Why I'm Utterly In Love With A MkV Golf GTI

With our venerable but uninteresting Seat Toledo written off by an innatentive old lady driver recently, it was time to get a new car. After looking at numerous options, the other half and I settled on a VW Golf GTI in MkV flavour, and of all the cars I’ve owned thus far, it’s turned out to be by far the best choice I’ve ever made.

This has come as a surprise, as my expectations were actually quite low. Comparing the Golf against its contemporary rivals, it’s clear that it wasn’t going to be as sharp to drive as a Renaultsport Megane 225, as ludicrously quick as the Vauxhall Astra VXR, and it wouldn’t have the delicious engine note of the five-pot-powered Mk2 Ford Focus ST. The Golf was merely the sensible compromise.

But while the Golf can’t quite go toe-to-toe with the best attributes of each of its main rivals, it’s a far better all-rounder. It’s able to do everything well. It’s great to drive, with a lovely, weighty feel to the steering, and a confidence-inspiring compliance in the chassis that allows you to throw it around without the worry that it might bite your head off and throw you into a hedge at any moment.

Meanwhile, the 197bhp 2.0-litre FSI engine is punchy, offers a satisfying in-gear shove, and even sounds pretty good for a four-pot.

Despite all this, it’s incredibly comfortable, with a supple ride complimented by a very supportive set of tartan cloth seats, which hark back to Golf GTIs of old. Other than the seats the interior isn’t exactly fun-filled, but it’s spacious, feels pleasingly solid and everything is in exactly the right place.

It has a box-like shape, meaning all-round visibility is great, and if you drop the back seats, you can chuck in all manner of junk without running out of room. The fuel economy isn’t amazing, but it’s decent, and more than enough to put the thirsty Focus ST to shame.

I also love the way it looks. The changes over the standard Golf aren’t vast - a boot spoiler, a splash of black on the front and honeycomb grille inserts are pretty much your lot - but they all add up to make a big difference.

Most importantly, it makes me smile every time I get behind the wheel, whatever sort of driving I’m doing. If I were forced to replace it with something for the same amount of cash, I’m honestly not sure what I’d buy. This one’s a keeper.