Review: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi (2017-20)

Overview

Production of the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi commenced in February 2017 and it was officially released in Australia in August 2017. Manufactured in Germany, the front-wheel drive Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi range initially consisted of standard and Performance variants, though both were powered by 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines. Whereas the Mk.7 Golf GTi hatch was solely available in a five-door body, the Mk7.5 Golf GTi was also available in a three-door body (the ‘Golf GTi Original’) from early 2018.

In October 2018, the 2019 model year (‘MY19’) Golf GTi was released in Australia. As part of the MY19 update, the Golf GTi was powered by the 180 kW DLBA engine and had a seven-speed double clutch transmission – this powertrain had previously been reserved for the Golf GTi Performance. Furthermore, the Golf GTi Performance and three-door ‘Golf GTi Original’ were discontinued.

Comparison with Mk.7 Golf GTi

As standard, the Mk7.5 Golf GTi was powered by the 169 kW CHHA engine which was previously reserved for the Mk.7 Golf GTi Performance . Compared to the Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf GTi, the Mk7.5 Golf GTi could be identified by its re-profiled bumpers, new LED headlights and daytime running lights, full LED tail-lights and alloy wheels designs. Inside, the Mk7.5 Golf GTi featured larger infotainment screens; the standard ‘Discover’ media system has an eight-inch display.

CHHA engine

The CHHA EA888 Gen 3 engine for the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi and GTi Performance 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 (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 CHHA and DLBA engines had a ‘Start/Stop’ function which enabled the engine to shut down when the vehicle was stationary in traffic.

Body and dimensions

The Mk7.5 Golf was underpinned by Volkswagen’s MQB (Modularer Querbaukasten) platform. Like the Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf GTi , the Mk7.5 Golf GTi hatch was 4268 mm long, 1799 mm wide, 1442 mm tall and had a 2626 mm long wheelbase. The Mk7.5 Golf GTi hatch had a luggage capacity of 380 litres with the rear seats in position, though this increased to 1270 litres when the seats were folded down.

Suspension and steering

The Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi had MacPherson strut front suspension with lower A-arms and independent, four-link rear suspension; both the front and rear suspension had coil springs and an anti-roll bar. As standard, the Mk7.5 Golf GTi had 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 altered steering weight, throttle response and transmission programming.

The Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi had rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assistance; its turning circle was 10.9 metres.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Volkswagen Mk7.5 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 pre-tensioners and load limiters.

As standard, the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi was fitted with the following active safety technologies –

• Front Assist with Pedestrian Monitoring: used a radar sensor to detect if the Golf GTi was closing too quickly on the vehicle ahead. If this occurred, Front Assist 1) provided audible and visual warnings to the driver; 2) brought the brake pads into contact with the brake discs and increases braking assistance to prepare for an emergency stop; and, 3) briefly applied the brakes (a ‘jolt’) to alert the driver. If the driver failed to respond, Front Assist would apply the brakes automatically to avoid or reduce the severity of a collision;
• City Emergency Brake: an extension of Front Assist, City Emergency Braking operated at speeds up to 65 km/h and used a radar sensor and front camera to monitor the area ahead for vehicles and pedestrians. If a collision was anticipated, the driver would be alerted via visual and audible warnings. If the driver failed to respond, the system would initiate emergency braking;
• 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 appears in the multi-function display; and,
• Multi-collision brake: after a collision, multi-collision brake would automatically apply the brakes for controlled deceleration to reduce kinetic energy and the likelihood of a second collision.

Driver Assistance Package

Initially, the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi could be specified with a Driver Assistance Package as a $1600 option. For the 2019 model year Golf GTi, however, the Driver Assistance Package was fitted as standard; it included –

