It looks far cleaner, but I suppose you’re right, I drive an early example of a CJ Lancer and despite the ugly old fashioned tri-dial Ac controls, it’s dead simple to get the defog going or adjust the temp without taking your eyes off the road.
I not a big fan of the new Volkswagen Golf because everything is digital and thus more susceptible to breaking/failing. It's gradually becoming more prevalent that the 8 will be unreliable in the near future as VW has struggled with longevity of the of their electronics in the last decade or so.
What’s Amazing about the Golf GTI is that it really doesn’t look out of placed anywhere you can parked next to a Bentley in the casino, and you can park safely in the nastiest neighborhood
Nice review Paul, but you went very easy on the new Golf’s lack of physical buttons and knobs for basis functions like aircon and volume. This trend towards digital screens is just horrible - and dangerous for driving . The sooner car companies bring back physical controls for essential functions, the better.
"Let' talk practicality,... here I can fiddle around with stuff while driving, drink and talk to my mates, see where I can put my bottle and phone" Keep your hands on the wheel and tell me how it is in the city, parking, traficjams, annoying other drivers wanting to race.... "look how soft this is on a scale" Golf is a family car that needs to do everything, GTI adds dad's fun, but foremost it needs to be packed with shopping, Ikea cabinets and vacationstuff for 3 weeks 1000km down the road. Great review
And this is why I subscribe to this channel, you actually test drive the car(as opposed to autoexpert who test drives 1.5 brands). Good review as always, looking forward to a review of the R
I much prefer the tartan seats too. It’s a shame we don’t get the option to upgrade the alloy wheels here in Oz, as they look a bit too similar to the ones on the previous model. It’s also disappointing that you can’t get a sunroof without being forced to have the leather seats. I’m keen to drive the MK8 GTi to see how it compares to my 7.5 GTi.
I don't think that the 130N and the Golf GTI are direct competitors demographically. The 130N will certainly grab younger drivers, but the GTI will still be the automatic choice for mature buyers and those who want to drive the original.Having had experience with this engine in an Audi S3 I know the tuning potential, and this will ultimately be a rewarding car long after the warranty has expired. Good review Paul. Thanks.
It's very sad how that infotainment pretty much kills the whole car single handedly 😬 It's a great car! But I can definitely see how that is a deal breaker 😬 Still, wonderful to see the GTI still be great now ❤️
Thanks Paul - I had the opportunity to drive a new Golf GTI diesel for a few months while my female friend was undergoing treatment - the interior fit/finish was of high quality and the driving experience fun - couldn’t believe I was accelerating up a hill in a manual sixth gear - unfortunately, ‘DieselGate’ and the the long term DSG issues and reliability concerns deterred me from buying one - red instrument lighting is bad as it keeps distracting you that something is wrong - should be blue or green - bring back the sound system knobs - John in SA
Hey Paul and team ! it would be a good idea to actually show a live speed stats when you are ripping a the road while testing and while you speak about certain aspects of the car. For example you mentioned while you were on the bumpy stretch of the road, some cars literally where in the air at high speeds where the VW did a good job staying firm to the ground at high speed (I am assuming arounnd 125 kms/h)
@@CarExpertAus - I know, right? $64K driveaway for the MK8 GTI (in NSW). That's like a brand new MK7 / 7.5 Golf R money. I'll see when the time comes for me to get a new car. (Drove behind a nice M135i on my way to work the other day.... got me thinking for a bit :)
Good hot hatch for those that want to fly under the boy racer radar. For the price it would want to be good tho. Laggy touchscreen useless on bumpy country roads at speed (ask me how I know 🤬). Complete fail and ruins a good car. Excellent review Paul 👍
Great vid as always Paul. Looking forward to your video review on the Golf R when it arrives! I had a Mk6, and it is great to see that VW have continued to line the door bins with carpet. Rattles from stuff in there is one of my pet hates, and the current car's rubberised lining just isn't as good.
It's a beautiful car but what makes me hate it it's the missing of the physical buttons for aircon, that thing needs the driver to stop on the side of the road to adjust the Aircon.
@@-TJ- if it doesn’t say IQ inside the unit itself then it’s not IQ light Pretty much the same deal in my country, they keep misleadingly claiming the it has got the IQ light when it’s clearly the normal base LED headlights (No IQ lettering and only 1 projector turns on per headlight vs both projectors turning on in IQ headlight-equipped cars) Either that or it got the black package which completely removes the red striping in the grill in favor of black striping across the grill and headlights which applies to IQ and non-IQ headlights Honestly the black package is the absolute dumbest option on the list, who would pay extra to make his GTI look like a GTD?
