A solid handler, the 2001 GTI 1.8T lets its hair down on the straights, thanks to a 150-hp engine that spits out 155 lb-ft of torque. With relatively no turbo lag, the 1.8T rockets to its destination like a team of stallions. Shifts are precise and the steering is responsive and predictable. There's nothing quite as pleasing as the sound of a whining turbo as you run through all the gears. Rev it to redline and enjoy the ride.
The GTI interior is uncompromising, seemingly light years beyond most others in its class. Quality is key, from the smartly positioned instrumentation and fully adjustable, orthopedically firm seating, to the tilting/telescoping steering wheel.
For 2001, the GTI 1.8T incorporates a level of safety features that rival the competition. When combined with a show of all-out drivetrain performance, there are few others that exude as much streetable confidence as the GTI 1.8T. --Larry Saavedra
I feel Volkswagen's GTI is the smoothest and most sophisticated of our Great Rides. It exudes fine German engineering. A legendary enthusiast's car, the GTI can carve winding roads with confidence, yet is stable enough for high-speed touring.
Brisk, off-the-line acceleration performance is the first thing you notice about the 1.8T. There's plenty of low-rpm torque, more than enough to spin the front wheels. Traction control steps in when needed and accelerating through the gears, there's no turbo lag. Instead, the power delivery is fluid and linear. This 1.8-liter turbocharged engine is so smooth and it revs so freely that you're encouraged to put the throttle down, yet it still nets an EPA-rated 24/31 mpg city/highway.
With compliant coil springs and gas-filled shocks, the GTI combines excellent handling and a comfortable, well controlled ride quality. The driver feels connected to the road while vibrations and bumps are comfortably muffled. MacPherson struts in front and the independent torsion-beam suspension in the rear help keep the car rooted to the road. Aggressive maneuvers generate little body roll. The longer wheelbase and the much-stiffer chassis of this fourth-generation GTI reduce vibration on rough roads and improve handling in tight corners. This car is stable under hard braking, and the firm brake pedal provides good feedback. GTIs come with ABS and Volkswagen's Anti-Slip Regulation system.
There's lots of headroom front and rear, and good stretch-out room for the people in back. Fold down the rear seats and this hatchback can hold nearly 26 cubic feet of cargo, more than any other car in this list.
Among compacts, the 1.8T may be relatively expensive. But it's more fun to drive and more refined than other cars in its class. If you enjoy driving, this car is a great choice. --Mitch McCullough
VW gave birth to the hot hatch some 30 years ago with the Rabbit GTI. Packing a spirited 70-hp motor, room for four adults and handsome Guigaro styling, the GTI was an instant success. There was something about its blend of utility and sportiness the motoring public fell in love with.
A lot has changed in three decades--especially Volkswagen--and specifically the latest Mark IV platform, which is by all accounts, the finest car to come out of Wolfsburg.
Step inside a new GTI and you'd swear you're sitting behind the wheel of an Audi, BMW or Mercedes product--the quality is that good. VW's platform sharing strategy means that even base Golfs feature materials, buttons, switches, handles, etc. from Volkswagen's upper-echelon cars. It saves VW money and ultimately, the end purchaser. You and your three passengers can laugh all the way to the bank.
You get a staggering amount of features with the GTI, not the least of which is the powerful 1.8 liter, force-fed motor. Packing a turbocharger just slightly bigger than your fist, the GTI manages to keep lag to a minimum--past 2 grand, this thing will light up the front tires with a smoke show. Though well-sprung, the GTI still leans a bit more through the turns than its colleagues, but never so much as to lose grip. Its brakes are massive and even the most spirited driver will be hard pressed to exceed their limits.
The GTI can swallow huge amounts of cargo--more than seems possible, in fact. And if your cargo happens to be human, well, everyone is gonna be happy, across town or across country. The GTI comes off as a very refined piece of machinery--it's apparent VW has learned much over the past 30 years.
If you need a car that does everything well, look no further than the GTI. --Les Bidrawn