2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI: What's It Like to Live With?

What do you want to know about?

• Introduction
• Fuel Economy Update for October
• Engine Break-In Complete
• Rearview Camera
• On Screen Traffic-Hazard Warning
• More Power Than Traction
• Radio Reset
• Sunroof Tricks
• Correct Tire Pressures
• Engine Break-In Road Trip
• The Way I Would Have Ordered It
• Great Gauges
• Fuel Economy Update for November
• Happy to Have a GTI in the Fleet Again
• Performance Tested
• Surprisingly Strong and Vice-Free Power
• Suitably Classy Interior
• Much Improved Handling
• 30-Pin, Too
• GTI Generation Spotter Guide
• Highly Recommended
• Fuel Economy Update for December
• Prefer Austin to Detroit
• Good Cargo Hauler
• 2015 North American Car of the Year
• Audio and Touchscreen Review
• Bum Seat Heater
• Useful Cargo Space
• Moving Day
• Newest and Oldest
• Vegas Road Trip Impressions
• Another Use for S Mode
• Key Card Slot
• Fuel Economy Update for January
• A Driver's Car Once Again
• Traffic Alerts That Cry Wolf
• Good Navigation System Interface
• Superb Seats
• Surprisingly Spacious Rear Seats
• Why Can't I Enjoy the Convenience of the DSG?
• Manual or DSG?
• Still the Best Automatic Transmission
• Rear-Facing Convertible Car Seats, An Informal Comparison
• Armrest Rattle
• Fuel Economy Update for February
• Buy One Already
• Oh Nuts, We Hate When This Happens
• Useful Fuel Station Information
• Feels Expensive Because It Is
• Audio Off and Camera On
• L.A. Freeway Ride
• Fuel Economy Update for March
• Impromptu Desert Coffee Run
• Thanks For the Tip, But I'm Good
• The Best GTI Yet
• Returns Best MPG on the Road to Joshua Tree
• Last-Gen GTI Has Better Hatch Gate Design
• These Gauges Are Great at Night
• Sleepy Infotainment Screen
• Fuel Economy Update for April - A New Low, A New High
• 10,000 Miles and a Return to Form
• No Repair for Severely Cut Tire
• Back on the Road With Two New Tires
• Oil Change and Software Update at 10,000 Miles
• This Is a New One
• Key Fob Battery Replaced
• Fuel Economy Update for May - Small Gains Toward EPA Rating
• Pickup-Driving Ladies Like It
• Better Enough Than the Last?
• Six Months Later, Still Want One
• Four-Door Is the Obvious Choice. Or Is It?
• VW Promises More Advanced Touchscreen Interface for 2016
• Fuel Economy Update for June — Incremental Improvement in Lifetime MPG
• Grand Canyon and Back, For Americ
• A Compact Hatch To Colorado and Back - Will We Regret It?
• Art Car
• Gets Impressive MPG on Rocky Mountain Traverse
• Handles Evasive Maneuvers With Ease
• Compact Hatch Works Great for Colorado and Back
• Grand Canyon Road Trip Shatters Old Fuel-Eco Records
• Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
• Cruise Control Offers Stealth Adjustment
• Show Me the Tire Pressures, Please
• The Case for a Hatchback
• Fuel Economy Update for July - Long Legs Shatter Old Records
• The Cooler Fits, Sort of
• Fixing the Radio by Putting It on a Time-out
• Radio Is On the Fritz
• August Fuel Economy Update - Just Another Month Burning Gas
• Better Seat Comfort for Short Drivers
• Eco Minders Ruin the Fun
• How Tall is Mount Everest In Yards?
• Cruising Through Its 20,000-Mile Service
• In Defense of the Older Generation
• In Search of Cooler Mountain Air
• Missing the Extra Half-Step
• Strikes Good Balance Between Commuter and Weekender
• Fuel Economy Update for September - Still Great Mileage After 20,000 Miles
• Could Be Slicker in the City
• Wrap-Up

Introduction

What Did We Get?
So which all-new four-door Volkswagen product with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and six-speed dual-clutch transmission have we just added to our long-term fleet?

We'll give you a hint: It's red. If your answer is the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI hatchback pictured here, you are correct. We also would have accepted our new red four-door, 2.0-liter 2015 Audi A3.