I’m inclined to think my MK7 GTI-P is a sleeper classic. Looked at a MK8 GTI in the flesh and walked away underwhelmed. Nothing except the dash to compel me to trade up.
Usually have the feeling I should have waited for the new generation to come out, but this time I’m soooo glad I bought the TCR last year. Only paid a grand more than the mk8 GTI and definitely feel I got a bargain. And yes, I live on top of a mountain 🤘😎🤘 so much fun.
I’m so conflicted with VW GTI’s, they’re really fun, good quality cars but reliability is always an issue with certain areas of them and the removal of all buttons just screams something that’s gonna lead to nightmare faults later in the cars life, the MK7.5 would still be the one for me
After warranty expires and approaching 100k put a for sale sign there very popular among the younger brigade once sold buy a new GTI and you'll never have a prob with info slash audio climate air ph android auto,plastic water pump air con compressor and a host of other issues that have a habit of arising once they age
They're really not that unreliable if you take care of them. I think they get a bad reputation to a degree because a lot of people buy them and floor it at every red light and neglect maintenance. VAG uses that engine in 80% of their cars (most Audis, Macan and VW SUVs, arteon and GTI/R). Pretty well refined at this point. Have a mk7 with 105k myself and it has never required a repair, only routine 10k maintenance. Not exactly Mk5 reliability anymore.
Nice review Paul. It's a real shame that this version of the GTI lacked the proper tactile buttons. As for the 0-100 time, I also wonder how it might have performed were it on Michelins instead of Bridgestones.
So, it's over 52K, no manual, or even a proper handbrake, lol and if you look at long term reliability reports, VW isn't my first pick either. In this day an age, if your paying a significant amount of money, there should be zero to minimal issues. I once had an old Swift, 2009 model. Didn't miss a beat in 7 years. Cost me around 20K if I remember, lol.
May be cheaper for VW to implement but bet won't be cheap 5y on or post warranty to replace the whole unit and in true VW form high probability of failure
I have the entry level mk8 gti with only a few extras and my radio has 2 buttons haha one for volume and the other one i dont really know what it does but its there 🤣🤣
After testing one with the leather seats and one without I would recommend going for the normal seats. You lose electric and memory but to me the leather was very poor quality and didn’t look right at all, like it didn’t fit the seats correctly and was saggy in places. The drive was very good and the lack of buttons is something you will get used to. It feels very modern when compared to the 7. I would definitely recommend upgrading the wheels as the base ones don’t do it justice imo. The i30n seems to be very popular in Australia and its a brilliant car but I only recently found out the price difference.. That makes it a no brainier over the golf imo. The i30n manual (no dct prices here yet) is more expensive here than a gti and won’t hold the same value over time.
Should have mentioned I’m in Ireland where cars are extremely expensive. Hot hatch wise a 128ti is slightly cheaper than a gti in the uk but in Ireland it’s more than a clubsport.
I’ve had terrible sales service from VW dealerships with looking at the golfs should of waited till your review so helpful as always and always very informative wish this came out before I went a different car maker
good review Paul, touch pad buttons while driving & no physical HVAC controls are a massive fail, same with the loss of the hood/bonnet gas strut and poorly powered so they can put out more versions. just cost cutting on all wrong areas. Focus ST all day long for me, Ford just need to ditch the crap Recaro's, which the new 2022 Fiesta ST will do first.
How does this MK8 GTI compare with BMW 128ti? From exterior, interior, buidling quality, material used and the most important, the driving dynamic and handling feel? Many European car reviews recon the new BMW 128ti beats the MK8 GTI with no issue.
As suspected - not really moving the segment forward. Glad I bought my 7.5 Highline Rline with digital dash and sound system. Doesn't have the performance but still a lot of fun. Best bit is the $20k saving.
CarExpert : the Hyundai i30N (2017 and 2020 edition) has more backseat legroom and 395 litres of boot space. It more roomy in general, competitive in performance (if not slightly better due to more advanced front diff), has more driving character (especially with the manual transmission), has higher reliability and build quality and is cheaper. Why would anybody buy a Golf GTI ?!?!?!?!
Any chance Atko can do a track review on the new GTI? Rumours said the clubsport version isn’t coming to Australia anytime soon, just wondering how good this can perform at the QR sprint.
