The Volkswagen GTI isn't a muscle car, but it was inspired by one: the 1964 Pontiac GTO.
That car is considered by many to be the very first muscle car, but what really made it significant — and copied by others — was that it was the first affordable high-performance car.
The GTO brought performance to the masses, particularly the young masses. Here was a V-8 brawler that could out-accelerate the Ferraris of its time but a kid just out of high school could make the payments on. It was basically a Tempest — Pontiac's lightweight economy car of the era — fitted with a high-compression V-8 but without power windows, air conditioning and leather seats unless you added them, which kept the price as low as its zero-to-60 time.
Lots of high school kids bought GTOs, as well as the many GTO emulators that followed. But the GTO — and its emulators — didn't survive the '70s, chiefly due to rising gas prices and the rising cost to insure any high-powered car.
The need for an affordable performance car had returned. VW answered the call.
In 1984, the first GTI appeared. It was a factory hot-rodded VW Rabbit, basically same basic idea that Pontiac had, just in front-wheel-drive and four-cylinder form. But it was exactly like the GTO in that it was quick and all kinds of fun, and you didn't have to be rich to be able to buy one. Or drive one.
Unlike the V-8 GTO, the four-cylinder GTI doesn't drink oceans of gas. It's practical in other ways, too, which probably explains why it's still available in 2019 while the GTO is in the history books.
What It Is
The GTI is a hotted-up version of the popular VW Golf five-door hatchback.
It comes standard with a turbocharged engine, six-speed manual transmission, upgraded brakes, sport-tuned suspension and an 18-inch wheel and tire package for a starting price of $25,595.
That's thousands less than the price of any V-8 performance car you can buy today.
What's New
The Rabbit name returns, as a trim option.
It features retro Rabbit exterior badging, special paint schemes and unique 18-inch black chrome wheels. Rabbits also come standard with push-button ignition and upgraded LED headlights.
All 2019 GTIs get upgraded brakes and a limited slip axle.
The formerly optional six-speed automatic has been replaced by a new seven-speed automated manual transmission.
What's Good
You can go fast without going broke.
There's lots of legroom, headroom and cargo room (53.7 cubic feet, more than three times as much trunk as most midsize sedans).
It doesn't take up much room (just 168 inches bumper to bumper).
What's Not So Good
The turbocharged engines likes premium gas.
The three-door version isn't for sale here.
The highest-performance "summer" tires are only available with the highest-price Autobahn trim ($35,995 to start).
Under the Hood
Unlike the Golf on which it's based, the GTI comes standard with a 2.0-liter engine with 228 horsepower, rather than a 1.4-liter engine with 147 horsepower.
Which will get you to 60 mph in a very speedy 5.9 seconds, versus about 8 seconds for the Golf.
If you go with the standard six-speed manual transmission, gas mileage is 24 mpg city and 32 highway. With the optional seven-speed automated manual, city mileage goes up by one to 25 mpg, while highway mileage goes down by one to 31.
On the Road
The GTI is actually quicker than any classic-era V-8 GTO, and unlike those old GTOs, it's a car you can commute to work in every day without suffering, and without hemorrhaging cash on gas.
The ride doesn't beat you up, especially with the optional adaptive suspension, and the standard heated seats are very easy on your back.
At the Curb
The GTI, like the Golf, is very compact on the outside (just 168 inches long overall, or about a feet shorter overall than a midsize car) but manages to be exceptionally roomy on the inside, especially with regard to headroom in both rows — which is due to its tall and boxy roofline.
That roofline also opens up an equally impressive amount of cargo room.
With the back seats folded, the GTI can carry two to three times as much cargo as much larger sedans. And even with the back seats in use, it has much more room behind them — 22.8 cubic feet — than any of today's much larger V-8 muscle cars.
The Chevy Camaro, for example, which is a much larger car overall, has less than 10 cubic feet of trunk space.
The Rest
VW sells a sportier-looking three-door GTI in Europe but won't be selling that version here.
If you want the maximum handling grip offered by the summer tire package, you'll have to buy those tires over the counter — unless you buy an Autobahn GTI.
It's the only trim VW will sell you with the grippiest tires installed at the factory.
The Bottom Line
Sometimes history repeating is a good thing!
Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" is available now. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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