Mark
Twain famously wrote, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies
and statistics." Judged on statistics and track numbers alone, the 2011
Volkswagen GTI would be one of the least desirable of the currently availablesport hatchbacks. But that's a lie. In reality, the GTI is a front runner among
the competition.
Sure,
the 2011 Volkswagen GTI isn't as quick to reach 60 mph as the competition, nor
can it weave through the slalom or cling to a skid pad as tenaciously. How
then, you ask, can the GTI rank so highly in such a sport-oriented segment? The
answer is two-fold: refinement and drivability.
The
VW GTI's interior is quite simply, the best in its class. It's so nice, in
fact, that it could be mistaken for a cabin from sister company Audi, save for
the plaid fabric seats. (About those private school uniform-patterned coverings
-- it's a nod to the original GTI from more than three decades ago.) The GTI
also boasts surprising amounts of rear legroom and useful cargo space
considering its compact overall size.
Drivability
is the other main advantage the 2011 Volkswagen GTI has over other sport
hatches. Output from the 2.0-liter turbo engine is smooth and linear, and that
power is more manageable in the real world than that of more feisty rivals.
Competitors like the Mazdaspeed 3 and Mini Cooper S suffer from torque steer --
the sensation of the steering wheel tugging in your hands under hard
acceleration -- that many drivers find distracting.
In
addition to the Mazda and Mini, other performance hatchbacks to consider
include the all-wheel-drive Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart and Subaru
Impreza WRX. Certainly, there's a lot to like about all of these cars. But if
you're like Mark Twain and don't blindly go by the numbers, you'll find the
2011 GTI an ideal pick -- the sum of its parts can't be quantified with
statistics alone.
The
GTI cabin is businesslike without being austere, a place the driver can
appreciate and passengers will find quite accommodating. It's nicely trimmed
and well-assembled, the level of fit and finish better than you might expect
for the price knowing money also got spent on the engineering. You might argue
the instruments and switches benefit from Audi influence, or the other way
round since VW owns Audi.
Heated
sport seats are standard up front with a fair range of adjustment, long
cushions for long-legged support, excellent bolstering that contains you
without restricting movement or entry and exit, and comfort for all-day drives.
Leather is available yet we find the standard cloth better breathing and a bit
less slippery if you're of slender build.
The
rear seats are designed for three-across seating, but as usual this is better
for slim adults or children; more bolstering might be beneficial for some
passengers but would compromise flexibility. There are three adjustable headrests,
reading lights, cupholders, and storage bins, but the side windows open only on
four-door models (the seats and space are the same). It may not be a long car
but it is roomy; we put four 6-plus-footers in a moonroof model with no
complaints thanks to the hatchback roofline.
Both
front seats slide forward for entry/exit and with big side doors make the
two-door a realistic proposition. With the narrow part of the split-folding
rear seat behind the driver, a tall driver with the seat well back can still carry
longer loads and two rear passengers, or one passenger in back and really long
things over a reclined front seat. A
tilt and telescoping column with a flat-bottom, heavily contoured steering
wheel, a good dead pedal and nearby brake and shifter allow anyone from 5-foot
to 6-foot, 5 inches to find a comfortable driving position. Any option pack
adds controls to both wheel spokes and automatics have shift buttons behind, so
it's rare to need to remove a hand from the wheel.
Gauges
are basic white-on-black analog with large engine and road speed, and
270-degree sweep fuel and temperature inside them. A central display handles
trip computer and radio data, exterior temperature, door-open warnings and so
forth. The audio and navigation systems are new for 2011, MP3/iPod compatible,
most touch-screen and Bluetooth controls are roof mounted. Climate control is
three-ring simple and unlike many cars each of the center vents can be closed
independent of the other.
Storage
is reasonably good. The sides of the bin ahead of the shifter double as places
to brace a knee, door pockets have good space and bottle holder contours, but
the center-console under-armrest room is good for little more than a smartphone
and pack of smokes.
Outward
visibility is very good. Outside mirrors are low and the inside high enough
that neither blocks any vision even on climbing switchbacks. The bottom of the
windshield is unobstructed the full width of the dash and the top is high for
an excellent view forward, and the rear pillars are so far away they don't
compromise quarter views.
Behind
the seats there is 15 cubic feet of trunk space; a bit less below the cargo
cover. Folding the rear seats expands that to more than 40 cubic feet bettering
some SUVs. The cargo area also has tie-down loops, grocery bag hooks, three
baby-seat tethers, a multitude of cubby holes underneath and a surprise below:
the spare tire and wheel are identical to the other four so you avoid
temporary-spare or run-flat speed limits and wondering where the flat tire will
go.
The
GTI is based on the VW Golf, and both received a new exterior last year that
made them more angular and menacing. The GTI has some unique features,
including a thin, blackened honeycomb grille with two red outlining stripes;
different front and rear bumpers; side skirts; and GTI badging. It also rides
slightly lower than the Golf. Exterior features include:
- Standard 18-inch alloy wheels
- Dual tailpipes
- Optional xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights
The
front-wheel-drive 2011 Volkswagen GTI is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged
four-cylinder engine that produces 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque.
A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a six-speed dual-clutch
automated manual (called DSG) is optional. The DSG transmission can be shifted
manually via the shift lever or paddles on the steering wheel, or it can
operate as a standard automatic.
In
testing, the GTI accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, which is
slower than the competition by at least half a second. It is also on the pokey
side in terms of handling, turning in a 67-mph run through the slalom and
pulling 0.84g on the skid pad.
The
EPA estimates fuel economy at 24/32 mpg city/highway for DSG-equipped models
and 27 mpg in combined driving. The manual transmission achieves slightly less,
at 21/31/25 mpg.
2011 Volkswagen GTI Safety Standard
safety equipment for the 2011 Volkswagen GTI includes antilock disc brakes with
brake assist, stability control, front-seat side airbags and full-length side
curtain airbags. Last year's optional rear-seat side airbags for the four-door
have been discontinued.
In
government crash testing, the GTI sedan earned four out of five stars for
frontal crash protection of the driver and front passenger and five stars for
side impact driver protection. In performance testing, braking from 60 to zero
mph required 129 feet, which is a full car length longer than the Mazdaspeed
3's impressively short 115-foot halt.
reference:autos.aol.com,www.cars.com,www.edmunds.com