Shocking wheels, and unfortunately well over priced (65k+ including options!!) these days especially with that old engine... 0-100km in 6.4 sec isn't a hot or even warm hatch anymore.
Hi Paul, Can you please get a decibel meter to quantify in cabin noise. Can you measure in cabin DB at 60 & 100 Km/ph. We can use this info to cross check across makes and models.. cheers
Odd that in Australia the MK8 GTI is reported to be slower but every where else it is actually faster. The engine has more power and torque, the gearing is improved, and the weight is only a small bit more. For example Car and Driver got around six second 0-60 and 14 second 1/4 mile with the MK7 GTI but got low five second 0-60 and mid 13 1/4 mile with the MK8. Thirty KG (actually less is almost nothing and with the improved engine output and drivetrain, how is it slower? Because that is not what we see elsewhere and those results make a lot more sense.
I choose the new i30 N in manual. Or even in DCT ..over the VW GTI. Although the GTI is up there. Close call. But the i30 N is faster and sounds better and cheaper. The tech is a trade-off but who cares ! The tech in the i30 is still good. However, the i30N sedan is the benchmark when its released as that has all the tech you need
That climate control system would drive me nuts 🥜. I know everyone loves DCTs but for me a hot hatch needs to be a manual…. Sure it’s not as quick but it’s all about the fun 😊
Yes, good question. To me these 2 are for different buyers now. GTI is more subtle and refined with a lean to a daily driver. i30N is more 'loutish' and 'look at me' with a no compromise driver experience. Ok as a daily but leaning toward 'firm'. I liked this review as it was consistent and about the car, same as the i30N. The viewer can chose what suits them and their driving needs/taste. Real test would be GTI vs Focus ST as they are both refined. For me the ST and i30N have the looks edge and more Leary. At the end of the day would be the manual as the deciding factor and the i30N has that market in Aus and NZ. Would not blame anyone for choosing any of these. Days are numbered for this kind of car.
$53k. I bought the last model new for $40k drive away in October 2017. Pricing is a joke as is the very obvious cost cutting in the mk8. Send VW a message and avoid.
I have not sat in a Mk8 yet but from all the reviews I have seen and read it seems like the chassis/ride/control is great, the interior is well built but cost cutting is evident and finally the all digital info system is crap. I will keep my Mk7.5 Golf thanks.
I'm going to be that guy, but i really dislike this move with car manufacturers to everything being touch sensitive. It is so much easier to fiddle and turn knobs for your basic functions like adjusting fan, temp and volume of the audio system whilst you're driving. the steering wheel functions don't seem convenient either.
Hi Paul, Thanks heaps again for another informative segment. I dont like the red lighting on the dash in any car. Quite often the sports vehicles lend themselves to this red lighting. Is this changeable in the Golf? I find for night time driving white lighting is more comfortable.
GTi (mark 8) is a great car but too expensive. BMW 330i (G20) marginally more expensive but a significantly better buy. You could even buy a year old 330i (G20) for the same price or with a little more than 10k mileage for less than the GTi.
Here in South africa the GTI brand is So popular VW is not even bothering bringing the standard Golf 8 just GTIs😅😅... Stil waiting to see if the BMW 128ti wil really give the GTI a run for its money.. i have seen some 128ti on the roads thou.
Infotainment is really buggy so on top of the lack of buttons, it becomes unresponsive and needs to be reboot i.e. turn car off and on; to work again. At least in my mates GTI he just picked up. I think the software quirks need to be fixed with a software update. Dealbreaker for me. The Skoda Octavia RS wagon is probably the most practical option in this category. I hope they add buttons/knobs back in for Mk8.5.
Similar to the pop up headlights being killed off due to being a safety hazard, do you think there will be intervention in these 'soft touch' systems? I feel that not being able to receive feedback from my buttons and dials puts me in greater danger when driving, as it requires more of my attention.
such a very good car but doesn't deserve as the previous generation mk7/7.5 gti that's everyone's favourite car because there is criticism of the comments it says not as good as the mk7/7.5 model but doesn't matter it's still good enough
@@CarExpertAus yep because the mk7/7.5 it's everyone's favourite car the reason of mk8 is not everyone's favourite car because of the design looks so that's why everyone buying used mk7/7.5 on the used car dealers even websites
So it's a fantastic car to drive. Shame interacting with the rest of it seems to distract from the overall experience. Imagine you're behind a van and it belches a load of crap out the exhaust. Quick, hit the recirculate button........ Honest review, thanks
Nice review as usual. Still wouldn't consider the golf - just too plain and uninteresting, and they're everywhere!! Megane Trophy would be my choice or i30n
Hard to make a case to buy this over a Tesla model 3 SR+? Cheap plastic on the back row and manual bonet struts, worse build Quality then the MK7, the tech is terrible, a lot of people that designed the software got sacked and I can see why, they can’t even get a wireless charger to work. A step backwards in my view. $65k 🤣😂
Digitalisation for digitalisations sake. The ventilation should have been kept and knobs and dials. Much more tactile and safer when driving.
