Volkswagen Golf GTi Clubsport review ~ station of gear

New Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport front cornering

25 Nov, 2015 11:45pm Richard Ingram

Is this the ultimate Volkswagen Golf? We test VW's GTI Clubsport on road and track

The Volkswagen Golf GTI was the original hot hatchback. Conceived in the 1970s as a secret after hours experiment, the original production run wasn’t expected to exceed 5,000 units. However, 40 years later the car is in its seventh generation and over two million have found homes across the globe.

To celebrate this significant anniversary, VW has tweaked the formula by adding more power, better aerodynamics and semi-slick tyres to the Mk7 GTI. The result is this; the Clubsport.

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Previously available with 217bhp (standard) or 227bhp (with the factory fit Performance Pack), the Golf GTI has long been one of our favourite hot hatches. The Clubsport ups the ante though, boosting maximum power to a not-insignificant 286bhp. That pushes it into the Honda Civic Type R ballpark, and – interestingly – VW Golf R territory.

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But Volkswagen bosses insist this modified GTI is a different beast. The drivers’ choice if you will. In fact, the instructors at the Portimao launch event say this car is three to four seconds faster per lap around the 2.9-mile Portuguese race track.

So how have they done it? Well, in addition to the power boost, the GTI Clubsport also gets a host of aerodynamic upgrades. There’s a new front air curtain to optimise airflow through the bumper and past the wheels, as well as a tweaked splitter and sizeable rear wing for greater downforce.

Engineers have been busy under the skin, too. There are new spring rates, revised dampers and different bump stops. Oddly, though, while the rears have been stiffened, those at the front have actually been softened. Apparently it helps with agility.

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And there’s no denying this GTI is more agile. All the above changes – added to the XDS+ electronic differential from the Performance Pack car, make this a Golf like no other. It’s quicker through the corners than the standard car, and considerably faster even than a pricier Golf R.

In normal driving, the car generates 261bhp. However, that can be boosted by 25bhp in 10-second bursts by simply flooring the throttle. It’s impossible to detect in normal driving, yet makes this GTI feel almost as fast in a straight line as its 296bhp Golf R sibling. This is helped by the Clubsport’s 380Nm torque figure (matching the R) being made available from just 1,700rpm. In reality, DSG for DSG, the Clubsport is a full second slower to 62mph (5.9 seconds vs 4.9 seconds), while the manual CS posts exactly the same time – adding six tenths to the benchmark sprint.

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We only drove the car on the bone-dry Portimao circuit and we’ve no doubt the four-wheel drive R would come into its own in the wet. Traction was impressive though, especially on the optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. With the traction control off, the Clubsport is slingshotted out of tight bends, with bags of grip and nicely weighted steering. It’s not as sharp as a Renaultsport Megane, but that’s never been what the Golf’s about.

It’s a shame these pre-production cars were restricted to the track, actually. Like the Skoda Octavia vRS 230 we drove earlier this year, we expect the Clubsport to be a far more flattering road car thanks to the compliant ride and punchy engine. The fact you can leave it in third gear and let it pull you out of corners makes it a very easy car to drive fast.

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But engine and chassis aside, this GTI Clubsport should be as easy to live with day-to-day as any fast Golf before it. Yes, it’s slightly stiffer, but all Clubsports gets the same plush interior as the normal GTI – albeit with unique (but comfortable) body-hugging bucket seats. There are special ‘Honeycomb 40’ design dash and door inserts in tribute to this special car’s anniversary, as well as an Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob. Exclusive floor mats and sill plates complete the look.

Standard kit – as with all GTIs – is comprehensive, with xenon lights, climate control and navigation all included. The Clubsport adds to this, with smoked rear lights, parking sensors and tinted windows. You’ll want to pay extra for the adaptive dampers though, as is true on all Golfs, from basic S to the range-topping R.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport nestles itself neatly between the standard GTI and the all-singing, all-dancing four-wheel drive R. It gets almost as much power as the latter and can actually out manoeuvre it on a smooth, dry race track. The subtle tweaks to the engine, suspension and aerodynamics make this one of the finest handling Golfs ever, though in wet and windy Britain the R still holds its crown as the ultimate Golf. But only just.

Price: £29,000 (est)
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol
Power: 286bhp/380Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive

0-62mph: 5.9s
Top speed: 155mph
Fuel economy/CO2: 41mpg (est), 162g/km
On sale : February

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