2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The 2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI, like its forerunners, promises to be all things to all people. It's a quiet and comfortable commuter one day and a corner carving riot the next. It does both of those things without compromising either too much. It's part of the reason that it has remained as popular as it has. It's refined, grown up and far more than the sum of its parts. Our test car is as basic as it comes. We have a no-option base S model, ringing up for $27,265. That means no leather, no sunroof, no automatic climate control and no upgraded limited-slip differential or brakes. It's powered by Volkswagen's 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four making 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Editor-in-chief Greg Migliore: The GTI is one of the best values for an enthusiast. It really is. For $27,265, including destination, this VW hatch gives you sharp design, a strong turbo four and an excellent six-speed manual. It's everything you need. I enjoyed batting around town, whipping through the gears, keeping the revs high and cornering with plenty of speed. It's simply engagement, but it's a feel you don't find in many cars these days. Everything is either over-sanitized or 'roided up. There's not much middle ground for enthusiasts. The GTI fills it nicely. The car is accessible to nearly everyone. Even if you're loaded, you should consider this humble VW hatch for its dynamics. Just get a few more options. I really like the exterior design. The 18-inch alloy wheels and snappy headlights accent the hatch silhouette nicely. It's tasteful but it stands out. Inside is solid. A touch dated, especially the infotainment, but it's intuitive and clean, which matters more than over-baked touchscreens. The Golf line was just refreshed for 2018 and it remains a solid part of VW's identity. The GTI extends that to enthusiasts. Associate Editor Reese Counts: One night in this car makes me regret selling my MkV GTI. I mean, I don't really regret selling it (I wasn't driving it as much as it deserved), but I sure as hell miss it. Nothing else combines this level of fun and practicality at this price point. We're testing a base S model and it's nearly perfect. It comes with the tartan seats, no sunroof and the same horsepower as the upper trim models. If you're really going to be pushing the car, the SE adds bigger brakes and a mechanical limited-slip diff. Goodbye, friend. You will be missed. I hope your new owner loves you half as much as I do. It wasn't easy to let y... https://t.co/Ggv4MFz8ME pic.twitter.com/Y4WIzGYpDT — Reese Counts (@rmcounts) June 30, 2017 The GTI so effortlessly quick and fun. The gearing is short and the turbo on the 2.0-liter inline-four spools up quickly. With the windows down, you can hear the nice whoosh sound coming from under the hood. The exhaust makes a nice noise, too. The shifter …
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