If I asked you to name a hot hatch, there’s a good chance Volkswagen’s Golf GTI would roll of the tongue first. Well news today has landed on our desk that Model Year 19 GTI’s are arriving in numbers with an extra sweetener. A driveaway price tag of $47,990 until March 31, minus $6700 in options however with just the one model offered.
This comes off the back of some serious production delays, but our local market will now score hundreds of the single variant GTI. The delays are basically due to new emissions standards that requires Volkswagen to homologate every engine to suit the new World-harmonised-Light-vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP). Those dramas inevitably trickled down to the Australian supply train.
The five door MY19 hatch Golf GTI arrives standard with the same muscle and drivetrain as the 2017 limited run three-door Golf GTI Performance Edition 1.
The figures include 180kW/370Nm from a 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder. It’s matched to a 7-speed DSG transmission, trick electro-mechanical front differential lock and a Golf R ventilated front and rear disc brake package. Those figures are perky, but when you look at the Hyundai i30 N or Renault Megane RS which exceed 200kW and better or at least equal on price some of the shine is taken away.
When it comes to technology the 2019 Golf GT scores as standard the Active Info dashboard readout along with the Driver Assistance Pack which includes the following safety features.
- Front Assist with City Emergency Brake (City EB) and Pedestrian Monitoring
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Assist with adaptive lane guidance
- Traffic Jam Assist and Emergency Assist
- Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert
All Volkswagens are backed by a five year/unlimited kilometre warranty with 12 months roadside assist. There’s also an option of capped price servicing deals.
“For the first time since this GTI variant was introduced late last year, we will be in a position to meet demand,”said Ben Wilks, Volkswagen’s General Manager of Passenger Vehicle Sales.
“The inclusion of this much standard equipment – items that were inevitably optioned by customers – coupled with the newly enhanced drivetrain, make this in fact the best value GTI since the Mark 7 was introduced in 2013.”
The $47,990 drive-away offer also includes:
- 180kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine
- 7-speed wet-clutch DSG
- Front differential lock
- Golf R brake package
- Active Info Display
- 18″ alloy wheels and adaptive chassis control
- GTI body styling
- 8″ satellite navigation system with App-Connect
- LED headlights and Light Assist
- Leather sports multi-function steering wheel
- ‘Clark’ sport cloth seat upholstery
- Electrically foldable exterior mirrors
- Rear View Camera (RVC) and Park Assist with manoeuvre braking
- Keyless Access, keyless entry and starting system
A few options will set you back however, including:
Metallic/Pearl effect paint for $500, a $2,300 Sound & Style package that includes 19″ Brescia alloy wheels, 9.2″ satellite navigation, Gesture Control, Voice Control and Dynaudio Excite 400W premium audio system plus the $3,900 Luxury package Vienna leather upholstery, heated front seats, electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, exterior mirrors with memory function and panoramic electric glass sunroof.
