Even if you made a conscious effort to Volkswagen GTI avoid spoilers and accidentally stumbled upon the results, it’s impossible to overlook the remarkable performance of one car that clinched victories in four out of six subjective categories and two out of three objective categories. Moreover, it showcased strong finishes even in the remaining three categories, securing a fourth, a third, and a tie for second. This demonstrates a unique blend of specialized strengths alongside broad versatility—dominance in specific areas combined with commendable performance across the board. The victor? Volkswagen’s GTI.
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Volkswagen GTI
Since its inception (first in Europe in 1976, then in the US in 1982), the VW GTI has epitomized a distinctive style of motoring: practical and fuel-efficient to meet the demands of the 1980s, yet agile and spirited. It represented sensible yet enthusiast-driven fun with a subtle profile, capable of outperforming many pricier and more prestigious vehicles. Relative to Volkswagen’s forecasts and production capacity, the GTI emerged as the most successful model in the Rabbit lineup.
This legacy is likely to continue with the new Golf series. The American-made GTI, which earned the Car of the Year accolade, impressed us as a meticulously engineered and thoughtfully crafted vehicle, solidifying its status as the definitive economy sportster.
Our test team thoroughly enjoyed driving the GTI. One driver noted, “Having a blast!” and our scores reflected our admiration for its capabilities beyond mere enjoyment. With top scores in Quality Control, Comfort and Convenience, Ride and Drive, and Chassis Dynamics, the GTI proved itself as the epitome of excellence in its class.
The GTI leaves a positive impression right from the outset. Its seats, driving position, and overall ergonomics are exemplary, providing ample support and intuitive control placement. Its spacious cabin offers unrestricted visibility.
As the GTI gains momentum, its performance shines even brighter. While some testers mentioned minor issues like a learning curve with the shifter and less-than-ideal pedal arrangement for heel-and-toe driving, the overall consensus was that VW has successfully engineered high-performance capabilities along with a cooperative nature when pushing the limits.
Selected comments from the scorebook include praise for its balance, handling, transmission, brakes, and engine performance. However, criticisms were directed towards its somewhat understated body styling, lack of instrumentation considering its sporty nature, and firm highway ride, although nobody was willing to compromise its crisp handling.
Priced around $10,000, the Volkswagen GTI offers a combination of talents unmatched elsewhere in the market. While other cars, even those priced lower, may excel in specific areas, none deliver the comprehensive package like the GTI. In 1985, no other American car dominated its market segment as effectively as the GTI.
In conclusion, as one tester aptly put it, “Volkswagen has done it again—a refined GTI, more sophisticated yet still an incredibly reliable, stable, and sporty companion, a refined commuter car with the heart of a sports car.”
