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Road Test: 2006 Volkswagen GTI
Overall Review
By: Drew Phillips
Photos by the author
July 01, 2006

Article Images

As an owner of a MkIV GTI, I feel particularly qualified to review the new GTI. This also might make me biased, as I feel a particular affection to the car. With all the rumors about the much improved model, I was excited to see how it actually compared to the previous model, a car which fulfills all my requirements of a daily driver and more.

Stepping into the MkIV for the first time, it took no time at all to become used to the cabin. Controls are in the expected places and the shifter is right where my hand expects it to be. The test car comes with the standard cloth interior in a plaid design, a feature that seems to attract more attention than any anything else on the car. The seats are supportive, comfortable, and sturdy, and it only takes a moment to adjust the seat to my liking with the manual controls. Volkswagen has redesigned the dash with a much sharper look. More angles and lines are noticeable throughout the interior, providing a much more modern appearance. The quality of materials used is above the standard in the car’s price range, something I’ve always appreciated about the GTI’s German engineering. It has such a solid feeling from inside the cabin. The steering wheel is perhaps my favorite feature from inside the car, offering exceptional grip and a racecar-like feel.

Starting up the car I notice the clutch is slightly heavier than the MkIV’s, and there is now a 6-speed manual (a DSG manual-automatic transmission is available), previously only available on VR6 and R32 models. I’m off and away, noting the much more aggressive engine sound and the familiar hiss of the diverter valve every time I notch another gear. The MkV certainly provides an extra kick in the pants with the new 2.0-liter engine, which produces 17 more horsepower up to 197 bhp and 207 lb-ft of torque, 34 more than the MkIV. The boost in power is certainly needed, as the curb weight of the car now far exceeds the 3000 lb mark. Still, the car is quicker than the MkIV (0-60 mph in around 6.2 seconds), and it could probably hang with the limited edition R32. The torque is especially useful in the midrange rpm’s, and the car is a perfect cruiser at freeway speeds. There’s no need to downshift to pass in sixth gear, although going to fifth or even fourth makes it much more fun.

After cruising around town and on the freeway, it was time to head for some more twisty roads, not exactly the MkIV’s specialty. Would the MkV be any different? Certainly the new model is much improved. Everything about the car feels much sharper – steering, braking, and throttle response. While the MkIV seems somewhat unsure about taking corners aggressively, the MkV is much more planted and assures the driver that it will keep its line. Much of this is due to a new multilink rear axle that replaced the twist beam setup. The optional 18-inch wheels and tires would have improved cornering performance ever further. It’s not a Honda S2000 (or even a Civic SI, but we’ll get to that later), but it does the job well and will put a smile on the face of whoever’s behind the wheel.

After driving the new MkV, the one word my mind kept going back to was “sharp”. Everything about the new model seemed sharper and more direct than the old one – the interior design, steering, handling, braking, and throttle. Then I step out of the car and take a look at the exterior of the car, and I wonder what happened. The round MkV is far from the boxy design of the original GTI, and it even makes the previous generation seemed angular. From some angles the MkV even looks like a 2-door minivan, perhaps the high ride height being one of the factors. Unfortunately, the GTI rides over a half inch higher than the European version to meet U.S. bumper requirements. The rear view that once showed the aggressive haunches of past models is now the models least attractive angle. The only part of the exterior I like is the front end which gives the car its only aggressive aspect. The more curvaceous design also ruins much of the rear view from inside the car, with much smaller rear side windows. However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the exterior design will certainly appeal to quite a few potential buyers.

Being such similar cars, it’s hard not to compare the GTI to the Honda Civic SI. Both offer similar performance for relatively the same price. With both cars creating a devout following of loyal fans, arguing which is better would be never ending. If you’re in the market for a sub-$25,000 sport compact and still haven’t decided between the two, just take a look at what you want in a car. The Civic SI is undoubtedly more of a driver’s car with its agile chassis and high-revving inline-4. It will no doubt offer a more satisfying drive on canyon roads or quicker times at the autocross. However, just take a look at what you’d be missing with the GTI. It offer’s a practical aspect unrivaled by any other car its size. The hatchback and folding seats swallow bigger items than you would ever imagine, and four adults can ride in relative comfort, although getting in and out does make you look awkward. The interior will be much easier to live during day to day use, and the torquey engine won’t have you in the upper part of the tach whenever you need extra power. Overall the GTI is more of a complete car, offering nearly all of the fun with the convenience as well. But then again, I’m biased.