Agree!
Its a cost cutting exercise, it saves manufacturers mega bucks to not have to manufacture additional small parts
It looks far cleaner, but I suppose you’re right, I drive an early example of a CJ Lancer and despite the ugly old fashioned tri-dial Ac controls, it’s dead simple to get the defog going or adjust the temp without taking your eyes off the road.
I will forever miss actual buttons and knobs.... RIP
I not a big fan of the new Volkswagen Golf because everything is digital and thus more susceptible to breaking/failing. It's gradually becoming more prevalent that the 8 will be unreliable in the near future as VW has struggled with longevity of the of their electronics in the last decade or so.
Hillarious Paul, "no knobs around here, except for yours truly". Love it.
What’s Amazing about the Golf GTI is that it really doesn’t look out of placed anywhere
you can parked next to a Bentley in the casino, and you can park safely in the nastiest neighborhood
Agree - it's an all rounder. It blends in everywhere.
Next to a Bentley is a huge stretch
‘ you can park safely in the nastiest neighbourhood’. Not in New Zealand mate………..lol.
Is that meant to be a good thing?
that would be a MINI
Nice review Paul, but you went very easy on the new Golf’s lack of physical buttons and knobs for basis functions like aircon and volume. This trend towards digital screens is just horrible - and dangerous for driving . The sooner car companies bring back physical controls for essential functions, the better.
It seems a trend that a lot of them are taking up unfortunately!
I completely agree
Relying more heavily on voice control
"Let' talk practicality,... here I can fiddle around with stuff while driving, drink and talk to my mates, see where I can put my bottle and phone" Keep your hands on the wheel and tell me how it is in the city, parking, traficjams, annoying other drivers wanting to race.... "look how soft this is on a scale" Golf is a family car that needs to do everything, GTI adds dad's fun, but foremost it needs to be packed with shopping, Ikea cabinets and vacationstuff for 3 weeks 1000km down the road. Great review
@@marcvanheugten9472 What if all of the electronics that help you do what you mentioned had to fail?
And this is why I subscribe to this channel, you actually test drive the car(as opposed to autoexpert who test drives 1.5 brands). Good review as always, looking forward to a review of the R
Thanks for watching and subscribing!
I much prefer the tartan seats too.
It’s a shame we don’t get the option to upgrade the alloy wheels here in Oz, as they look a bit too similar to the ones on the previous model.
It’s also disappointing that you can’t get a sunroof without being forced to have the leather seats.
I’m keen to drive the MK8 GTi to see how it compares to my 7.5 GTi.
Agreed!
And the MK7 Tartan. A classic.
@fortheloveofthemachines true, but I’d rather have manual tartan seats than electric leather ones personally
Hopefully we get proper buttons and a faster infotainment/hvac chipset for a mk 8.5 refresh. Haptic feedback is the devil's work
I hope so too!
By the time that comes out you won’t be able to find a petrol station.
As an American, I love your reviews! Cheers
I don't think that the 130N and the Golf GTI are direct competitors demographically. The 130N will certainly grab younger drivers, but the GTI will still be the automatic choice for mature buyers and those who want to drive the original.Having had experience with this engine in an Audi S3 I know the tuning potential, and this will ultimately be a rewarding car long after the warranty has expired. Good review Paul. Thanks.
