Surviving the test of time is no easy feat. But for the Volkswagen Golf, it's second nature.
"If it's not broken, don’t fix it" is a pertinent phrase that can only be attributed to a select number of cars in production. Founded on such unique philosophies, the cars in question leave a legacy that stretches back decades. Each historical catalogue serves as identifiable evidence of a special formula that’s hard to create. Subsequently, each original blueprint has evolved and adapted with the passage of time. There’s no radical departure; rather subtle modification with each new generation.
One car in this collection of icons that particularly resonates is the Volkswagen Golf. It relates to reasons that delve deep into its very purpose. VW pioneered the hatchback concept in 1974 with the original Golf 1. That extraordinary longevity is a clue in itself demonstrating its popularity. It was a revolutionary car that established the hatchback category. But the attributes that came to define its reputation identified with what people needed in a car.
The Golf is a people’s car because it extols what people intrinsically came to value in a car. It amalgamated a range of traits that people sought: versatility, functionality, reliability and quality. These four features are indivisible to the Golf identity. These four cornerstones gave the Golf a multifaceted appeal; it filled a multidimensional void in people’s lives. It was the first car of its kind to do so in such a convincing and satisfactory way. VW were pioneers.
"VW are inclined to think forwards, not backwards"
This package has been developed as the Golf bloodline has spawned new iterations. VW have not radically changed the DNA of the Golf in the process, as that essential configuration is what gives the Golf its greatness. With each new generation, VW have unlocked its potential. The Golf has considerably expanded its scope since its inception, as its fundamental design has one of the most expansive remits of any car ever made.
With an increased bandwidth of choice matched by a relentless consistency in each generation, VW has built up the Golf brand to such an esteemed position that it’s effectively the reference point for rival hatchbacks. The Golf is a trendsetter that denotes a cool, fashionable vibe that people like and want. A betoken of that point is a remarkable fact. More than 35 million examples have been made in 45 years.
But setting the standards creates a precedent. VW is under a weight of expectation to keep delivering the goods with each new Golf generation. Never have the stakes been higher than with the latest version, the Golf 8. VW are inclined to think forwards, not backwards. Striving for constant advancement means the Golf brand now serves more purposes. Its range of cars is more heterogeneous than ever before.
This is demonstrably evident with the GTI hot hatch version in particular. It’s more refined, and more reserved. Inevitably though, that has resulted in lots of comments about it not embodying the hooliganism that its predecessors provided. That it’s not quite the rocket ship it once was, and that the GTI has become too emotionally mature and sensible. This is most notable when compared and contrasted to equivalent rival hot hatches that are more brazen and loutish.
Yet this change has more to do with VW realigning the Golf range, and assigning a modified purpose to the GTI. It has outgrown its original intention and has mutated into another role, a more acquiescent role. That is a reflection of the Golf’s inherent exponential potential as a hatchback and hot hatch. And even so, with 242bhp, the GTI will do 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds, and has a 155mph top speed. It’s not exactly what you'd call slow by any stretch of the imagination.
And if you want an even faster and sharper Golf GTI, the Clubsport edition should fit the bill. It uses a revised version of the 2.0 litre TSI engine, so power has been dialled up to 296bhp. That gives it an extra edge. In pace terms, it means 0-62mph now takes 5.6 seconds. Componentry has been tweaked to give a more dynamic drive too. These alterations make the GTI Clubsport 13 seconds quicker at the Nürburgring over the standard GTI. VW don’t seem like a carmaker that’s run out of ideas.
"Customer fondness for the Golf hasn’t faded. The bond is as strong as ever"
The point is that VW broke the mould with the original invention of the hot hatch. VW were the innovators. If any carmaker has any credible claim to reinvent that creation, it’s VW. Besides, VW hasn’t asked for permission to proceed with this modernisation process of the Golf brand, because the GTI is not the only hot hatch variant produced now by VW. A host of new additions have joined the ranks. And each version meets different needs.
VW has transmuted the Golf hot hatch DNA. There’s the GTD, a diesel interpretation of the GTI. Sure, it’s not as fun to drive, but it fulfils a moderately different function. It’s a combination that works well. Then there’s the GTE, a plug-in hybrid interpretation of the GTI. Sure, purists will scoff at how this strand dilutes the essence of a Golf hot hatch, but it doesn’t drastically diminish the drive. The insertion of an electric motor and battery pack moves the Golf brand with the times.
The torch holder is no longer the GTI though. That mantle has been passed onto the Golf R. It’s the most powerful Golf with 316bhp. Tick the R Performance Pack to ditch the speed limiter and it will do 164mph. That makes it the fastest Golf. But the technical factors that separate the Golf R are the All-Wheel Drive and torque vectoring systems. The latter means it can send power to the left or right wheels when cornering. It helps the Golf R pirouette through tight turns. Neat trick.
Some won’t like the diversification of the Golf brand. But the medley of Golf 8 models now available highlights just how strong the Golf hatchback and hot hatch is. The fact that there are five hot hatch Golfs to select from suggests that VW attributed each model with its own individual direction. That delegation of roles to models conveys a cognizance of customer needs and wants. And it's proven with the evidence of facts.
In 2020, the VW Golf topped the car sales chart in Europe, with 312,000 units being delivered across the continent. And in that figure, one in three Golfs that were purchased was a plug-in hybrid version. Customer fondness for the Golf hasn’t faded. The bond is as strong as ever. No agenda or narrative here, sorry to disappoint you. The thing is, over the decades, the Golf has forged a good reputation. It’s a known quantity, with a reassuring aura. It’s what defines the Golf. It sets it apart, and puts it on a different level.
That’s the difference with the Golf. Cynics that subscribe to an outdated ideology of what a hot hatch should be are locked into a looped mind-set that compares hot hatch icons from the past with hot hatches of the present. It’s a regressive outlook. Sure, the switchgear on the interior is somewhat unconventional, but it's not particularly inconvenient to operate. The control interfaces are as intuitive and responsive to use as the swiping and tapping you do on an iPhone or iPad.
Of course VW and the Golf aren't exempt from reproach. But some people fear and dislike change, because it's different. Judging a Golf hatchback or GTI hot hatch on halcyon days overlooks the fact that carmakers are limited by the technology of their time. Context matters. Criticisms about the GTI not resembling a traditional hot hatch don’t wash with me, they just don’t stick. The Golf is inherently progressive. VW push the Golf brand forwards. It’s why the Golf has survived so long, and why it continues to thrive.
Photos: Volkswagen
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