Anyone fortunate to spend time behind the wheel of Volkswagen's all-new sixth-generation GTI will certainly have a smile on his or her face. But that smile could be much bigger if VW would "pony up" with some added horsepower.
Now, before the GTI fans start throwing daggers, I love the GTI. The 2010 VW GTI is a great deal of fun to drive and it offers the highest level of refinement in its segment.
But, when compared to its competitors, the GTI lacks the punch found in other sports compacts. Let's face it: The GTI's 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged and intercooled direct fuel-injected four-cylinder engine is a carry-over from the fifth-generation GTI.
But, when compared to its competitors, the GTI lacks the punch found in other sports compacts. Let's face it: The GTI's 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged and intercooled direct fuel-injected four-cylinder engine is a carry-over from the fifth-generation GTI.
While the engine is quite peppy, and it's mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic direct shift gearbox transmission, the GTI won't pound the pavement like its competitors do with 250- plus horsepower.
OK, enough about the engine. The rest of the car is good enough to maybe forgive V-Dub. With a starting price of just $23,290, the GTI comes loaded with a long list of standard features.
For 2010 VW has given the GTI a more aggressive front end and a more streamlined profile. I especially like the standard 17-inch wheels. If you like 18-inch wheels, they are also offered.
If GTI's exterior doesn't draw you in, the cabin is sure to do the trick. Accommodations are impressive and highly refined, especially when compared to the rest of the field.
I loved the look and feel of the standard three-spoke, black, perforated leatherwrapped steering wheel that sported some awesome red stitching.
GTI's seats are heavily bolstered. It's a good thing I've trimmed down a bit, otherwise my thighs would have been spilling over the lower cushion side supports.
The standard front seats are heated (as are the exterior mirrors and washer nozzles) and they're wrapped in a greatlooking patterned sport fabric with red and white double-stitching throughout and a multitude of manual adjustments.
My GTI sedan tester came with the Autobahn package ($2,795), which adds top sport front seats with leather seating surfaces front and rear and a power sunroof. I thought the seats in my GTI looked awesome and provided excellent support for taking twisty roads at high speeds.
By the way, GTI's suspension system is tuned to deliver an uncompromisingly good ride with excellent handling and very little body roll. GTI's steering system feels very good, offering just the right amount of feedback. Simply said, GTI is fun to drive.
GTI's large disc brakes provide plenty of stopping power and I like that the brake calipers are painted bright red. They show nicely behind GTI's sporty rims.
The 2010 GTI comes standard with a collection of safety features and enhancements, including antilock brakes, antislip regulation, electronic differential lock, engine brake assist and electronic stability program.
New for the sixth-generation GTI is the standard electronic limited slip system that VW has named XDS (cross differential system). XDS monitors wheel speed input and in the event of slippage, transfers extra torque to the wheel or wheels with the most traction.
My tester also had the optional six-speed automatic direct shift gearbox transmission. It's a slick gearbox that operates either as an automatic or manual transmission. In manual mode, the driver merely flips steering wheelmounted paddles to upshift and downshift.
The interesting feature of this transmission is that the computer controls the shifting and the driver can select to enable a launch control program. When enabled, the engine revs up before the transmission engages first gear. This creates a more impressive launch with controlled wheel spin.
Did I say FUN?
The GTI is obviously a driver's car that will have you looking for errands to run just to spend more time behind the wheel.
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