Volkswagen GTI Cabriolet 2.0-litre TSI 210 PS 6spd DSG
What is it?
Volkswagen’s decision to make a GTI version of its new shape Golf Cabriolet looks inspired. In standard trim, the new open top Golf has already met with considerable acclaim for its style, quality and dynamics. Now, a new sporty version wearing the iconic GTI badge is guaranteed to create an even bigger stir.
From its launch in the UK last summer, VW’s Golf Cabriolet has come with a variety of well-established petrol and diesel engines, spanning 1.2 to 2.0-litres.
But any car bearing the GTI badge is something else again. This is the cue for more vivid performance and handling, more fun and stronger all-round road presence.
Thus, the GTI Cabriolet, launched here in June 2012, is the high image, range-topper and powered by VW’s successful 2.0-litre petrol TSI engine, it can crack 0-62 mph in a quick 7.3 secs and hit 146 mph, VW says.
Equipment, it also does not lack. However, with a £30,000-plus price tag, it’s inevitably at the rarified end of the Golf Cabriolet range so will more likely appeal to small business owners wanting a stand-out car they can use occasionally on business.
The Golf GTI Cabriolet comes in two forms, with 6-speed manual transmission, or 6-speed DSG automatic transmission, as here. Styling cues, including the honeycomb grille, red colour details and ‘Jacara’ tartan cloth echo the iconic (but cheaper) Golf GTI hatchback.
What’s hot?
- The creamy 1984 cc four-cylinder GTI engine offers a fabulous blend of power, response and high-rev refinement. You get 210 ps and a broad torque band so that you are never short of performance.
- The turbocharged GTI engine blends brilliantly with the 6-speed DSG box. With steering wheel paddleshift control, the engine/transmission combo feels a precision, high quality item whether it’s trundling through the city or attacking an empty B-road.
- You get four proper seats with the Golf Cabriolet giving it all the practicality that goes with the Golf badge.
- The Golf Cabriolet has an electrically-operated fabric roof which can be lowered in just 9.5 secs. Clever packaging means even with the roof down, there is still usable boot space (up to 250 litres). Crucially, with a car in this category, the Cabriolet catches the eye whether the top is up or down.
- There is no central roll bar as with earlier open Golfs. Instead, VW has devised a sophisticated active roll-over protection system
- GTI styling, including unique front/rear bumpers, honeycomb grille, rear diffuser and black chrome exhaust tailpipes, is racy without being too over the top. You won’t miss those 18-inch ‘Monza Shadow’ wheels, either
- Fit and finish is outstanding throughout
What’s not?
- Despite VW’s best efforts to strengthen the body, there is still some body flex when the top’s down. Small tremors are occasionally fed up through the steering wheel when the GTI encounters road bumps.
- Doors are quite big and heavy
- Those exotic ‘Monza Shadow’ alloy wheels might not be to everyone’s taste
- Enthusiast drivers might ask for more steering feel
- 30K price means the GTI Cabriolet is quite a step up from more prosaic models in the range, particuarly the best selling 1.4-litre TSI and GT 2.0-litre TDI BlueMotion Technology which account for around 20% of overall sales
- High CO2 figure of 180g/km means the Golf GTI Cabriolet misses the key writing down allowance tax breaks…
- …and also makes it expensive on company car tax