The i30 n is just a better driver's car
The price increase is ridiculous … the previous gen golf R only cost $55/58k back in 2019-2020
i'm looking at a 21 model atm and they want $52k with 20kms on it already
If it's tight in the back it should be standard to be able to slide it back and forward and recline
It's very sad how that infotainment pretty much kills the whole car single handedly 😬 It's a great car! But I can definitely see how that is a deal breaker 😬 Still, wonderful to see the GTI still be great now ❤️
Thanks Paul - I had the opportunity to drive a new Golf GTI diesel for a few months while my female friend was undergoing treatment - the interior fit/finish was of high quality and the driving experience fun - couldn’t believe I was accelerating up a hill in a manual sixth gear - unfortunately, ‘DieselGate’ and the the long term DSG issues and reliability concerns deterred me from buying one - red instrument lighting is bad as it keeps distracting you that something is wrong - should be blue or green - bring back the sound system knobs - John in SA
You can customize the color of the lighting (ambient lights and instruments) across the board actually
@@MrTARIQSs thanks for that info and good to know I can set for a relaxing blue or green 👍🏻
Hey Paul and team ! it would be a good idea to actually show a live speed stats when you are ripping a the road while testing and while you speak about certain aspects of the car. For example you mentioned while you were on the bumpy stretch of the road, some cars literally where in the air at high speeds where the VW did a good job staying firm to the ground at high speed (I am assuming arounnd 125 kms/h)
great review as always mate! now show us the R! 👌
Driving a MK7 GTI at the moment and I'm saving up for a MK 8.5 Golf R for the future.
Looks like it'll be exxy! How much are you prepared to pay?
@@CarExpertAus - I know, right? $64K driveaway for the MK8 GTI (in NSW). That's like a brand new MK7 / 7.5 Golf R money.
I'll see when the time comes for me to get a new car.
(Drove behind a nice M135i on my way to work the other day.... got me thinking for a bit :)
It's important to notice that center screen controls (Volume and temperature) are not illuminated, that's kinda crazy.
Another wicked review thank you! Worth just upgrading to the “I’m going thru a mid life crisis” golf r
😅
Good hot hatch for those that want to fly under the boy racer radar. For the price it would want to be good tho.
Laggy touchscreen useless on bumpy country roads at speed (ask me how I know 🤬). Complete fail and ruins a good car.
Excellent review Paul 👍
Thanks for watching!
You should do a comparison between this and the i30N like what you did with the Santa Fe and sorento
Good thinking!
No competition there, i30N DCT would blow it away...quicker, more pwr and more torque, but I'd still enjoy watching it..
I loved how GTI is slipping on the line🔥🚀
WOW...FWD fun🔥😀
Great vid as always Paul. Looking forward to your video review on the Golf R when it arrives!
I had a Mk6, and it is great to see that VW have continued to line the door bins with carpet. Rattles from stuff in there is one of my pet hates, and the current car's rubberised lining just isn't as good.
It's a beautiful car but what makes me hate it it's the missing of the physical buttons for aircon, that thing needs the driver to stop on the side of the road to adjust the Aircon.
It's a bit strange that Australian GTI's dont have the red accent in the headlights.
Good point never noticed that..certainly looks better with it.
In Europe the red accent comes only with the IQ Light system
@@dill8498 Yeah, but we have the IQ Light system without the red accent.
@@-TJ- if it doesn’t say IQ inside the unit itself then it’s not IQ light
Pretty much the same deal in my country, they keep misleadingly claiming the it has got the IQ light when it’s clearly the normal base LED headlights (No IQ lettering and only 1 projector turns on per headlight vs both projectors turning on in IQ headlight-equipped cars)
Either that or it got the black package which completely removes the red striping in the grill in favor of black striping across the grill and headlights which applies to IQ and non-IQ headlights
Honestly the black package is the absolute dumbest option on the list, who would pay extra to make his GTI look like a GTD?
I’m inclined to think my MK7 GTI-P is a sleeper classic.
Looked at a MK8 GTI in the flesh and walked away underwhelmed. Nothing except the dash to compel me to trade up.
Usually have the feeling I should have waited for the new generation to come out, but this time I’m soooo glad I bought the TCR last year. Only paid a grand more than the mk8 GTI and definitely feel I got a bargain. And yes, I live on top of a mountain 🤘😎🤘 so much fun.
Great get. The TCR is awesome :-)
Paul, Please so do a review of Ford Transit custom sports
I’m so conflicted with VW GTI’s, they’re really fun, good quality cars but reliability is always an issue with certain areas of them and the removal of all buttons just screams something that’s gonna lead to nightmare faults later in the cars life, the MK7.5 would still be the one for me
After warranty expires and approaching 100k put a for sale sign there very popular among the younger brigade once sold buy a new GTI and you'll never have a prob with info slash audio climate air ph android auto,plastic water pump air con compressor and a host of other issues that have a habit of arising once they age
They're really not that unreliable if you take care of them. I think they get a bad reputation to a degree because a lot of people buy them and floor it at every red light and neglect maintenance. VAG uses that engine in 80% of their cars (most Audis, Macan and VW SUVs, arteon and GTI/R). Pretty well refined at this point. Have a mk7 with 105k myself and it has never required a repair, only routine 10k maintenance. Not exactly Mk5 reliability anymore.
