Uprated Volkswagen Golf GTI sprints in from $45,490
BY BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS | 2nd Aug 2018
VOLKSWAGEN has released pricing for its model year 2019 Golf GTI, with the five-door and auto-only hot hatch kicking off from $45,490 plus on-road costs when it lands in Australian showrooms in October.
While that represents a $1000 increase over the 2018 five-door equivalent, the newcomer brings in a significant improvement in specification, with the previously-optional (at $1600) Driver Assist package with adaptive cruise control, lane assist with adaptive lane guidance, blind spot alert and other safety features now standard.
The big news is that the 169kW/350Nm EA888 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine has been dropped in favour of the 180kW/370Nm version from the limited-edition GTI Performance Edition 1, bringing with it the latter’s wet-dual-clutch seven-speed DSG in place of the previous six-speeder as the default transmission.
As reported back in May, there is no manual gearbox availability with this uprated powertrain, which is here as a result of the GTI’s global move to the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), which replaces the old New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) testing regime, basing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide and pollutant emissions on more rigorous, real-world driving data than before.
Other changes to the MY19 GTI include the standardisation of adaptive chassis control with adjustable dampers, larger disc brakes from the Golf R flagship and the inclusion of the digitised instrumentation cluster dubbed Active Information Display.
The Golf GTI will still offer two option packs – the $2300 Sound and Style Package that groups together 19-inch alloys (up an inch from the regular wheels), satellite navigation and a multimedia/audio upgrade offering gesture as well as voice control, as well as the $3900 Luxury Package that bundles leather upholstery, heated front seats with driver’s side electric adjustment and memory, and a sunroof. Metallic/pearl effect paint adds another $500.
Manual uptake on the Golf GTI has been running at less than 10 per cent in recent years.
Volkswagen Group Australia general manager of communications Paul Pottinger said the extra standard gear in a five-door DSG package is in line with what hot hatch buyers are asking for.
“The average transaction price for the GTI tends to be closer to $50,000 than $40,000,” he told GoAuto. “And the new specification… along with the powertrain (upgrade) means we now have a standard-equipped car in which you can say ‘do you really need anything more?’.”
Meanwhile the German car-maker has announced driveway pricing for its remaining stock of the model year 2018 Golf R rage, which now kicks off from $48,490 for the Grid Edition manual and tops out at $60,990 for the Wolfsburg wagon with a DSG.
