Like most of my like-minded people, I don't have such a car. Instead, there are daily commutes to work, standing in traffic jams, and weekend trips out of town. Plus relatives and friends who need a ride from time to time. And then there's gasoline, whose prices are already getting close to European ones. So, is the dream not meant to come true? And why not? Europeans found a reasonable compromise a thousand years ago — the "hot" hatchback. A car that is suitable for everyday routine, and when the roads empty out, it delivers real driving pleasure. Of course, there are no two rows of cylinders or an army of horsepower here, but it won't ruin its owner either. And for ordinary mortals, the latter circumstance is perhaps even more important. Can the new Golf GT handle such a task? If you expect an extravagant appearance from a sports car, you can forget about it. Even the GTI was never known for aggressive design, and the GT is a complete wallflower. After all, any Golf 1.6 owner can put on seventeen-inch wheels, and exhaust pipe tips — whether dual, triple, or quad — are sold at any auto parts store. And apart from a 15-millimeter lower ride height, the GT has no special distinguishing features. But I like this modesty. The Golf knows its worth anyway. And what matters much more to me is what's hidden inside. The 1.4 TSI engine is arguably one of the best in its class. And don't let its small displacement confuse you. The Germans equipped the little engine with both a mechanical supercharger and a turbocharger, that is, they made a "two-in-one" forced induction system. The first works from idle up to about 2.5 thousand rpm, then hands over the baton to the turbine, which picks up at high revs. What does this give? It means that the modest 1.4, by tax standards, pulls so well that many two-and-a-half-liter units would envy it. I wouldn't call the 170-horsepower Golf GT a "scorching" hatchback. But it's quick, and few can compete with it in the city. The best part is that it really pulls from the very bottom (no wonder — 90% of the 240 Nm of torque is achieved at low revs), and after four thousand, when the turbine starts breathing fully, there's a slight surge. And the precise, crisp six-speed gearbox makes driving a pleasure. Although the sprint to 100 km/h takes 7.8 seconds, it feels like time flies much faster. But the engine sound disappointed me — it just whines and whines. Not unpleasant, not pleasant, just nothing. Naturally, Bridgestone Potenza RE050 tires in size 225/45 R17 hold great in corners. But what I like about the GT's character is not even that (that's expected), but the meticulously tuned chassis. The car doesn't wander on the road, even if you brake hard in a sharp turn, and it holds the chosen line perfectly. The suspension is very firm and energy-intensive, quite comfortable, and without a hint of laziness. And the ESP is set up smartly — it successfully curbs understeer and doesn't choke the engine too much. But the strategy of the GT team bosses isn't just about power. "Warmed-up" engines and low-profile tires are also found in competitors. But the Volkswagen driver will win at the "pit stops"! Because its fuel efficiency is bordering on fantastic. With a floored gas pedal, the GT consumes around 11 liters per 100 kilometers. In the city! And besides, it's a Golf. That means a team of ten engineers thought about every air vent deflector for three years. It has an ideal driving position, well-calibrated efforts on all controls, excellent visibility and aerodynamics, benchmark sound insulation, and everything else. But despite all this, I won't recommend this car. Because it's very expensive. The GT we tested costs over 35 thousand dollars. Although that includes a bunch of options like electric seat adjustments, a phone, and a remote garage door opener, which you can safely skip. But still, even in the "base" trim, the car will cost $28,044. And no jokes about how Volkswagen translates from German. Lamborghini also made tractors at first. That's not the point. After all, by adding just a couple of thousand, you can get the GTI — which is faster and better-looking, has excellent sport seats and a wonderful engine sound. And its two-liter turbo engine, finally, also doesn't suffer from "overeating." Specifications | Characteristics | Volkswagen Golf GT | |---|---| | **Body** | | | Number of doors/seats | 5/5 | | Length, mm | 4204 | | Width, mm | 1759 | | Height, mm | 1479 | | Curb weight, kg | 1298 | | Gross weight, kg | 1870 | | Trunk volume, l | 350–1305 | | **Engine** | | | Type | Gasoline, with direct injection, turbocharging, and mechanical supercharger | | Location | Front, transverse | | Number and arrangement of cylinders | 4, in-line | | Number of valves | 16 | | Displacement, cm³ | 1390 | | Max power, hp/rpm | 170/6000 | | Max torque, Nm/rpm | 240/1750 | | **Transmission** | | | Gearbox | Manual, six-speed | | Drive | Front | | **Chassis** | | | Front suspension | Independent, McPherson | | Rear suspension | Independent, multi-link | | Front brakes | Disc, ventilated | | Rear brakes | Disc | | Tires | 225/45 R17 | | Ground clearance, mm | 134 | | **Performance characteristics** | | | Maximum speed, km/h | 220 | | Acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h, s | 7.9 | | Fuel consumption, l/100 km | | | Urban cycle | 9.9 | | Extra-urban cycle | 5.8 | | Combined cycle | 7.3 | | Emission standard | Euro-4 | | Fuel tank capacity, l | 60 | | Fuel | AI-98 | *The test car was provided by the official representative of Volkswagen Group Rus.* Technology The 1.4 TSI engine, equipped with a mechanical supercharger and a turbocharger, achieves the highest efficiency. This engine was awarded in the "International Engine of the Year" competition in 2006 and 2007 in the category of engines from 1 to 1.4 liters. Behind the scenes