Host Jessi Lang had a blast driving the 2010 Golf GTI and you’ll see why when you watch her car review video. The VW Golf is refined and more balanced, with lines to accent the sportiness of the GTI. However, the fan favorites like the plaid cloth seats and bright red brake calipers remain unchanged.
Under the hood, the GTI boasts a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged direct-injection engine that definitely gets the job done. Quick off the line, the 2.0L engine mated to the manual transmission gets 200 horsepower at 5,100-6000 rpm and 207 lb-ft of torque at 1,850-5,000 rpm. Even with the pep, the GTI gets great mileage in mixed driving, with 21 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
The Volkswagen GTI Golf has lots of customizable upgrades. For the exterior, there are the optional Xenon headlights that sync up to your steering and turn 13 degrees as you corner. For the interior, there is the Autobahn package that offers leather sport seats and a sunroof. There is also optional navigation. Even if you don’t opt for that feature, you still get the LCD touch-screen for your audio controls (and easy nav integration in the future).
If the styling, options, and performance can’t seal the deal, the price might push you over into buyers territory. Base price for the ’10 VW GTI starts at a reasonable $23,664 and with some add-ons, our tester came in at $27,555.