Volkswagen Golf GT 2007 Review

While there are many small cars available on the market, it's often hard to find one that boasts a sporty performance and produces enough power to get you excited, without costing you an arm and a leg at the dealers and the pump.

But the Golf GT does just that.

On paper a 1.4-litre engine doesn't appear very impressive at all. You'd be forgiven for thinking someone has the performance figures wrong.

But it's what's added to that engine that makes it, because when the choice between a turbocharger and supercharger came up, Volkswagen didn't choose. Instead, it decided to use both. And that means turbo lag has been thrown out the window. Volkswagen has come up with a solution for that initial delay, introducing a mechanically driven supercharger into the equation.

There's plenty of torque available right from the word go.

The maximum torque of 240Nm is available from as low as 1750rpm, right up to 4500rpm.

But even lower down the tacho, there's still plenty available, with 200Nm delivered from 1250rpm through to 6000rpm. The power is also impressive for a small car, with an output of 125kW. In comparison, its 2.0-litre Golf sibling produces a lower 200Nm and 110kW of power and the even more impressive GTI delivers 147kW and 280Nm.

So the GT perches itself nicely in a range that offers 24 variants, with eight different engine choices.

Volkswagen claims this is the world's first direct-injection twin-charged engine for high-volume production use. And the marriage of the two is a match made in heaven.

The supercharger starts working very quickly and then hands over to the turbocharger once you reach mid to higher revs. But the transition is seamless, with no indication of the swap from the driver's seat.

The supercharger retires at about 3500rpm at the most, allowing the turbo to show what it can do.

But when the speed drops and more power is needed, the supercharger fires back up again. Power delivery remains constant and smooth as you work your way all the way up to 7000rpm. From behind the wheel the engine feels much bigger than a measly 1.4-litre capacity, and it also sounds much better.

For one thing, you don't get that feeling of “Please Sir, I want more”.

Because there's no wishing for an extra boost from the engine, as you do on a 20-minute run when you know you have more in you, but you can't seem to power those legs fast enough to extract that extra performance. That experience is nowhere to be found with the GT, which could perhaps be short for “good times,” “going tough” or “golden trooper”.

The pocket rocket leaves you satisfied. It's like a buffet where you can eat as much as you want.

For a reasonable $34,990, you can feel content you have your money's worth. There aren't many competitors who can offer a package like the GT. It's no slow-coach when it comes to accelerating, doing zero to 100km/h in just 7.9 seconds, quite impressive for such a small four-cylinder motor.

We tested the six-speed manual model, the transmission giving an even delivery of power, with smooth shifting. The DSG automatic adds $2500 to the price.

During tests, the GT returned a fuel consumption as low as 6.5-litres per 100km on highways, and sat at around 7.8-litres during busy city driving. And the Golf GT's handling and driving dynamics don't let you down either, whether you're out on a highway, cruising around town or throwing it around some bendy roads. The suspension has been lowered by 15mm, adding to its sporty nature and the over-all pleasant ride.

Our model had some optioned features including a sunroof worth about $1900, a little steep perhaps but it does add a lot more character, and a $500 metallic paint job.

The interior has the typical Volkswagen class and is both a comfortable and good-quality setting. There is a good list of safety equipment, although extra enjoyment-type features would have been nice.

It comes standard with dual zone climate control, six airbags, decent storage spaces, a CD-player, ABS with Electronic Stability Program and traction control and a boost pressure display, letting you know when the twinchargers are at work. And while it was a fun car to drive, one criticism arose during the week.

While the driving was impressively sporty, it just didn't stand out enough from the regular Golf models.

It could have done with a standard sunroof perhaps, and more bling. Aside from the GT badges, there was nothing that screamed out “Look at me, I'm special.”

But Volkswagen practically read my mind this week, announcing the Golf GT is being replaced by the Golf GT Sport, featuring the same 1.4-litre engine, as well as adding the option of a 2.0-litre diesel to the mix, which starts at $37,490. And as you can expect with the word Sport, there's more glamour to the package.

The GT has not only been hit with the Sport label, it has also been given the athletic makeover in appearance.

It now gets features from its big older brother, the GTI, with a distinctive bumper and radiator grille design, sports seats, a sports steering wheel, twin tailpipes, exclusive 17-inch alloys and sports suspension all as standard.

It also now wears a GT Sport badge. Perhaps the theory “Ask and you will receive” might be true after all.

So now it's not just what's underneath the bonnet that counts, there's that added pizzazz to its look as well, which lets everybody know just how cool it really is.

Snapshot

Volkswagen Golf GT

Price: $34,990

Engine: 1.4L/4-cylinder twin charger, 125kW/240Nm

Economy: 7.7L/100km

Transmission: 6-speed manual

The Rivals

Mazda3 SP23 hatch

Price: $32,600

Engine: 2.4L/4-cyl, 115kW/203Nm

Economy: 8.6L/100km

Transmission: 6-speed manual
 

Volvo C30 LE

Price: $38,450

Engine: 2.4L/5-cyl, 125kW/230Nm

Economy: 8.4L/100km

Transmission: 5-speed manual
 

BMW 120i

Price: $43,300

Engine: 2L/4-cylinder, 115kW/200Nm

Economy: 7.9L/100km

Transmission: 6-speed manual

See this car at the Australian International Motor Show