Nice review Paul. It's a real shame that this version of the GTI lacked the proper tactile buttons. As for the 0-100 time, I also wonder how it might have performed were it on Michelins instead of Bridgestones.
So, it's over 52K, no manual, or even a proper handbrake, lol and if you look at long term reliability reports, VW isn't my first pick either. In this day an age, if your paying a significant amount of money, there should be zero to minimal issues. I once had an old Swift, 2009 model. Didn't miss a beat in 7 years. Cost me around 20K if I remember, lol.
Just found your channel (naughty ) great reviews , will check out all the other reviews I've missed , keep up the good work mate 👍
The device holder in the back of the seats is pretty cool
review the ford focus st next
The touch pad buttons are a genuine deal breaker for me.
I guess they are cheaper to build, but man do I not want a bar of them.
May be cheaper for VW to implement but bet won't be cheap 5y on or post warranty to replace the whole unit and in true VW form high probability of failure
They're actually more expensive to build by the way.
I have the entry level mk8 gti with only a few extras and my radio has 2 buttons haha one for volume and the other one i dont really know what it does but its there 🤣🤣
After testing one with the leather seats and one without I would recommend going for the normal seats. You lose electric and memory but to me the leather was very poor quality and didn’t look right at all, like it didn’t fit the seats correctly and was saggy in places. The drive was very good and the lack of buttons is something you will get used to. It feels very modern when compared to the 7. I would definitely recommend upgrading the wheels as the base ones don’t do it justice imo.
The i30n seems to be very popular in Australia and its a brilliant car but I only recently found out the price difference.. That makes it a no brainier over the golf imo. The i30n manual (no dct prices here yet) is more expensive here than a gti and won’t hold the same value over time.
Should have mentioned I’m in Ireland where cars are extremely expensive. Hot hatch wise a 128ti is slightly cheaper than a gti in the uk but in Ireland it’s more than a clubsport.
I’ve had terrible sales service from VW dealerships with looking at the golfs should of waited till your review so helpful as always and always very informative wish this came out before I went a different car maker
good review Paul, touch pad buttons while driving & no physical HVAC controls are a massive fail, same with the loss of the hood/bonnet gas strut and poorly powered so they can put out more versions. just cost cutting on all wrong areas. Focus ST all day long for me, Ford just need to ditch the crap Recaro's, which the new 2022 Fiesta ST will do first.
How does this MK8 GTI compare with BMW 128ti? From exterior, interior, buidling quality, material used and the most important, the driving dynamic and handling feel?
Many European car reviews recon the new BMW 128ti beats the MK8 GTI with no issue.
Good question! Haven't driven it yet - we will hopefully get our hands on one soon.
I just love ❤ this vehicle
As suspected - not really moving the segment forward. Glad I bought my 7.5 Highline Rline with digital dash and sound system. Doesn't have the performance but still a lot of fun. Best bit is the $20k saving.
Well pointed out mate. Sitting on their hands with outputs will hurt sales, Hyundai are kicking ahead.
That i30 N is surprisingly good!
@@CarExpertAus Soon as I win the Lottery, I'll be in one.
@@sierracharlie7293 big dreams.
@@Rollaroundtap Big price tags these days mate.
Great review Paul, but do you have to triple tap all the features that you point out?
CarExpert : the Hyundai i30N (2017 and 2020 edition) has more backseat legroom and 395 litres of boot space. It more roomy in general, competitive in performance (if not slightly better due to more advanced front diff), has more driving character (especially with the manual transmission), has higher reliability and build quality and is cheaper. Why would anybody buy a Golf GTI ?!?!?!?!
Thanks for your review, looking forward to the Golf R to hit our shores at the end of March 2022, better late than never I suppose...
I like everything about the new GTI, except that steering wheel. Great Review Paul!
ugly lights ugly wheels ugly steering wheel no sound anymore
Even the manual boot struts?
Any chance Atko can do a track review on the new GTI? Rumours said the clubsport version isn’t coming to Australia anytime soon, just wondering how good this can perform at the QR sprint.
Will try and organise it!
I second this motion 🔥
Great idea
Shocking wheels, and unfortunately well over priced (65k+ including options!!) these days especially with that old engine... 0-100km in 6.4 sec isn't a hot or even warm hatch anymore.
Outside of the price, what would you change?
@@CarExpertAus needs to at least compete with the TCR in terms of power... and lets not discuss those controls. Beside that awesome video as always...