The A3 and GTI share an underlying structure, but performance, on-road feel and, most importantly, price keep these compacts from walking down the same path. The base price of a GTI is roughly $5,000 less than a bare-bones A3, and you get more engine for the money, but miss out on in-car WiFi. You get the idea.

So the GTI ends up being the hell-raising younger brother to the cool and collected A3, but that's not the GTI's real competition. Two years ago, the wicked Ford Focus ST barged onto the scene with aggressive styling and more horsepower, and proceeded to whoop the GTI in performance testing and on mountain roads. We quickly added one to our long-term fleet and fell in lust. But we compared it to the old GTI, and with the newest iteration finally here, we need to see if the old girl still has some fight in her.

What Options Does It Have?
In base S trim, the two-door 2015 Golf GTI with a six-speed manual transmission starts at $25,215. It represents a strong value proposition, with standard equipment including LED foglights, heated front seats and 18-inch wheels.

When we bought our 2010 Volkswagen GTI, we ordered a two-door with a manual transmission, touchscreen radio and sunroof. We wanted to carry a few more people comfortably this time around, so the four-door was our choice. This brought the starting price to $25,815.

Volkswagen has taken a page out of Honda's book and now packages options into separate trim levels, with only accessories like bike mounts and car mats available as extras. That meant we had to give up the GTI's classic tartan cloth seats if we wanted to get luxuries like a navigation system and dual-zone climate control. And if we were losing those, we might as well make it up elsewhere and go the full monty.

We skipped over the midlevel SE trim and selected our GTI in Autobahn trim, i.e. completely loaded. For the $30,695 asking price, Autobahn adds VW's DSG automated manual transmission, leather seats, a nav system, sunroof, Fender audio system, dual-zone climate control, push-button start and a power driver seat.

A Performance package rings in at $1,495 and includes bigger brakes, an electronic limited-slip differential and 10 extra horsepower. An adaptive suspension can also be ordered in conjunction with the package. And while we tested a 2015 GTI with these options, they're a late availability option and we wanted our GTI ASAP. Time will tell if we regret this decision.

Our Tornado Red 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn rings in at $31,515. Volkswagen loaned it to us for the year so we didn't have a chance to negotiate a lower price.

Why We Got It
Although the GTI's skin hasn't changed much since the last generation debuted in 2010, there are plenty of tweaks to the interior and mechanical components to justify adding a 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI to our long-term test fleet. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine now puts out 210 hp compared to last year's 200, torque increases 51 lb-ft to a healthy 258, backlit red trim accents the perimeter of the cabin, and selectable drive modes sharpen throttle response and steering weight.

With all the improvements to this new car, the biggest question on our minds will be whether this GTI is sporty enough to wear the badge, or is it just a bargain A3 with more usable trunk space? Is the new GTI bringing enough hot hatch to the table to take the fight to Ford? And did Volkswagen finally purge the ticks, creaks and teenage locker room odor that plagued our past long-termer?

We have 12 months and 20,000 miles to find out. Follow along on our Long-Term Road Test Updates page as we flog our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI through the Santa Monica mountains and run long-distance road trips to see where the GTI falls between Audi-lite and hot-hatch king.

Best MPG: 27.2
Worst MPG: 24.5
Average MPG over 1,045 miles: 25.6

The manufacturer provided this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.

Fuel Economy Update for October

And so, it has begun, our year-long evaluation of the 2015 Volkswagen GTI. We've already put about a thousand miles on the Volkswagen hatchback, and the initial impression is very positive. The fuel economy, however, has been less than ideal. Perhaps the little hot hatch is truly back (this time), and people are driving it the way the original GTI was introduced to us, thirty (!) years ago...

Worst Fill MPG: 21.4 mpg
Best Fill MPG: 27.2 mpg
Average Lifetime MPG: 24.7 mpg
EPA MPG Rating: 28 Combined (25 City/33 Highway)
Best Range: 299.5 miles
Current Odometer: 1,370 miles

Engine Break-In Complete

It is well into the internal-combustion engine's second century, and yet we still need to break-in an engine before using it to its full potential. We crossed that magic mile-marker in our 2015 Volkswagen GTI Autobahn about 350 miles ago, so we're scheduling it for its first, full test at the track.

We tested a 2015 VW GTI about a month ago, so we'll see if ours measures up to an early-build (assuming) prototype. In terms of acceleration, that test car, an SE with the optional Performance package (an extra 10 horsepower) posted a 6.2-second 0-60 time and ran the quarter-mile in 14.5 seconds at 97.7 mph. Ours is a GTI Autobahn trim, minus the extra boost.

