Volkswagen Golf GTI

The initial launch of the latest Volkswagen Golf GTI – now in its eighth generation, or Mk8 – put its price down at RM212k, and that amazing low price was due to the SST exemption. However, without the exemption, the true price of the new Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk8 is RM227,012, which is almost RM10k lower than the previous generation model. This is achieved thanks to a historic milestone – the Volkswagen Golf has only ever been produced in Germany and China, and now, amazingly, in Pekan, Malaysia, which is why the price of the new car can be so compelling.

Together with this price, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia includes 5 years of unlimited mileage, three years of free maintenance, and five years of roadside assistance.

Inside, the new Volkswagen Golf GTI has chosen the minimalistic approach, which is aesthetically pleasing, but ergonomically frustrating. The 10-inch Discover Media touchscreen infotainment system controls most, well, everything in the car, and it has wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatibility. Right below this infotainment unit are touch buttons for the front air-conditioning and audio volume that are not lit up, which makes hitting the wrong one remarkably easy, and it happened all too often in our review of the car.

Besides that, the seats in front are covered in perforated Vienna leather, and the driver gets an electronic one with lumbar adjustment and memory. No traditional tartan cloth option is available, and other GTI-specific bits include red gauges on the digital instrument cluster, red trim and GTI logo on the steering wheel, as well as similarly red piping and stitching on the seats.

Climate-control can be performed automatically across 3 zones, there is a self-dimming rear-view mirror, and there are 5 different presets for its interior ambient lighting. Outside the car, the Volkswagen Golf R has automatic headlamps, automatic wipers, heated side mirrors, full LED headlights with cornering lights, LED DRLs, and LED taillights with ‘dynamic’ indicators. Also, when the driver wants to listen to something else besides the synthesised engine sound, they can pump up the 480 W Harman Kardon 10-speaker sound system.

In the safety department, the equipment highlights are Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, Automatic Coming/Leaving Home lights, rear-view camera, and Side Assist with Rear Cross-traffic Alert. No active safety equipment can be found on the car, which is a shame, really, in a car that costs more than RM200k.

Under the sleek new exterior is the same EA888 2.0-litre TSI engine, and in this new Volkswagen Golf GTI, the plant makes 245 PS and 370 Nm of torque from 1,600 to 4,300 rpm, which is an increase of 15 PS and 20 Nm from the previous gen model.

Mated to the respected engine is the 7-speed DSG (with the wet clutch), with no manual transmission option available in our market, and power is sent only to the front wheels.

In a bid to make the best everyday hot hatchback, Volkswagen has perhaps improved too much on the everyday aspect of the vehicle, and lost a little bit of the hot part. The outgoing generation was such an accomplished vehicle, and living up to that is certainly not an easy task. Perhaps, in a world where the new Volkswagen Golf GTI existed in isolation, this product, though flawed, would be considered a great one. However, we live in this world, and in this world, the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk8 has to live up to the scrutiny of the Mk7.5, and no, it’s just not as good as its predecessor.