I purchased a well-equipped 2010 Volkswagen GTI on the 30th of March this year. Having now put 1000 miles and 30 days on the car, I have a few initial thoughts to share.
The GTI is powered by a turbo-charged 2.0L four-cylinder engine based on VAG's current EA888 platform, and it is fantastic. Pushing down on the throttle at any time results in instantly available torque, seemingly across the entire RPM band. Looking at the torque curve however, there is a huge plateau across most of the powerband. This implies that Volkwagen has artificially limited the power output of this motor, likely for insurance purposes.
At partial throttle, the GTI is a supple and refined daily driver. There are few signs of the power available during an average day's commute. I am finding a respectible 30 mpg in daily mixed driving and the broad torque curve makes city driving a joy.
Like all direct-injected engines with exhaust gas recycling - an emissions requirement - the 2.0L TSI is subject to carbon buildup on the intake valves. Unlike port-injected engines, very little detergent-enhanced fuel washes against the intake valves in a direct-injected engine. This is something that bears watching.
The 2010 model comes equipped with both stability control ("ESP") and an electronically simulated limited slip differential ("XDS"). New on the 2010 GTI, XDS helps prevent inside wheel spin in hard cornering by applying slight brake pressure. This system is fairly unobtrusive and effective at keeping the front-driven GTI well-mannered in the twisties. ESP is also extremely effective in daily driving, but quickly gets in the way when the car is pushed. The stability control will intervene too often by cutting power and causing the car to shudder unexpectedly. As recommended by VW, be sure to hit "ESP off" before "spirited" driving.
The interior fit-and-finish is the best I have seen from an econobox, with few exceptions. The Interlagos plaid seats are well-bolstered and stylish. The dash controls are easy to read at a glance and simple to operate. I have experienced a rattle in both the driver- and passenger-side B-pillar. I plan to discuss the issue with my dealer at the 90-day checkup.
Steering is electronically-assisted, which is usually a recipe for isolation in the wheel. Not here. The steering wheel is well-damped, but still maintains road feel for the driver. My model is also equipped with a DSG 6-speed automated-manual gearbox. The DSG provides the convenience of an automatic in city traffic, with the control of a manual transmission via paddle shifters - hold the Formula One metaphors, please - or taps of the shift knob forward or backward.
Two fully automatic modes are provided, Drive and Sport, which offer a comfortable mix of fuel-sipping conservatism and smile-inducing power shifts. In the Tiptronic mode, shifts are executed at blazing fast speeds with minimal delay. This is not your father's manumatic. I do miss the clutch pedal, but the dead pedal decoy and a gearbox that shifts in a blink are an excellent replacement.
While the GTI is an economical and fun drive from the factory, there are some changes I plan to make which will improve the performance of the car. My initial goal is to help the car get the most out of the power it currently makes, before adding more.
Update: I've installed a larger intercooler, turbo and downpipe, which all have massively improved an already fun-to-drive machine. These upgrades aren't for everyone, but they were money well-spent in my book.