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): using a radar sensor, ACC could apply the vehicle’s brakes to reduce vehicle speed and maintain a pre-set distance to vehicle ahead. ACC could also cause the vehicle to accelerate back to its cruising speed when the road ahead was clear;
• Lane Assist (lane departure warning): using a camera to recognise lane markings, Lane Assist could detect unintentional lane drifting or changing and provide corrective steering actions for up to eight seconds. If the corrective steering actions were insufficient, the driver would be warned via steering wheel vibrations;
• A Blind Spot Monitor: active at speeds above 15 km/h, the Blind Spot Monitor used rear radar sensors to detect other vehicles up to 20 metres behind the Golf GTi. If detected, an LED indicator in the door mirror would illuminate to alert the driver to their presence. If the driver indicated that they were intending to change lanes, the indicator would flash more brightly as a warning signal;
• Rear Traffic Alert: when the driver was reversing from a parking space, Rear Traffic Alert system used radar sensors in the rear bumper to detect traffic up to 50 metres away that may cross the vehicle’s intended path. If approaching traffic was detected, the driver would receive visual and audible warnings. If the driver did not respond to the warnings and there was an immediate collision risk, the brakes would be applied automatically;
• Park Assist: could detect parallel and right angle parking spaces and provide automated steering for the parking manoeuvre while the driver controlled vehicle speed;
• Proactive occupant protection system: in a potential accident situation, the seatbelts would be tensioned and windows closed; and,
• Dynamic Light Assist: used a masking function to partially dip the main-beam headlights when oncoming traffic was detected.

Brakes

The Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi was initially equipped with 312 mm by 25 mm ventilated front brake discs and 300 mm by 12 mm solid rear discs. The Golf GTi Performance and 2019 model year Golf GTi, 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 Volkswagen 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 Mk7 Golf received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 35.92 out of 37.

Features: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi

Standard features for the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi included 7.5J x 18-inch ‘Milton Keynes’ alloy wheels with 225/40 R18 tyres, Volkswagen’s ‘Discover’ media and navigation system with an eight-inch display, an eight speaker sound system, MP3/WMA/AAC-compatibility, 3.5 mm auxiliary and SD card inputs, Volkswagen’s ‘App-Connect’ USB input for smartphone integration (including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink), Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, cruise control with a programmable speed limiter, front fog lights, LED headlights with dynamic cornering, LED daytime running lights, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a rear view camera, front and rear parking sensors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, 40/60 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking with proximity key (i.e. keyless entry), power windows and heated mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, an electromechanical parking brake, push-button start, LED interior ambient lighting, tyre pressure monitoring, a 12 volt power outlet in the centre console, a trip computer and an immobiliser.

For the 2019 model year Golf GTi, standard features were extended to include Volkswagen’s ‘Active Info Display, a 12.3-inch configurable TFT display in place of the standard instrument cluster.

EDL, XDL and FDL

Initially, the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi and GTi Performance were equipped with –

• Volkswagen’s Electronic Differential Lock (EDL): using the ABS wheel sensors, EDL would monitor the speed of the front wheels. If a loss of traction caused one of the wheels to rotate faster than the other, then that wheel would be braked to transfer engine power to the wheel with better traction; and,
• Volkswagen’s Extended Electronic Differential Lock (XDL): an extension of the EDL, XDL used electronic stability control hydraulics to brake the inside front wheel when cornering to prevent wheel spin – this improved traction and reduced the tendency to understeer.

The Golf GTi Performance Edition 1 and 2019 model year Golf GTi were also equipped with a front differential lock (FDL) , an electronically controlled mechanical differential lock. The FDL distributed drive torque via an electronically operated clutch according to the driving situation. As such, the differential lock would counteract understeer when cornering by increased the drive force to the outside front wheel. According to Volkswagen, the XDL exerted its effect during medium lateral acceleration, while the front differential lock enhanced this effect ‘right up to the dynamic driving limit’.

2017 Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi Performance Edition 1

The three-door Volkswagen Golf GTi Performance Edition 1 was released in Australia in August 2017 and local deliveries were be limited to 150 vehicles. Compared to the Golf GTi, the Golf GTI Performance Edition 1 was equipped with 19-inch ‘Brescia’ alloy wheels, combination honeycomb microfleece and ‘leatherette’ upholstery, rear privacy glass and LED tail-lights with dynamic indicators. Inside, the Golf GTi Performance Edition 1 is equipped with Volkswagen’s ‘Active Info Display’, a 12.3-inch configurable TFT display in place of the standard instrument cluster.

As standard, the Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi Performance Edition 1 was equipped with:

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC);
• Blind Spot Monitor;
• Rear Traffic Alert;
• Lane Assist;
• Park Assist; and,
• Dynamic Light Assist.

The Golf GTi Performance Edition 1 was available in White Silver or Dark Iron Blue metallic paint finishes. The Golf GTi Performance Edition 1 was also sold with a complimentary ‘Merchandise Pack’ which included a sport bag, umbrella, cup, folding box and beach towel.

Specifications

• Specifications: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi and Golf R (August 2017)
• Specifications: Volkswagen Mk7.5 Golf GTi, R and R Wagon (September 2018, MY19)