REVIEW: Carrying the Torch, The New VW Golf GTI

Six generations and 33 years after the MkI defined the hot hatch class, the Volkswagen Golf GTI is still going strong! This latest edition packs more power and promises better refinement than any predecessor, but has it upped the game enough to keep its nose ahead of the competition and win over UK buyers – the greatest hot hatch fans in Europe?

If you liked the styling of the previous GTI, chances are you’ll warm to the new car, too. VW has played it safe with a subtle evolution, rather than a major overhaul of the looks, and there are plenty of classic design cues to keep enthusiasts happy.

Up front, the honeycomb grille gets red pinstripes, mimicking the 1976 original, and the edgier nose is reminiscent of the Scirocco. Wide-set foglights accentuate the car’s width, as do twin exhausts sitting either side of the diffuser.

The ride height has been lowered 22 millimetres at the front and 15 millimetres at the rear, wrapping the wheelarches even more tightly around the gorgeous telephone-dial alloys. A neat boot spoiler emphasises the sporty profile.