmission, the snug cloth seats finished in plaid, and the spare analog gauges trimmed in red. This well-finished interior is an apt reflection of the GTI's on-road personality: taut, sincere, and saucy when provoked. This compact hatchback feels responsive in your hands, with quicker steering from a variable-ratio rack and a well-executed electric assist that doesn't sacrifice feel. Midrange acceleration is particularly responsive, and the GTI's powerplant is well matched to the 6-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox, which shifts with an ideal blend of speed and smoothness.

Opt for the Performance Pack and its claimed 10 hp boost feels like significantly more, perhaps because of the revised throttle mapping, which lends the engine a sharper, more eager persona. Handling proved itself both intuitive and balanced on the sinewy roads connecting Nice and St. Tropez in the South of France. Almost everything about how this seemingly innocuous hatchback performs left us reluctant to turn in the keys.

Favorite Detail: We're accustomed to carmakers making bold claims about killing torque steer in front-drive cars, but those claims often don't stand up to real-world scrutiny. So it came as a genuine surprise when we felt no evidence of the phenomenon during our enthusiastic drive that included countless tight corners.

Driver's Grievance: You might guess we wished for more horsepower, but this spunky hatchback is a hoot to drive despite the modest engine output. No, our biggest complaint is that the GTI's conservative new sheet metal doesn't match its engaging driving dynamics.

Bottom Line: Die-hard GTI fans may consider the seventh generation of their beloved hatchback with skepticism. But settling into the supportive driver's seat for a quick spin will ease any reservations. From its crisp, reactive steering to its eager engine and solid chassis, this latest iteration feels just like a GTI should. With an interior that's both reassuringly spartan and surprisingly premium, the 2015 Volkswagen GTI retains the spirit of the original while offering more performance and comfort than ever before.

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