Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

156 |AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

V

W has taken the Golf GTi
back to a one model only
proposition for 2019. The
three-door hatch is no longer
offered and neither is Original
specifi cation. And, in a move
that may cost sales to rivals, the
2019 GTi is not available with
a six-speed manual. Neither
is Golf R. DSG is is the only
transmission you can have.
As the man from VW told us:
“Manuals are as dead as fl ares.”
The GTI fi ve-door costs $46,190.
That’s $8700 more than start
money for the now discontinued
2018 Original three-door.
All-wheel-drive Golf R starts
at $57,190 -- $9700 more than it
cost in 2018.
Golf R wagon costs $59,190.
The 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine
in the GTI produces 180kW of
power and 370Nm of torque.
That’s 11kW and 20Nm more
than the 2018 GTi.
The all-wheel-drive Golf R
produces 213kW/380Nm and its
twin-clutch DSG transmission
has seven gears rather than six,

making it the same drivetrain as

the Audi S3.

VW claims this has trimmed

R’s 0 to 100km/h time from

4.9 to 4.8 seconds but, for

the record, the best we could

manage using satellite timing

equipment was to match the

previous model’s 4.9-second

time. It’s still astonishingly

quick for a hatchback.

Golf R is also loaded, with

leather, 19-inch alloys and

premium infotainment.

Upgrades to the GTi for 2019

include an electro-mechanical

front differential lock, ventilated

front and rear discs, digital

instruments and comprehensive

driver assist safety tech: low

speed autonomous emergency

braking, adaptive cruise and

blind spot monitoring.

Golf GTI is easy and relaxing

to drive when you’re not in a

hurry. Some might even accuse

it of being boring. But that’s the

genius of it.

Its personality changes

seamlessly into a serious hot

hatch as soon as you fl oor the

accelerator.

The grip from the tyres, the

accuracy from the steering,

the responsive feel from the

brakes and the supportive sports

seats make you feel in constant

contact with the road.

It’s remarkable that after

more than 40 years of hot hatch

production, few rivals can match

the Golf GTI’s bandwidth of ability.

No-one does the one-size-fi ts-

all hot hatch like Volkswagen.

Downsides? The suspension

can get a bit busy on even minor

bumps, but it’s never bone-jarring.

Golf R’s constant all-wheel-drive

grip means there’s much less

drama — and much more control

— when powering out of corners.

Some folks will

understandably lament the

absence of a manual gearbox,

but the DSG is faster and more

enjoyable, plus you can change

gears mid corner without lifting

a hand off the wheel.

There is one caveat, however.

Golf R’s super-low-profi le

Continental tyres on 19-inch

wheels aren’t suited to Aussie

back roads. Bumps that appear

harmless can create an almighty

thump through the front end. The

sweet spot is the regular GTI on

18-inch Bridgestone rubber —

proving it doesn’t cost a fortune

to get into one of the best driver’s

cars on the market.

But is GTi still the best

hot hatch at the mid $40K

pricepoint? Debatable. It’s

certainly the easiest to live with

as a daily drive, with a luxurious

cabin and the most comfortable

ride. Hyundai’s i30N is sportier,

nearly $5000 cheaper, more

powerful and arguably better

dynamically, while the new

Renault Megane RS is a good

thing too. Drive all three and

make your own call.

By Joshua Dowling

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI/R FROM $46,190

THINGS WE LIKE

 Brilliant all-rounder

 A-grade safety kit

 The GTI is comfortable and well-

equipped

 Transforms seamlessly into a

performance car when you fl oor

the throttle

 Excellent value for money

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Reliability has improved on the Golf

but it’s still a work in progress

Service costs are high

Golf R’s ride can be harsh on

country roads

SPEX (GTI DSG)

Made in Germany

2.0L four-cylinder turbopetrol/

seven-speed DSG/front-wheel

drive

180kW of power from

5000-6200rpm/370Nm of torque

from 1600-4300rpm

0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds (claimed)

5.4L/100km highway; 8.4L/100km

city; 95 octane premium; CO2

emissions are 102g/km

Warranty: Five years/unlimited

kilometres

Standard: Seven airbags, stability

control, adaptive suspension,

18-inch alloy wheels, automatic

emergency braking, rear camera,

parking sensors, cloth upholstery,

sports seats, navigation, keyless

entry and starting, 8-inch

touchscreen, Bluetooth, App

Connect, swivelling LED headlights

Redbook future values: 3yr: 48%;

5yr: 33%

compare with ...

Hyundai i30N, Honda Civic Type

R, Peugeot 308 270GTi, Renault

Megane RS, Subaru WRX/ STI

Safety

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money



Overall



STARS

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