@@CarExpertAus I'd change the climate controls back to dials, and have them backlit too. Those touch sliders are invisible in the dark...
Nothing , I'd but a Hyundai n
Good on you Paul! VW GTI allways been a good locking and a good engine system. I would pay for it. But Renault Megane RS still the best 👌
Thanks for watching!
Wish we got UK spec Clubsport - however ‘21 Megane RS my choice 😍
@@malcolmscott4150 we mates now 😁
@MalcomScott, agree with the Clubsport. Fingers crossed we get here in 🇦🇺. But not looking forward to the potential $$$
Love the Megane RS, GTi are dime a dozen and bit bland and boring
Hi Paul, Can you please get a decibel meter to quantify in cabin noise.
Can you measure in cabin DB at 60 & 100 Km/ph.
We can use this info to cross check across makes and models..
cheers
Great review, Paul. Think I'd go a 7.5 Golf R SE for similar coin.
Me too - it's great value for money now in comparison.
When you start the car, what mode does it default to? If you always drive in sport mode, do you have to reset it every time you start it?
Odd that in Australia the MK8 GTI is reported to be slower but every where else it is actually faster. The engine has more power and torque, the gearing is improved, and the weight is only a small bit more. For example Car and Driver got around six second 0-60 and 14 second 1/4 mile with the MK7 GTI but got low five second 0-60 and mid 13 1/4 mile with the MK8. Thirty KG (actually less is almost nothing and with the improved engine output and drivetrain, how is it slower? Because that is not what we see elsewhere and those results make a lot more sense.
Always brilliant reviews! 👏
pls try and review the golf 8 R
As soon as we get our hands on it!
I choose the new i30 N in manual. Or even in DCT ..over the VW GTI.
Although the GTI is up there. Close call. But the i30 N is faster and sounds better and cheaper. The tech is a trade-off but who cares ! The tech in the i30 is still good. However, the i30N sedan is the benchmark when its released as that has all the tech you need
I've never really liked GTIs, they seem like the refined more boring hot hatch, kinda defeating the point imo
Another great review would love to get your thoughts on the Cupra Leon when it lands? Cupra has really peaked my interest as a brand.
*piqued
Thanks Paul, great reviews, any chance of reviewing the BMW 128ti, now a direct competitor to the Gti8.
Yep! Hopefully have one coming soon.
So much better than the competition.
Great review mate!
That climate control system would drive me nuts 🥜. I know everyone loves DCTs but for me a hot hatch needs to be a manual…. Sure it’s not as quick but it’s all about the fun 😊
It would have been good to hear a more definitive judgement on GTi vs i30N comparo - no fence sitting!
Yes, good question. To me these 2 are for different buyers now. GTI is more subtle and refined with a lean to a daily driver. i30N is more 'loutish' and 'look at me' with a no compromise driver experience. Ok as a daily but leaning toward 'firm'.
I liked this review as it was consistent and about the car, same as the i30N. The viewer can chose what suits them and their driving needs/taste.
Real test would be GTI vs Focus ST as they are both refined. For me the ST and i30N have the looks edge and more Leary.
At the end of the day would be the manual as the deciding factor and the i30N has that market in Aus and NZ. Would not blame anyone for choosing any of these. Days are numbered for this kind of car.
Interior controls are a complete fail. The 16’(disclaimer, I had one) was a much nicer looking car, inside and out.
$53k. I bought the last model new for $40k drive away in October 2017.
Pricing is a joke as is the very obvious cost cutting in the mk8.
Send VW a message and avoid.
That wheel design reminds me of something 🤔🇩🇪
IKR!? I thought the same and wondered if it was just me
VW Australia should bring over the Clubsport 45.
Would love to see it here.
Strange that it's illegal to touch your phone but you can touch as many screens as you want in the car.
Are you getting to review the 300 series soon Paulie?
Very nice car car to have.
Touch controls in a car is the stupidest idea ever!
Especially when they're this fiddly.
I have not sat in a Mk8 yet but from all the reviews I have seen and read it seems like the chassis/ride/control is great, the interior is well built but cost cutting is evident and finally the all digital info system is crap. I will keep my Mk7.5 Golf thanks.
I'm going to be that guy, but i really dislike this move with car manufacturers to everything being touch sensitive. It is so much easier to fiddle and turn knobs for your basic functions like adjusting fan, temp and volume of the audio system whilst you're driving. the steering wheel functions don't seem convenient either.
