What's On

Thursday, January 12, 2023

The Creme de la creme of hot hatches (used)




The GTI is the original hot hatch and still is one of the best that money can buy.

You can still have the GTI with that thumping turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder producing 210hp and 258lb-ft torque. This makes the GTI a lot easier to live with than the even hotter Focus ST. Standard six-speed manual gearbox is the best way to have the GTI. The shifts are smooth and slick, for those who prefer the automatic the six-speed DSG gearbox is just as good and offers clutchless manual shifting. Want a little bit more power? You can add an optional power pack which adds an additional 10hp for a total of 220hp which is still far cheaper than the A3 hatch.

On the road the GTI feels very comfortable to drive yet agile when you want to get a little aggressive in the corners. Steering weighs up nicely and offers plenty of feedback. Interior quality is what you'd expect of a Volkswagen. Much of the materials used are high quality with excellent fit and finish. The boot has even more space than the previous generation which is also very helpful for those who want to use this as their daily commuter vehicle.
S trim comes with LED foglights, 18-inch alloy wheels, touch screen sound system with 5.8 inch screen and heated front seats. SE trim comes with rain sensing windshield wipers, keyless start and rearview parking camera. Autobahn package offers climate control, leather seating surfaces, navigation system and automatic headlights. Most buyers will be satisfied with the SE trim which is the pick of the range. It offers just enough kit without being overly expensive.

The new GTI is a large improvement over the previous generation. The turbo engine is smooth with plenty of torque to help make it more easy to live with as a daily commuter car. No other hot hatch blends these well like the GTI and is our top pick for hot hatches.

Likes: Smooth turbo engine. Plenty of grip and is very easy to live with. Offers plenty of features for the money.

Dislikes: Can get expensive with options.

Some may say the Focus ST is a better buy because it has 252hp for the same price. However, the Focus ST isn't as comfortable or composed as a GTI and it doesn't feel as classy in the inside. It's a no brainer here the GTI is a great package.

SE trim is our pick of the range. It has all the kit you'll want a a price tag that is affordable.

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