The VW Golf enjoys an iconic status in the world of hatchbacks. It is the gold standard of performance, utility, and functionality. It has a revered status and comes with a lot of popularity globally. The Golf now comes in a variety of flavors. I had a chance to drive the all-electric e-golf and was chomping at the bit to drive the new GTI Autobahn. I am fortunate enough to have been to the Autobahn in Germany. That made me eager to test drive the new GTI Autobahn. The GTI packs a 2.0 L 4-cylinder Turbo engine under the hood. Performance on the GTI is 228 HP and 258 lb.-ft of torque. This is plenty of power. The R line tops the performance options with the Golf with 288 HP and the 4 motion all-wheel-drive system. I spent a week in the Washington Metropolitan Area and drove the GTI through neighborhoods, the beltway, and on Interstate I-70. It gets an EPA rated 31 MPG on the highway. I found the performance thrilling and especially appreciated the torque driving through the mountains of Western Maryland. The paint color is eye-catching. The Tornado red paint option comes at no extra cost. The base price on the Golf GTI Autobahn is $37,095. There were no additional options on the model I drove. It had standard features like a 7 speed DSG automatic, 18” wheels, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, park assist, and much more for a delivered price of $37,990. For more information visit www.vw.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download