Hi Paul, Thanks heaps again for another informative segment. I dont like the red lighting on the dash in any car. Quite often the sports vehicles lend themselves to this red lighting. Is this changeable in the Golf? I find for night time driving white lighting is more comfortable.
6:32 sneak peek👀😏
I wonder what it is!? 🤔
Are you going to review the Polo Gti Paul?
I don‘t agree on your statement that it‘s slower on the straight line than the MK7,it‘s obviously faster.about 2 sec from 0-200.
GTi (mark 8) is a great car but too expensive.
BMW 330i (G20) marginally more expensive but a significantly better buy.
You could even buy a year old 330i (G20) for the same price or with a little more than 10k mileage for less than the GTi.
what i don't like is the new gear selectors they are using in cars nowadays buttons,rotary knob and that thing vw have put there
I keep looking at the wheels but I just can’t seem to like them. They don’t look aggressive like previous models 😕
Wait, hang on... the 0-100kph in this vid. is 6.00sec. You'd never get that figure in a stock MK7 or MK7.5 GTI DSG.
Keep in mind that's by the speedometer.
@@CarExpertAus - Ah alright. Fair enough. It'll be interesting see the times when you're able to test the 0-100kph and 0-400m with the VBOX hooked up.
@@CarExpertAus as a car critic you show be using your own gps equipment instead of the speedometer?!?! Come on, man...😒😒😒
@@CarExpertAus that's a similar sin as trusting the onboard average fuel readout 🤣
Don't worry Paul. Review is not preview so feel free to review any released model. We just want to know your opinion as an expert
Here in South africa the GTI brand is So popular VW is not even bothering bringing the standard Golf 8 just GTIs😅😅... Stil waiting to see if the BMW 128ti wil really give the GTI a run for its money.. i have seen some 128ti on the roads thou.
Infotainment is really buggy so on top of the lack of buttons, it becomes unresponsive and needs to be reboot i.e. turn car off and on; to work again. At least in my mates GTI he just picked up. I think the software quirks need to be fixed with a software update. Dealbreaker for me. The Skoda Octavia RS wagon is probably the most practical option in this category. I hope they add buttons/knobs back in for Mk8.5.
The led fog lights are a pretty rubbish copy of the Renault
Does it not come with standard matrix LEDs?
And this or the Octavia vRS?
One of the best cars out there... the "GTI"
Can you plz do 1 review for polo 2021
Similar to the pop up headlights being killed off due to being a safety hazard, do you think there will be intervention in these 'soft touch' systems? I feel that not being able to receive feedback from my buttons and dials puts me in greater danger when driving, as it requires more of my attention.
Is that test drive on all seasons? If it’s on summers, that wheel spin is ridiculous
Hey Paul, why dont you review any Audi's ?
Touch screens, steering wheel buttons, g-meters on the dash, and so on are why modern cars need AEB.
such a very good car but doesn't deserve as the previous generation mk7/7.5 gti that's everyone's favourite car because there is criticism of the comments it says not as good as the mk7/7.5 model but doesn't matter it's still good enough
It's a better car in theory, but you could save so much money by just buying a 7.5
@@CarExpertAus yep because the mk7/7.5 it's everyone's favourite car the reason of mk8 is not everyone's favourite car because of the design looks so that's why everyone buying used mk7/7.5 on the used car dealers even websites
So it's a fantastic car to drive.
Shame interacting with the rest of it seems to distract from the overall experience.
Imagine you're behind a van and it belches a load of crap out the exhaust. Quick, hit the recirculate button........
Honest review, thanks
When is the new land cruiser coming ..?
How frustrating !!! No DAB that is a deal breaker for me. Why does VW do this in Australia? I'm pretty sure it has DAB in Europe ?
Has anyone made the decision between this and GR86/BRZ?
Nice review as usual. Still wouldn't consider the golf - just too plain and uninteresting, and they're everywhere!! Megane Trophy would be my choice or i30n
Love your reviews, as always. However, it's a bit exxy and at the price point of a Golf R not long ago.
That's a shame. Such a nice car but I don't think I can deal with touch buttons. Maybe when I'm stuck at the traffic lights but not when I'm driving.
Skoda octavia rs wagon vs golf gti, what you go for?
Hard to make a case to buy this over a Tesla model 3 SR+? Cheap plastic on the back row and manual bonet struts, worse build Quality then the MK7, the tech is terrible, a lot of people that designed the software got sacked and I can see why, they can’t even get a wireless charger to work. A step backwards in my view. $65k 🤣😂