Yes folks, even in eighth generation form, the Volkswagen Golf GTi is still worthy of iconic status. There’s not a massive difference between the seventh and eighth generation models, but that’s no bad thing because the seventh was a fine machine.

I need to hold my hands up here and confess to a personal interest. Look closely at the photo of the eight different Golf GTi models. My father owned generation numbers, from front to back, one, two, three and five. He could best be described as being incredibly boring and miserable on even his most bright and sharpest day, so consequently we were stunned when he decided to trade in the family Austin Allegro in lime green with a beige interior (a car and colour scheme which suited him perfectly) and arrived home with a gunmetal grey Golf GTi.

Overnight he became a cool dad. Okay, he was still dull old dad, but you no longer knew it judging solely by the sort of car he drove. And he would have loved this latest version.

Some things have changed. I prefer any small, quick car to have a manual gearbox. You no longer have a choice with the latest GTi because it comes with a 7-speed DSG gearbox whether you like it or not. To be fair, it’s a really good ‘box and you can play with the cogs via paddles on the steering wheel. Some of you will prefer it if you do a lot of driving in traffic, but I shall mourn the passing of a stick with its golf ball knob.

I’ll also miss the choice of having a 3-door Golf GTi. The Mk 8 GTi is only available as a five door. I know that a lot of people who can afford this car will probably opt for a five door in any case, but I always thought the three door model looked better despite being less versatile. Anyway, it didn’t sell very well so VW scrapped it. Ah well.

So, having got all of that off my chest, what’s the 8th generation Volkswagen Golf GTi really like?

In short, it’s brilliant, just like the majority have been since the first GTi broke cover in 1976. It’s become the benchmark against which all other hot hatches are measured. Yes, there are quicker and faster models out there (Civic Type R and Hyundai i30N for example) but when it comes to all-round ability, the Golf GTi takes some beating.

This might sound daft, but hot hatches need to be about more than just outright performance. You can’t always use every ounce of power or get close to the handling limits. In day to day motoring, it’s a rarity to get even close. For the vast majority of the time you’re either cruising along or travelling in traffic. A firm ride and a snatching drivetrain become rather wearing. It’s better to have a level of sophistication which gives you a compromise between agile handling and lively performance all wrapped up in a versatile, comfortable package.

This is where the Golf GTi hits the bullseye. 0-60mph in 6.3 seconds isn’t the quickest in hot hatch territory, but for the majority of you reading this, it’ll be just fine and enables easy overtaking or when joining a motorway. You’ll manage just over 40mpg which is pretty good going for a performance 2.0 litre and it’s quiet too.  

The 242bhp engine is carried over from the Performance Pack version of the Mk7 GTi. Volkswagen has tweaked the suspension settings so that the car feels even more agile and surefooted than the outgoing model. It’s fun and rewarding, yet simple and relaxing to drive. All of the power goes through the front wheels but there’s hardly any torque steer. Some of the competition has gone down the expensive all-wheel drive route, but there’s no need to with the Golf. There’s a nice exhaust note from the twin pipes which I only really noticed when flopping the rear seats forward to carry some furniture. I left them there.

No surprise to find that the Golf GTi isn’t cheap but it’s competitively priced at £39,435 and comes fully equipped. It also performs well in terms of depreciation. There’s no need to dip into the options handbook although something I did like was the adjustable dampers. On the softest setting the ride is really cushy. We’d go for them.

The interior is typical Golf GTi with tartan material, although it’s a pity it’s not a bit more loud, this is a GTi after all.  The sat nav system works well but Volkswagen has made a mistake by going down the route of putting too much into the 10-inch touchscreen. It’s fiddly to use, as are the climate controls. The sliding, touch-sensitive volume controls on the steering wheel are also fiddly and they’re too easy to touch accidentally. A quick word of praise for the front sports seats. They’re comfy but supportive. The rear seats can cope with three adults…just.

Incidentally, the sat nav system comes with some gadgetry called Car-to-X. What this does is share information with other cars fitted with the same system to give you advanced traffic information. Clever huh?

The exterior has some really smart LED lightwork at the front. The Matrix LED headlights are terrific. The 18-inch alloys looks smart, but the Golf GTi has never been one for going over-the-top in terms of advertising itself. Some subtle GTi badging inside and out plus some red detailing are the only telltale signs that this Golf is a GTi.

This really sums up what the latest Volkswagen Golf GTi is all about. Yes, it performs well, although some other hot hatches are better. Yes, it handles really well, although some others are better. It’s roomy and well equipped, although some others are better. It’s fun, rewarding and confidence boosting to drive but, you guessed it, some others are better.

However, none of them can do all of those things so well. It remains the complete, real world, hot hatch package that can make you smile one minute when you’re having some fun, whilst also letting you feel rather contended when either trundling around town or taking the family on a long-haul holiday trip. The icon is truly alive and kicking.

Words: Graham Courtney
Pictures: Volkswagen