| Over the last few years, a host of | | | | owner's manual.) The second row LATCH |
| carmakers have introduced hot-rodded | | | | child-seat anchors were easy to access |
| performance variants of their mainstream | | | | – in fact I found them easier to find |
| models. Honda has the Civic Si, Mazda | | | | and reach in the GTI than they in the |
| the Mazdaspeed3, while Mitsubishi and | | | | much larger VW Touareg SUV. |
| Subaru have the Lancer Evolution and | | | | Speaking of the second row, seating is |
| Impreza WRX STI, respectively. | | | | comfortable for two adults, although a |
| Volkswagen has done the same with the VW | | | | bit cramped for taller passengers. All |
| Golf/Rabbit since the early 1980s with | | | | three of our children could sit in the |
| the GTI. Now VW has introduced a 4-door | | | | back seat comfortably, with one in a car |
| variant, which is quite possibly the | | | | seat, one in a booster and one |
| best GTI yet. The 2007 VW GTI 4-door has | | | | sandwiched in the middle. The extra set |
| a base price of $23,230 ($27,465 as | | | | of doors was a godsend here – if you |
| tested) and EPA fuel-economy estimates | | | | plan on carrying passengers regularly, |
| of 25 mpg city/31 mpg highway | | | | or if you have children, the 4-door is |
| (automatic). | | | | the GTI to have. |
| First Glance: Good things come in small | | | | On the Road: Born to run |
| package | | | | Once you start driving the GTI, you’d |
| A few years ago I was the proud owner of | | | | better make sure that all of those |
| a Subaru Impreza WRX (read review). I | | | | passengers have their seat belts |
| enjoyed every drive in that car, thanks | | | | properly fastened. Thanks to a powerful |
| to its grippy all-wheel-drive system, | | | | turbocharged 2.0 liter 4-cylinder |
| brisk performance and grin-inducing | | | | engine, the GTI responds quickly when |
| handling. Sadly, a WRX isn’t much help | | | | you stomp on the gas pedal with hardly a |
| when it comes to carrying lumber, piles | | | | hint of turbo lag (the delay between |
| of sod or a heaping garage full of | | | | flooring the pedal and getting full |
| worldly possessions for a new home, so | | | | power, a problem on many turbocharged |
| the blue Subie was swapped for a Ford | | | | cars). |
| F150 pickup. As useful as the F150 is, | | | | The engine also features direct fuel |
| it definitely didn’t make for a | | | | injection, which squirts the fuel |
| driving experience I looked forward to. | | | | directly into the cylinders rather than |
| I recently test-drive the 2007 VW GTI | | | | just above them into the intake |
| 4-door which happily reminded me of all | | | | manifold. I’ll spare you the gory |
| the good qualities of the WRX: sporty | | | | technical details, but the design helps |
| handling, a turbocharged 4-cylinder | | | | improve performance and fuel economy by |
| engine and a sticker price in the mid | | | | allowing the fuel to be burned more |
| $20s. It may lack the Subaru’s | | | | efficiently. |
| all-wheel-drive, but the GTI tops my | | | | My tester came equipped with the Direct |
| beloved WRX in a number of areas. | | | | Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission, which |
| VW introduced the 2-door GTI last year | | | | is a marvel. It can be left in automatic |
| (read reveiw), but I personally think | | | | mode just like a traditional automatic |
| the new-for-2007 4-door variant looks | | | | transmission, and it smoothly selects |
| just as good, if not better, plus it's | | | | the gears for you. I preferred the |
| infinitely more practical. The GTI’s | | | | manual mode, where you can quickly |
| wheels (link goes to photo) are pushed | | | | upshift and downshift by using the gear |
| out to the corners of the vehicle, which | | | | shift lever or paddles on the steering |
| helps give this hot hatchback a | | | | wheel. Gear changes were smooth and |
| well-planted road presence. I’m fond | | | | fast, without a hint of delay or shudder |
| of understatement when it comes to | | | | when shifted. VW explains that the DSG |
| vehicle design, so the GTI’s | | | | transmission shifts faster than humanly |
| conspicuous lack of wings, ducts, decals | | | | possible with a manual, and I believe |
| and spoilers (except this little one at | | | | them. (Read more: DSG - what it is, how |
| the back of the roof) was fine by me. | | | | it works) |
| Only true VW fans will likely be able to | | | | The powerful engine and fast-shifting |
| spot the differences between the | | | | transmission helped give the GTI |
| standard Rabbit and the GTI: a red | | | | impressive acceleration, and the |
| grille stripe, GTI badging, larger | | | | handling was very responsive. The car |
| wheels and tires and some other modest | | | | responds quickly to steering wheel |
| exterior styling cues. | | | | movement, and the suspension is tight |
| Upon entering the GTI’s cabin the | | | | and responsive, if a bit soft during |
| first thing I noticed was the tartan | | | | more aggressive cornering. |
| seat cloth. VW dubs it "premium cloth | | | | I really liked the new GTI. If you’re |
| anthracite", but it looked to me like it | | | | in the market for a small, sporty car, |
| was cut from some spare kilts. | | | | the GTI should be at the top of your |
| Regardless, the material was put to good | | | | test drive list. It may not match the |
| use, covering seats that are firm and | | | | Mazdaspeed3 and the Subaru WRX in |
| supportive, boasting a good array of | | | | outright performance – and it's more |
| height adjustment controls. | | | | expensive than the Honda Civic Si – |
| VW claims that the odd pair of handgrips | | | | but it does just about everything |
| positioned above the shifter are to be | | | | exceedingly well. |
| grabbed during hard cornering, but I | | | | In my opinion the 4-door body style, |
| found them too far forward to grasp | | | | only $500 more than the base 2-door GTI, |
| without some degree of contortion – | | | | makes this a far more usable vehicle. |
| maybe these work better if you’re less | | | | While you’re at it, I’d recommend |
| than 6' tall. The dash is constructed | | | | the impressive DSG transmission, a $1075 |
| with high-quality materials with | | | | option. Even if you’re an avowed |
| commendable fit and finish. | | | | devotee of manual transmissions, you |
| The GTI is loaded with standard safety | | | | should give a DSG-equipped GTI a spin |
| features, including 4-wheel antilock | | | | before deciding otherwise – it’s |
| disc brakes, front airbags, front | | | | that good. |
| seat-mounted torso airbags, two-row | | | | The subdued, tasteful exterior and the |
| side-curtain airbags and electronic | | | | superlative gas mileage are nice extras. |
| stability control. Rear-seat torso 'bags | | | | Best of all, the GTI always made me |
| are a $350 option. (If you order them, | | | | smile when I slid behind the steering |
| make sure you use a compatible child | | | | wheel, which may just be the most |
| seat; you'll find a list in the GTI | | | | important feature of all. |