Review: Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf GTi (2013-17)

Overview

The Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf GTi and GTi Performance were five-door hatchbacks that were released in Australia in October 2013 and April 2014, respectively. Manufactured in Wolfsburg, Germany, the front-wheel drive VW Mk.7 Golf GTi and GTi Performance were powered by 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines. While the Golf GTi was available with six-speed manual or double clutch transmissions, the GTi Performance was solely available with the latter.

The Golf GTi 40 Years Edition was available to order from April 2016, with deliveries commencing in June 2016. 

CHHB and CHHA EA888 Gen 3 engines

The CHHB and CHHA EA888 Gen 3 engines for the Golf GTi and GTi Performance, respectively, had a grey cast iron block with an 82.5 mm bore and a 92.8 mm stroke, a die-forged steel crankshaft with five main bearings, a cast aluminium alloy cylinder head, direct injection and multi-point port injection, an IHI turbocharger which provided peak boost pressure of 1.3 bar (18.9 psi), and intercooler, double overhead camshafts (toothed chain-driven), variable intake and exhaust camshaft timing, two-stage variable exhaust valve lift, four valves per cylinder actuated by roller finger cam followers with hydraulic valve clearance compensation and a compression ratio of 9.6:1.

To minimise fuel consumption, the Golf GTi had a ‘Start/Stop’ function which enabled the engine to shut down when the vehicle was stationary in traffic. Furthermore, the Golf GTi required 98 RON premium unleaded petrol (PULP) and complied with Euro 6 emissions standards.

The Golf GTi could accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds with both the manual and DSG transmissions, while the Golf GTi Performance required 6.4 seconds.

DSG transmission

The transversely mounted DSG unit had two wet clutches, two input shafts and two outputs shafts. In this arrangement, Clutch 1 (C1) operated the odd gears (plus reverse), while Clutch 2 (C2) operated the even gears. When driving, the next-higher gear ratio could be engaged without actually being activated. To change gears, the clutch for the current gear would open and the other clutch (for the higher gear) would engage under electrohydraulic control. Since the opening and closing actions of the two clutches overlapped, Volkswagen claimed that the system provided smooth gearshifts in less than four-hundredths of a second.

In addition to its fully automatic shift mode, the DSG had a Tiptronic function to permit manual gear selection – this could be performed via the steering wheel gearshift paddles.

Dimensions

Compared to the Mk.6 Golf GTi , the Mk.7 Golf GTi was 69 mm longer (at 4268 mm), 14 mm wider (1799 mm), 2 mm taller (1466 mm) and had a 52 mm longer wheelbase (2626 mm). Underpinned by Volkswagen’s modular transverse matrix (MQB), the Golf GTi had a kerb weight of 1313 kg and 1324 kg for the manual and DSG models, respectively.

Cargo capacity was 380 litres with the rear seats in position, though this increased to 1270 litres when they were folded flat.

Suspension

The Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf GTi had MacPherson strut front suspension with lower A-arms and an anti-roll bar, while the independent four-link rear suspension had coil springs and an anti-roll bar. The Golf GTi and GTi Performance were also fitted with electronically-controlled, adaptive dampers (Volkswagen’s ‘Adaptive Chassis Control’) which could vary damping resistance according to road conditions. With Adaptive Chassis Control, the driver could also select from Normal, Comfort and Sport settings which also altered throttle response and steering weight.

Steering

The Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf GTi had electric, speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering. For the Mk.7 Golf GTi, the steering had a progressive steering ratio such that the amount of steering wheel rotation required to turn the wheels decreased as steering lock increased.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf GTi included dual front airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

The Mk.7 Golf GTi was also fitted with:

• Fatigue Detection: monitored driver behavior at speeds in excess of 65 km/h for signs of fatigue. If the driver exhibited signs of fatigue, a tone would sound and a warning would appear in the multi-function display; and,
• Multi-collision brake: automatically braked the vehicle after a collision to reduce kinetic energy and minimise the likelihood of a second impact.

As standard, the Volkswagen Golf GTi 40 Years edition was equipped with:

• Adaptive Cruise Control;
• Front Assist with City Emergency Brake (City EB); and,
• A Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert.

Driver assistance package (optional)

As an extra-cost option the Golf GTi was available with a ‘Driver assistance package’ which included:

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): using a radar sensor, ACC could autonomously apply the vehicle’s brakes to maintain a preset distance to vehicle ahead. ACC could also cause the vehicle to accelerate to its pre-set speed after braking;
• Front Assist: Front Assist used a radar sensor to detect if the vehicle was closing too fast on the vehicle ahead. If this occurred, Front Assist would:
  • provide audible and visual warnings to the driver,
  • bring the brake pads into contact with the brake discs for an emergency stop; and,
  • automatically apply the brakes to warn the driver.

If the driver failed to respond, Front Assist would apply the brakes automatically to avoid or reduce the severity a collision.

