Don’t underestimate the GTI Clubsport

The latest GTI Clubsport could be the gem in the Volkswagen performance family by giving the Golf R a fierce battle

Dubbed as the GTI Volkswagen should always have built, we got acquainted with the GTI Clubsport 2.0 TSI DSG and we were left… speechless.

There’s been a lot of mumbling in the motoring circle that the Clubsport is VW’s hottest hatch and the new boy on the streets doesn’t disappoint. Ready and able, this GTI squeaks some serious tekkie off the mark and is fully capable of delivering thrills.

Allow me to rattle off some of the Clubsport’s figures: 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds, 350Nm of torque (380Nm in 10 second bursts when configured in Sport mode) and 195kW of power, you may be saying “but the Golf R has 206kW”, yes but the GTI Clubsport isn’t shy to lay down its power on the tarmac.

The handling from this front-wheel car is phenomenal! It’s powerful brute force is kept in check thanks to VW’s dynamic and capable chassis, as the front wheels hang onto the black stuff for dear life aided by the electronic front differential.

Set to become an icon, the Clubsport celebrates 40 years of GTI and what a celebration it is. And while you may be hard pressed to find any major styling changes, the subtitles are immediately noticeable by any GTI fan.

From the newly designed front bumper to a boot spoiler at the rear, which is complemented by a modest diffuser, the new package doesn’t just look good, but plays a part in this machines impressive performance. These new design tweaks add to the stability of the car and increase its road grip.

Dialing through the GTI’s performance setup, reveals just how dynamic this car is. A shift from comfort into sport mode reconfigures this VW, as the drive stiffens and the performance is ignited like a fuse. It’s like a stick of dynamite, with the gearbox hanging onto the higher rev ranger before a smooth change from the sublime DSG box.

Inside, the Clubsport exudes GTI finesse. The layout is truly GTI, from the bespoke steering wheel to the sporty pedals. While the added extras add to the quality feel, like the DynAudio Sound Package and Panoramic Sunroof.

From feeling a lot nimbler and more athletic than the current GTI, this 40-year-old takes aging with class to a new level. One thing is for sure though, the Clubsport is certain to upset a lot of Golf R owners, because not only is this one limited edition bad boy, it can certainly give the R a run for its money. R40 000 less and almost on the mark in terms of performance, the GTI Clubsport reveals exactly what the seminal hatch is capable of.

Ultimately the Clubsport is one for the fans. A celebration of an icon. This GTI takes the meaning of hot hatch to a new level, especially with the competition stiffening, VW have once again stamped their dominance on this segment, leaving the competitors to go back to the drawing board.

Read our launch story of GTI Clubsport here: