25 years on from launch, has time been kind to the GTI so many love to hate?
The mid-to-late 1990s were not a great time for the humble hot hatch. Insurance had killed off so many of the old favourites earlier in the decade, and the 21century revolution - complete with a Renaultsport Clio, Focus RS and Civic Type R - hadn’t arrived just yet. There was a 306 GTI-6, yes, but not much else.
Problem for the GTI was that it seemed VW had spent rather too long making the interior feel great than making its iconic Golf hot hatch drive how it really ought to. Which would have been disappointing enough on its own; following the less-than-inspirational Mk3, it was a decision that bordered on the egregious.
Which, wouldn’t you know, kinda chimes with the entire driving experience. The GTI is easygoing, comfortable, impressively refined for a car on such old architecture… but you’ll search in vain for joy. And this from the era of performance cars that offered up excitement more freely; this shouldn’t be a hot hatch that needs 100mph beneath its wheels to feel alive. Yet it never threatens to elevate the entertainment level beyond moderate.
As for the handling, it’s clear that the Mk4 Golf isn’t half as bad as you’ve probably been told. It always feels strange that the Leon Cupras of this era are lauded as hot hatch achievements sharing so much with the VW, while the GTI apparently isn’t fit to where the badge. And it’s not that bad at all, promise. Indeed, there’s some fun to be had harrying yourself along in a car that’s probably Polo sized now, with a manual gearbox, without a mode or setting in sight.
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