• City Emergency Brake (City EB): at speeds below 30 km/h, City EB would monitor the road ahead for vehicles. If a collision was considered likely, City EB would prime the brakes and increase braking assistance. If the driver did not react and a collision was imminent, City EB would autonomously initiate emergency braking;
• Park Assist 2: could detect parallel parking space and provide automated steering for right angle and parallel parking; and,
• Proactive occupant protection system: in a potential accident situation, the seatbelts would be tensioned and windows closed.

Brakes

The Golf GTi had 312 mm by 25 mm ventilated front brake discs and 300 mm by 12 mm solid rear discs. The Golf GTi Performance, however, had 340 mm by 30 mm ventilated front brake discs and 310 mm by 22 mm ventilated rear discs.

Euro NCAP testing

In Euro NCAP testing , the Mk.7 Golf received a five star safety rating which included a 94 per cent adult occupant protection rating and an 89 per cent child occupant protection rating. In the frontal offset crash test, occupant protection was generally assessed as good, though protection for the driver’s lower leg was rated as adequate. Maximum points were awarded in the side impact test though, in the more severe pole test, chest protection was rated as marginal and abdominal protection as adequate.

Under ANCAP’s assessment scheme , the Mk.7 Golf received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 35.92 out of 37.

Features: Golf GTi

Standard features for the Golf GTi included 18 x 7.5J ‘Austin’ alloy wheels with 225/40 R18 tyres, Volkswagen’s ‘Discover Media’ audio and satellite navigation system with a 5.8-inch colour touch screen, eight speakers, CD player, MP3/WMA/ACC-compatibility, auxiliary inputs (SD card/3.5 mm/USB), Bluetooth mobile phone and audio streaming, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, front sports seats, ‘Clark’ seat trim, cruise control with a programmable speed limiter, LED front fog lights, a rear fog lamp, smoked LED tail-lights, daytime running lights, front and rear parking sensors, a rear view camera with static guidance lines, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a leather-rimmed flat steering wheel, 40/60 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, power windows, power adjustable and heated mirrors, automatic tilting of the passenger side mirror on reverse, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable front seats, an electromechanical parking brake, tyre pressure monitoring, two 12 volt power sockets (centre console and cargo area), an auto-dimming rear view mirror, a black roofliner, front LED reading lights, illuminated vanity mirrors, LED ambient lighting, stainless steel pedals, illuminated sill plates with aluminium finish, front and rear carpet mats, a cargo cover, tinted windows, tyre pressure monitoring, trip computer, an alarm and immobiliser.

Features: Golf GTi Performance

The Golf GTi Performance was further equipped with 19 x 7.5J ‘Santiago’ alloy wheels with 225/35 R19 tyres, ‘Clark’ and Alcantara seat trim, bi-xenon headlights with washers, integrated LED daytime running lights and dark-tinted LED tail-lights.

MY16 Golf GTi

Available from July 2015, standard features for the ‘MY16’ Golf GTi and GTi Performance were extended to include a 6.5-inch touch screen display (previously 5.8-inches), ‘App-Connect’ USB interface for enhanced smartphone connectivity (including access to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink), a proximity key (i.e. keyless entry) and push-button start.

Previously limited to the GTi Performance, the Golf GTi gained bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights.

Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf GTi 40 Years edition

The Golf GTi 40 Years edition was powered by Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre CJXE turbocharged engine which was closely related to the CJXB engine in the Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf R . The CJXE engine produced peak outputs of 195 kW and 350 Nm, but also had an overboost function which could provide 213 kW and 380 Nm for up to ten seconds at full throttle. Fitted with the six-speed DSG as standard, the Golf GTi 40 Years edition could accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds.

Like the Golf GTi Performance, the Golf GTi 40 Years edition had 19-inch alloy wheels and 340 mm by 30 mm ventilated front brake discs. However, the Golf GTi 40 Years edition could be identified by its front bumper with larger air intakes, black door mirrors, black side body stripe, extended side sills, revised rear bumper with new diffuser, darkened LED tail-lights and two-piece rear roof spoiler; it could also be specified with a black painted roof. Inside, the Golf GTi 40 Years edition had ‘honeycomb’ seat upholstery with the ‘GTi’ logo, decorative inlays and Alcantara trim for the steering wheel and door inserts.

As noted above, the Volkswagen Golf GTi 40 Years edition was equipped with the following safety technologies as standard:

• Adaptive Cruise Control;
• Front Assist with City Emergency Brake (City EB); and,
• A Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert.

Extended Electronic Differential Lock (XDL)

The Golf GTi and GTi Performance were fitted with an ‘Extended Electronic Differential Lock’ (Volkswagen’s ‘XDL’). When cornering, the XDL responded to the unloading of the front inside wheel by applying the brakes to that wheel to prevent wheelspin and minimise understeer.

Brochure

• Brochure: Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf GTi (September 2013)

Related links

• Press Kit: Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf GTI (October 2013)
• Press Kit: Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf GTI Performance (April 2014)
• Specifications: Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf and Golf GTi (October 2013)
• Specifications: Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf GTi and Golf R (April 2014)
• Specifications: Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf GTi and Golf R (September 2016)
• Wikipedia.org: Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf