Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S

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Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S

Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S. It’s the hardest, fastest, most powerful Golf yet. And yep, that includes the R: the 306bhp 2.0-litre TSI engine driving the front wheels of this car is a whole 10bhp stronger than the one you’ll find driving all four of the Golf R’s wheels.

Its peak is 19bhp healthier than the standard Clubsport’s, and nearly 90bhp higher than that of the entry level Golf GTI. That’s quite a lot, especially when you consider they’ve been stripping out weight, too. It all equates to 0-62mph in 5.9secs and a 165mph top speed.

It costs £33,995, but if you like the sound of it, then tough luck. All 150 coming to the UK – of a 400-strong run – have gone.

The engine is an unexpected star. That VW has given its familiar 2.0-litre turbo four such character, such a raucous edge that will actually have you lunging for the 7,000rpm mark time after time, is worthy of praise. Yet it does all the effortless mid-range stuff and sensible fuel economy when you want to reign things in.

And it must be said, it really flings the Clubsport S along; even alongside something more powerful, like the Focus RS, it feels rabid under hard acceleration. That’ll be the 200 or so kilos that separate the two cars, naturally in the 1,360kg GTI’s favour.

Engine

You’d be surprised. Yes, there’s no Drift Mode, no lurid chunks of power being thrown at the back axle to make you grin like an idiot. But this Golf is more serious than that. Clambering into its superbly set up sports seat, gripping its Alcantara wheel (with nerd-delighting dead centre stripe), and glancing the lack of rear seats in the mirror are enough to tell you that.

And that lack of weight is immediate from the off. The car flicks around with an instant agility no heavier hatch can rival, and the steering has almost perfect weight. Very useful for knowing how much grip there is on the front axle (lots) to allow you to look for the Clubsport S’s playful edge.

It won’t do skids, no. But it does have a brilliant neutral balance that means both ends of the car have a say in how you get around a corner. There’s tons of grip to keep you safe, but there’s still a sense of humour under all the Golf’s focus.

Such as when the car’s Race or Individual modes are engaged (the latter is better on road, for it softens the suspension), you’ll get loopy little pops and crackles from the exhaust on a trailing throttle and during downshifts, while a full-bore upshift elicits a sharp bark, which echoes through that barren rear quarters. Lovely.

Everything just feels spot on, honed and engineered to within an inch of its life. The (manual only) gearchange is crisper than any I’ve tried in a VW, and the brakes withstand plenty of use at road speeds. Fast Golfs have always been quietly talented cars that target all-round ability; this is one you’ll go out and drive for the hell of it.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S Interior

It’s useless for families, granted. But everything else about the Clubsport S is completely habitable. That ride quality helps, the great visibility and adjustable seat assist further, while you can spec all the goodies you can on any other Golf. Ours had heated seats and a reversing camera.

In keeping with a two-seat, ‘Ring special? I’d argue not, and I’d be happy without those options. But that this is as accomplished a hot hatch as any other GTI – while making Golfs more hardcore, exciting and downright fun than they’ve ever been – is worthy of praise. It’s a great car.(Source by topgear.com)

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