2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI Original first drive review
Getting back to basics is no bad thing, and that’s exactly what Volkswagen has done with the Golf GTI Original.
It’s not totally basic - there’s still more than enough safety, convenience and performance to satisfy contemporary needs but the Original goes back to where the GTI formula began thanks to a return for the three door body style for an iconic retro revival.
No, it might not sound like a big deal, but Golfs with three doors are definitely a ‘thing’ in the enthusiast community and, faced by a fleet of five-door newcomers like the Ford Focus ST, the upcoming Hyundai i30N and Renault Sport's latest Megane RS, the GTI Original has a unique packaging format against its competition.
With the addition of the GTI Original, Volkswagen's hot hatch range now grows to four distinct variants (there’s the regular GTI, the GTI Performance and the all-wheel drive Golf R) but the attention-grabbing part of the Original is its price, a relative hot hatch bargain from $37,490 driveaway as a manual or extra $2500 with a dual-clutch automatic.
Of course there’s a few things missing to get that price down beyond its lack of rear two doors; there's no LED fog lights, keyless entry and start or adaptive dampers, plus a colour palette limited to just red, or white.
Some of the more extravagant options also get left on the shelf (like Volkswagen’s techy Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster and sat nav) but you can still add a driver assistance package with adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and assist, automatic parking, and more for an uptick in convenience and safety.
Crucially though, the Golf GTI Original now comes close to the bargain end of the hot hatch market - priced safely beneath the $41,990 (plus on-road costs) of the five-door GTI and even undercutting the bargain-priced $38,990 (plus ORC) Ford Focus ST
The biggest change to the interior of the Golf Original is, of course in the back. Climbing in and out of the rear seats requires a small amount of extra effort next to the ease of simply swinging open a door.
The front seats do slide forward a decent distance, and the longer front doors allow just enough access to the rear. To keep rear occupants cool there’s rear seat AC vents to help make up for the rear glass that can’t be opened.
Up front, things are just as you’d find in the regular GTI, down to details like tartan seat trim and honeycomb patterned dash inserts. There’s no physical difference in available space, though the seat belts require a slightly awkward reach-around due to being set further back.
Volkswagen’s latest 8.0-inch infotainment system still lives up front. Inbuilt navigation isn’t present though like in other GTI editions but smart phone compatibility via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is.
As for how it drives, the Golf GTI is often held as the yardstick by which other hot hatch challengers are judged, and it's not hard to see why.
While its 169kW and 350Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine might be outgunned by some competitors when it comes to the numbers, the way Volkswagen ties together power delivery, steering clarity, and suspension responsiveness still impresses.
There’s a definite punch from the engine, and a linear swell of power all the way to the 6200rpm redline. While it can feel docile at low engine speeds, spin the tacho past 2000rpm and the GTI delivers zingy revs hand-in-hand with a generous shove of torque.
Power gets to the tarmac via the front wheels, not through a mechanical limited slip differential, but instead via XDL - Volkswagen's extended electronic differential lock - which mimics the torque distribution of an LSD by brake application.
The result is clean getaways time after time with no obvious trace of wheel-tugging torque steer or gruff axle tramp.
Combined with suspension that dials out body roll, while creating an agile and accurate on-road feel, the Golf GTI Original maintains the impressive driving dynamics set by its GTI forebears.
The GTI Original keeps a choice of transmission too, with either a six-speed manual or optional six-speed dual-clutch (or DSG) automatic.
There’s no doubting the DSG’s suitability to urban driving, with barely noticeable gear changes for slogging through commuter traffic, and find the space to wring the auto out and the lightning-fast gear shifts and uninterrupted flow of power mean auto versions are no less fun than manuals.
Absolute purists will take the manual every time though. Equipped with a golf-ball shaped shift knob, the gearbox provides a nicely weighted gearshift and a complementary clutch feel that means even in slow shuffling traffic the row-your-own option is never a poor choice.
Volkswagen has an icon on its hands with the Golf GTI, and it knows it. While the Original package might only be minimally different compared to the regular GTI it offers just enough to excite the detail-driven GTI enthusiasts.
By far the most exciting feature is the full-time reintroduction of the Golf in three-door form, previously offered in limited numbers on the GTI Performance Edition 1, but otherwise not seen for five years.
The three-door shape not only harks back to the actual original Mark 1 GTI, but also gives Volkswagen something unique - no other hot hatch in its class comes with three doors.
The minimal changes also mean that the GTI Original is no less a hot hatch than the five-door model. In fact its slightly de-specced equipment, fractionally lower weight (by about 25kg) and somewhat selfish lack of rear passenger access takes the full circle.
2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI Original Price and Equipment
Price: $37,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 169kW at 4700-6200rpm
Torque: 350Nm at 1500-4600rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual, FWD
Fuel use: 6.7L/100km
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