Volkswagen’s new Golf GTI is the quintessential all-rounder
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Can we call the Golf GTI (opens in new tab) a classic? In all its iterations – and there have been seven – the Golf has never exactly set the design world on fire. Intended from the outset as a replacement for the cultish yet also wildly successful Beetle (opens in new tab), the Golf has always been of its time, rather than out of it. The very first car, styled with sharp-edged clarity by the darling of the era, Giorgetto Giugiaro, set a high benchmark that the company never really managed to get over. In the four decades that followed the little Golf grew up, leaving compact, affordable motoring to other models in the Volkswagen range.
Along the way, an image slowly assembled and took shape in the eyes of the company, the marketing folk and the general public; the Golf was the smart choice for the smart consumer. Buy a Golf, we are still told, and you are quietly buffing your self-esteem. For this is a quality object that doesn’t scream ‘look at me’, at a premium price that says ‘quality’ not quirks.
This image has become something of a self-fulfilling prophecy, for with each successive generation the Golf got more and more efficient, its hatchback body almost utterly without unnecessary adornment, and every component, switch and handle honed to perform faultlessly, time and time again. If functionalism is your fetish, the Golf is the ultimate object of desire.
That said, VW have known from the outset that adding a little dash of sauce to the dish pays dividends. The very first Golf GTI debuted in June 1976, effectively creating a genre of swift, small cars with a pace and dynamism that belied their quotidian origins.
Today’s GTI is, therefore, all things to all people. We’d go so far as to say it’s the quintessential all-rounder; a high performance car that’s also totally practical. There’s a welcome absence of designer ego or excess in every facet of this machine. The most extravagant a Golf can get is the plaid cloth upholstery – mimicking the original – and even that is tasteful and muted.
To drive, the GTI rarely puts a foot wrong. Other cars might be a little more involving, but you tend to pay for that in terms of profile; VW is content simply to flash a little red trim on the bodywork and not give in to over-sized spoilers or swoopy bodywork. Even on the ‘Performance’ model we drove, there's a level-headedness on display that we'll have to put down to the arrival of maturity. It's hard to disagree with the Golf's rational image, even if the GTI has more than enough verve to make your automotive anonymity an entertaining one.
Each successive generation of Golf has got more and more efficient, its hatchback body almost utterly without unnecessary adornment, and every component, switch and handle honed to perform faultlessly, time and time again
If functionalism is your fetish, the Golf is the ultimate object of desire
To drive, the GTI rarely puts a foot wrong. Other cars might be a little more involving, but you tend to pay for that in terms of profile; VW is content simply to flash a little red trim on the bodywork and not give in to over-sized spoilers or swoopy bodywork
There’s a welcome absence of designer ego or excess in every facet of this machine. The most extravagant a Golf can get is the plaid cloth upholstery – mimicking the original – and even that is tasteful and muted
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Pierre Yovanovitch creates opera set for Theater Basel
The French designer makes his operatic debut with a set design for Verdi’s Rigoletto, creating a moveable stage set in his signature aesthetic, complete with custom furniture pieces
By TF Chan • Published
-
Vintage plastic and whimsical motifs make for playful jewellery by Tessa Packard
Tessa Packard has added delicious new pieces to her ‘Lost and Found’ and ‘Plastic Fantastic’ jewellery collections
By Hannah Silver • Published
-
Maison Margiela opens up new Paris headquarters to show a collection of rebellious glamour
Marking the inauguration of Maison Margiela’s new Place des États-Unis headquarters, creative director John Galliano’s co-ed collection marked a triumphant ready-to-wear return to the runway
By Jack Moss • Published
-
Peugeot’s sparky 308 gets hybrid power and handsome lines
The Peugeot 308 proves that mass-market design needn’t be dull, blending hybrid power with sharp lines and excellent detailing
By Jonathan Bell • Last updated
-
BMW Motorrad brings out the big guns for its newest cruisers
BMW Motorrad R 18 Bagger and Transcontinental set the tone for high-voltage cruising with a brand collaboration with speaker specialist Marshall
By George Chapman • Last updated
-
Dacia’s new Manifesto concept is a true outdoor utility vehicle
Utilitarian auto brand Dacia sets a bold new agenda with its Manifesto, a concept car pitched at the active outdoor market
By Jonathan Bell • Last updated
-
The sun sets on traditional supercars at California’s Monterey Car Week
Monterey Car Week, the world’s most prestigious car gathering, is showcasing ever-more extravagant special editions, coachbuilt cars and all-new electric concepts. Here are seven key machines from 2022
By Rory FH Smith • Last updated
-
Is McLaren’s GT a sports car, a tourer, or the best of both?
The McLaren GT is a capable all-rounder dressed up in svelte supercar clothes. It might also be the last of its type
By Jonathan Bell • Last updated
-
Rolls-Royce puts the Phantom back on its lofty pedestal
A mid-life refresh ensures the flagship Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II is at the top of its game, a last hurrah for traditional engines before an electrified future
By Jonathan Bell • Last updated
-
Prodrive’s new racing simulator is shaped by Callum to be front of the grid
The racing simulator shapes up – this new design from Prodrive and Callum is honed for the high-end games room
By Jonathan Bell • Last updated
-
The Cupra Formentor is a dark star for bright minds
For all its moody styling, the Cupra Formentor – from the SEAT spin-off brand – is a compact, swift and fun-to-drive crossover
By Jonathan Bell • Last updated