VW Golf 8.5 GTi: LONG LIVE THE HOT HATCH!
By Dylan Naidoo
The Golf GTi has a long history in South Africa, as it is the car that pretty much represents South African car culture. The recipe for the Golf is simple: Take the already popular Golf and spruce it up so that it retains a perfect balance of sportiness, speed and thrills, while being good on fuel economy, comfort and the daily commute. VW popularised the concept of the “Hot Hatch” (A sporty hatchback) with the Golf GTi and has been the go-to option for one since its release. And 50 years after the first GTi, we have the VW Golf 8.5 GTi, our review car!
Engineering & Technology
With its mighty 198 kW 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the Golf GTi catapults from 0-100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds, and we felt that. The power delivery felt instant, and once you switch into sport mode, the engine roars to life and delivers unbelievable speed. The Golf GTi comes in a 7-Speed DCT automatic only. In eco and standard modes, engine noise was minimal at low speeds, and coupled with the cabin’s firm build quality, smooth suspension and intuitive handling, the car drives smoothly with great comfort, which is always a nice quirk of the Golf GTi specifically.
But let’s talk on the tech. The car is fully equipped with your usual tech, such as parking sensors, reverse cameras and electronically adjustable seats. At the centre of the dash you will find a 12.9-inch infotainment system powered by VW’s MiB4 OS, supporting both CarPlay and Android Auto. Both air-conditioning and volume controls are sliders and sit just below the infotainment screen, with decent responsiveness. We were surprised as to how good the speakers were, offering very good bass. There is a wireless smartphone charging pad on the front, and fast-charging USB-C ports below the infotainment screen. Rear air conditioning controls are also found behind the armrest for back passengers, making the Golf well-equipped considering it’s a sports car.
Design, Interior & Space
The design of the Golf 7.5 GTi has remained my favourite, pretty much improving upon the already universally loved Golf 7 GTi, making it almost perfect. And while I am still critical of the Golf 8, the Golf 8.5 GTi is a leap in the right direction. Those iconic GTi rims and badges are a throwback to the legacy of this car, and really it does stand out on the road. The interior is great. There are full leather-wrapped seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel onboard.
The interior has a sporty look with its white seats and red accents. Both legroom and headroom were very decent, as standard with full-sized hatchbacks. Opening the boot of the Golf GTi, you will find 374L of boot capacity, very sufficient for this vehicle segment. Overall, the Golf 8.5 GTi is very well thought out; with its sleek design and great interior, it really does make me wish, again, there were more hot hatches like the Golf.
Price & Overall Thoughts
The VW Golf GTi is priced at R908,000, a steeper price compared to previous generations. However, its competitors from BMW, Honda and even Toyota are all more expensive than the GTi, due to the lack of interest surrounding hot hatches. As such, the Golf GTi does have that upper hand, and as hot hatch disinterest continues, these cars may soon become potentially collectable. Overall, from great looks, powerful engine to still being a true commuter, the VW Golf 8.5 GTi, in my opinion, remains the best hot hatch in the market.
