Driving Impressions

The all-new Volkswagen GTI is not a car for everyone. It doesn't have the showy flair of the swoopy sporty coupes, and according to VW's own figures, it's a tenth of a second slower to 60 miles per hour than its big brother, the Jetta GLI, a four-door sedan that comes with a locking trunk instead of a cargo hatch. But for enthusiast drivers who like compact, two-door hatchbacks and the versatile and surprisingly roomy interior space that comes with them, the GTI once again provides a worthy benchmark.

The high-compression, 2.0-liter, turbocharged engine is very responsive. Especially impressive is its torque curve, which is much more of a broad plateau than anything with peaks and valleys. Maximum torque is available all the way from a mere 1800 rpm up to 5000, so you can putter comfortably around town in fourth or even fifth gear without having to overwork your right arm searching for the engine's sweet spot as you maneuver in city traffic. While the car operates on regular unleaded, premium fuel is recommended to achieve maximum power levels.

The engine is comfortable and the GTI's interior is surprisingly quiet at highway speeds. When you want to downshift for curves on mountain roads or to make a pass on a two-lane in the country, the clutch has a very light and easy pickup, the shifter has short and sure throws and the engine spins into gear immediately. On winding roads, we preferred the six-speed manual, which allowed us to feel truly connected to the car and to the road.

Even faster than manual manipulation, however, is the DSG, a manual gearbox with two clutches and an ability to shift at the speed not of your right hand but of electronics. We've driven the DSG in other VW Group vehicles, and it is a marvelous device, especially if you have a commute heavy with stop-and-inch-and stop-and-inch traffic.

The steering is quick and precise and the suspension is responsiveness. The GTI benefits from MacPherson struts in front and a four-link suspension in the rear. We found the response of even the all-season Continental tires to be up to enthusiast standards, though we think that serious enthusiasts will want to consider the larger 18-inch wheels and high-performance summer tires. Its 35.8-foot turning circle makes the GTI maneuverable in tight quarters.

Grasped by those red calipers, 12.28-inch ventilated front and 11.26-inch solid rear discs stop the GTI quickly and surely. The front brakes are an inch larger and the rears two inches larger than on the fourth-generation GTI. ABS comes standard, helping the driver maintiain steering control while braking. Brake Assist helps the driver maintain full braking pressure in an emergency stopping situation. Electronic brake-force distribution balances braking front to rear for quicker, more stable braking.

Even though nearly 60 percent of the car's 3308 pounds is supported by the front wheels, the GTI does not exhibit the tendency to understeer so prevalent in most front-wheel-drive cars. To help the driver keep the car on course, the GTI comes with electronic stability control as well as traction control.

Summary

Volkswagen's new GTI is neither the least expensive nor showiest styled vehicle in its category. Nonetheless, this new GTI offers more horsepower and considerably more torque than either the Honda Civic Si or Mini Cooper S. The GTI also offers either its short-throw six-speed manual or the state-of-the-art DSG transmission with speed-of-electrons shifting via paddles mounted on the steering wheels. With its subtly Teutonic styling, the GTI may not look like a performance car. But those inside will have no doubt about its dynamic capabilities. They also will enjoy the room and comfort and cargo capacity of its versatile interior. They may even come to like that Interlagos plaid.

NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Larry Edsall filed this report from San Diego, California

Model Line Overview

Model lineup:Volkswagen GTI 2-door manual transmission ($21,990); 2-door DSG ($23,065)

Engines:200-hp 2.0-liter dohc 16-valve turbocharged inline-4

Transmissions 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic Direct Shift Gearbox

Safety equipment (standard):dual front airbags, driver and front-passenger side airbags, side-curtain airbags, 3-point harness for all seating positions, child seat tether anchors and LATCH system, anti-lock brakes, hydraulic brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, Electronic Stability Control, traction control (anti-slip regulation and electronic differential lock, engine-braking assist), daytime running lights