Volkswagen Golf GTI MK7 Review: Performance and Comfort Redefined

Before we start this review, I should admit that I knew I was going to love this car before I even drove it. Should have screamed spoiler alert, eh?

Having extensively driven the previous MK6 version, I’ve always found the Volkswagen Golf GTI to be the car that is all things to everyone:

• Carry a family? Check.
• Carry luggage? Check.
• Potter through the city while sipping fuel? Check.
• Cruise down the highway without feeling bullied by SUVs? Check.
• Quick, engaging to drive, and a hoot through the twisties? Check, check and CHECK!

So when the MK7 was launched with the promise of reduced weight and retention of all things good, I had to know if Volkswagen could improve on a car that was already as good as it gets.

Styling

The VW Golf GTI MK7 is handsome, if a little anonymous in our test car’s Tungsten silver. It may not win any designer awards, but the features have been sharpened over the previous generation:

• Narrower looking head and taillights that incorporate daytime running LEDs.
• The famous GTI red strip now runs across the grille and into the front headlights.
• The new Austin alloys are edgier than the previous models; these 18-inch rims do look quite handsome.

Overall, the Golf is still quite an understated car, with the only giveaways of its potential being the neatly integrated rear spoiler and the twin tailpipes at the rear.

Interior Comfort and Convenience

While other countries offer the Golf GTI in a racy 3-door layout, Al Naboodah only offers the 5-door version here. Nonetheless, the 5-door version still looks great and adds practicality.

The interiors of the GTI comfortably seat 4, with 5 being manageable at a pinch. The driver and front passenger get excellent sports seats covered in Vienna leather in our top-of-the-line model. Regular models come with cloth Tartan seats, harking back to the MK1 seats:

• Cloth seats stay cooler in summer heat compared to black leather.

The seats are not electric, allowing for a low driving position. There is plenty of space in the front for all the general paraphernalia that one tends to carry.

Interior Quality and Fittings

Having Audi in the same group has certainly rubbed off on Volkswagens, and for the better. Everything your hands come in contact with is covered in leather or soft-touch surfaces, giving a feeling of a car that is from a league above.

White ambient lighting permeates through the cabin at night, though the MK6 version’s red LEDs felt more cosseting. One niggle is that despite the appearance of a panoramic sunroof, the car has just an ordinary aperture.

On the whole, the entire cabin feels tightly put together, and the build quality is immaculate.

Technology

When it comes to hot hatch offerings, none of the opposition really claims to be a tech-fest, but the GTI is as close as it gets.

The first thing you notice is the big touchscreen infotainment unit in the centre console, accompanied by a small screen within the gauge cluster. Together, these screens provide a plethora of information:

• Access to the 6 CD changer, radio, AUX input, and USB connection.
• Bluetooth pairing for music streaming.
• Excellent sound system output.

The car has an excellent self-parking system that detects appropriate slots, leaving you to manage just the brakes. Parking sensors and a reverse camera help maneuver the car in tight spots, though the 360-degree view is not very precise.

Engine and Transmission

While VW’s competitors churn out upward of 250bhp, the revised Golf GTI offers a modest 10bhp increase, totaling 217 ponies. More importantly, the torque figure increases from 280Nm to 350Nm, thanks to tweaks on the 2-litre turbo engine.

The biggest change is the new platform, which has reduced the GTI’s kerb weight. The ride is still excellent—firm but never harsh, well damped, and perfectly judged. The weight loss and modest power increase lead to a more eager car.

Volkswagen’s excellent DSG transmission allows for lightning-quick changes, providing seamless acceleration. While self-shifters are often shunned in performance cars, the DSG suits the Golf GTI's grown-up persona. The paddles behind the steering wheel, however, feel plasticky and small.

Fuel Consumption

Despite increased power and torque, the Golf GTI still returned 8.5L/100kms, allowing for a 600km driving range between fuel stops. An added benefit is that the fuel filler cap is located on the right side of the car, typically resulting in a shorter line at gas stations.

Power and Acceleration

The Golf GTI’s torque – 350Nm – has transformed the car, allowing it to sprint to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds, matching the Focus ST’s acceleration. The MK7 feels just as quick, despite being down on power compared to others.

While the wheels may spin up on hard acceleration, torque steer is almost never felt. The Golf GTI’s handling is remarkable, eating up corners with ease.

Handling

The Golf GTI may be more grown-up, but it still knows how to get frisky. Fast direction changes are easily managed by the capable chassis. The GTI’s lower centre of gravity allows it to hug the road during tight turns.

With the XDS system, the car brakes an inner wheel to mimic the effect of a limited-slip differential, allowing for higher speeds through corners. The electronic handbrake, however, restricts some potential yanking to get the rear moving through tight turns.

Brakes

The standard brakes are excellent, showing no signs of fade despite high temperatures. They are strong and progressive, reassuring in their ability to bring you to a halt quickly.

The Small Touches

What makes the Golf GTI a better daily driver are the small touches that grow on you over time:

• Ambient cabin lighting adds an air of quality.
• Active headlamps swivel to light up the road.
• An air conditioner that cools the cabin rapidly.
• Automatic features for headlights, wipers, handbrake, and parallel parking.

The Small Blotches

Even with its excellence, the Golf GTI has a few niggles:

• The excellent seats, while comfortable, are too broad to hold you firmly during hard cornering.
• The absence of electric side mirrors that fold at the press of a button.
• The lack of a manual transmission, which may be missed by some enthusiasts.
• Eco Tips prompting during Sport mode can be annoying.

Verdict

While hot hatches are known for the smiles they bring, their primary agenda is to be reliable daily drivers. The Focus ST is a fun, budget-friendly option, and the Opel Astra OPC is a brute but feels heavy.

The Golf GTI provides the best of both worlds: stability at high speeds and playfulness when needed. Although its price ranges from AED 116k to AED 135k, it offers more value compared to its rivals.

Despite Volkswagen’s amusing advertisement reading “Often imitated, Never duplicated,” the Golf GTI remains the benchmark in this segment and is still the car to beat.