2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI Malaysia Reviews & Ratings, Expert Car Reviews on LIVE LIFE DRIVE

Brilliant to drive and practical to own, the all-new 2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI is the most capable Golf yet. Volkswagen has opted for more sensibility than ever before, but the 2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI remains the most desirable hot hatch.

2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI quick specs

Body Style	Hatchback
Class	Sports/GT
Assembled	-

Engine Range	-
Fuel Options	-
Seating Capacity	5

2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI ratings (overall rating : 4.5/5.0)

Styling
Handling
Comfort
Quality + Reliability
Performance

Roominess
Running Costs
Value for Money
Equipment
Environment

Styling

Volkswagen has always taken the restrained rather than flashy route when it comes to dressing up the flagship Golf GTI, which wears a styling evolved from the previous Golf GTI. You can easily tell the sportiest Golf apart from a normal Golf, however—the front features a honeycomb grille and a blacked-out air intake vent that covers the width of the bumper; the rear comes with a diffuser, twin exhausts and a roof-mounted spoiler; and interior touches such as the flat-bottomed steering wheel with red stitching, drilled aluminium-effect pedals and tartan seat upholstery.

Handling

The previous Volkswagen Golf GTI already found the perfect ride-handling balance—a remarkable achievement no rival except the Ford Focus can boast of. The handling is brilliant, characterised by loads of grip, iron-fisted body control, amazing poise and quick reactions. The chassis is however not as reactive or throttle-sensitive as its predecessor's. There is little to complain about the steering, though, which is precise, nicely weighted and informative. So, ultimately, the 2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI remains fun to drive and infinitely capable. But has it grown up too much? And become too refined for a supposedly fiery hot hatch?

Comfort

No matter what you throw the 2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI's way, the ride remains forgiving and composed—impressive given that this is a hot-hatch after all. And in a further departure from the hot-hatch norm, the 2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI is extremely refined, keeping out wind, road and engine noise while cruising. The driving position is excellent, accompanied by plenty of steering/seating adjustments and heavily bolstered front seats. Controls are all ideally positioned and intuitive to operate, while visibility is unhindered all-round.

Quality + Reliability

The classy cabin boasts high-quality materials, soft-to-the-touch surfaces, and faultless fit-and-finish. As expected, the plastics become less appealing and harder the further down the dash. Still, most surfaces are at least rubberised for a better texture. Each and every switchgear works with delightful slickness, too. On the outside, you can observe how tightly and evenly spaced the shutlines are. From the drivetrain to the chassis, the underlying mechanicals have been proven and should be the last of your worries.

Performance

The previous Volkswagen Golf GTI's engine, a 2.0-litre turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder engine, is reworked to generate 207 bhp, 10 more horses than before. Torque is unchanged at 280 Nm, although the spread from 1750–5200 rpm, along with the six-speed DSG semi-automatic transmission, makes for exceptional drivetrain flexibility and smoothness. Turbo lag is almost non-existent, too, and the century sprint is completed in a mere 6.9 seconds. What's more, slam on the throttle and you will unleash the glorious engine soundtrack.

Roominess

Being a five-door hatchback, the 2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI is as practical as hot hatches get. Front and rear occupants will have no complaints when it comes to head- or leg-room. Shoulder room is also better than many rivals', allowing for the carrying of a third rear passenger with relative ease. The well-shaped boot offers 350 litres of luggage space, and the split-fold rear seats can boost available space to 1305 litres when necessary.

Running Costs

Fuel economy is rated at 13.5 km/litre, which is outstanding considering the performance on offer. Servicing and repair costs should be reasonable, comparing favourably against those for premium alternatives, such as the Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series Hatchback. With the desirability commanded by the Volkswagen badge and the GTI tag, the Volkswagen Golf GTI gets you very strong residual values.

Value for Money

The latest Volkswagen Golf GTI is also the most capable Golf yet. It is simply hard to fault—brilliant to drive and practical to own. No doubt, some hot-hatch rivals are faster, but none offers a package as complete as the Volkswagen Golf GTI's. And while it is not cheap to buy, the 2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI undercuts premium alternatives such as the Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series Hatchback. The previous Golf GTI struck the perfect balance between driving fun and overall refinement, but it seems Volkswagen has now opted for more of the latter, sacrificing a little of the fun that made a Golf GTI so loveable in the first place. Albeit more sensible, the 2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI is still the best hot hatch in our book.

Equipment

Standard equipment includes 18" alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights, electrically foldable door mirrors, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, electric hill hold control, ParkPilot, rain sensor, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, leather multi-function steering wheel, leather upholstery, and 6-disc CD/MP3/WMA/radio touch-screen audio system with iPod connectivity. Safety kit includes front/side/curtain airbags, front seat belt pretensioner, and braking, traction and stability controls.

Environment

Thanks to TSI technology, which involves both the supercharging and turbocharging of an FSI engine, the 2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI is easily the “greenest” hot hatch in the market. Emitting 173 grams/km of carbon dioxide and consuming 13.5 km/litre of petrol, the 2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI sets a new benchmark in the efficiency aspect, one that cars with comparable performance have difficulties matching.

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2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review

2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI at a glance