Volkswagen Golf GTI first drive - Buying and owning

Buying and owning
The new GTI isn’t just faster than its predecessor, but also cleaner and more efficient. Carbon dioxide emissions for the manual car fall from 189g/km to 170, while fuel economy is up by 3.4mpg to 38.7mpg (the DSG-equipped car manages 173g/km and 38.2mpg, but acceleration is unaffected).

Unfortunately, prices have gone up as well. The GTI now starts at £22,410, which makes it more expensive than rivals with similar power. Then again, it should hold its value better, and it’s hard to think of another hot hatch that’s such a brilliant all-rounder.

Perhaps the most tempting alternative is its rakish sister, the Scirocco, which has almost as much power, yet undercuts it by around £2000. However, the GTI is a more practical car and it has a classier cabin. It’s like buying a Saville Row suit, then – you get what you pay for.

What Car? says…
Hard to fault – brilliant to drive and to own