Stay tuned.

Rearview Camera

While backing out of my garage in our 2015 Volkswagen GTI, I noticed the fine-tuning options for the rearview camera. Since we're now living in a world full of screens, it seems natural then to have these adjustments available. I appreciate being able to tweak brightness, contrast and color, and I did so.

Something else, however, occurred to me when I was looking at the photo: Like all rearview cameras (now that I think about it), the image it displays is *not* what one would see if your eye were to take the place of the camera on the rear of the car. If I were looking out the back window of the car, those white, double doors would be to the right. I know it seems obvious now, but the image is reversed, which, makes sense considering how disorienting it would be to have it represented accurately. Duh.

On Screen Traffic-Hazard Warning

We're still investigating from which feature this warning originates in our 2015 Volkswagen GTI, but we do appreciate it. I don't have the owner's manual handy at the moment, so I did a cursory search on Volkswagen's handy Know Your VW Web site, but I came up empty. My gut says that this message is part of the traffic function of the navigation system.

More Power Than Traction

More power is rarely looked down upon around here. Most cars get better when they have more guts underneath the hood, but our 2015 Volkswagen GTI isn't one of them, at least not all of the time.

The problem is traction. Trying to send 210 horses through the front wheels doesn't always work very well. Spinning wheels and choppy acceleration often result and there's not much you can do about it other than lift.

This is nothing new. The GTI, and just about every other high power front-wheel drive car ever made, has suffered from this issue for decades. Volkswagen has done a good job of getting the GTI to hook up better but it's still an issue that you have to consider before mashing the throttle with any gusto. I think our previous Ford Focus ST did a better job of filtering out torque steer.

Radio Reset

If one neglects to manually shut-off the audio system in our new 2015 Volkswagen GTI before shutting the car off, it appears as if the power to the audio unit is cut, sort of.

Here's a photo of what transpires: Upon start up, the tuner self-selects the 87.7 frequency, plays that through the speakers, yet the display shows the last "legitimate" station that was played before shutting the car off.

If, however, one remembers to manually shut-off the audio system before exiting the car, it keeps the last station in the tuner. Strange. We'll keep an eye on this.

Sunroof Tricks

With such a large, glass roof on our 2015 Volkswagen GTI, I was a little surprised by a couple of interesting details. First, is that it slides back at all. As we've seen from other cars with enormous glass-panel roofs (like the Audi A5), they usually just tilt and don't slide open. Our GTI's roof pops up and slides quite a distance, in fact.

Also, it holds another nice surprise.  

While I'm not necessarily a fan of mesh, fabric sunroof covers in general (because they usually allow too much light/heat into the cabin when closed), this one is quite good at isolating the cabin from the sun. Also, it may be left closed while the sunroof is wide open. Oftentimes, motoring the top open also pulls the cover with it, but not so in our new Volkswagen GTI. You can enjoy the fresh air without the usual glare and shadows from an otherwise fully open roof. Nice detail, don't you think?

Correct Tire Pressures

Recently, our 2015 Volkswagen GTI passed its engine break-in period and was then ready for its first instrumented track test. As part of our pre-test protocol, we check and set tire pressures to the manufacturer's recommended values printed on the vehicle's doorpost sticker. When we first put the gauge on the GTI's cold tires, however, each one read 33 psi, or 4 psi lower than what the doorpost recommends.

Read on to see what we did...

We're seeing this more frequently these days, it appears, because the manufacturers (usually the German ones), offer a choice of "Comfort, Standard, or Sport" tire pressures. Our GTI's tires were set to the optional "Comfort" pressure which might offer a better ride, but as the owner's manual reads, Please remember that the lower "Comfort tire pressure" makes the tire 'softer' so that the tire will have a higher rolling resistance. Higher rolling resistance means that the vehicle will have lower fuel economy, increasing the amount of fuel you use and reducing the range of the vehicle.

We set all the tires to the Standard 37-psi value and we'll see if this improves our ailing fuel economy. By the way, the GTI did extremely well at the test track and that update is coming soon.

Engine Break-In Road Trip

I spent a long weekend with our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI during its engine break-in period. We spent over 10 hours and 500 miles together. Here's what we did in pictures, and a few words...

The adventure ranged north from our Santa Monica office to Vasquez Rocks Park in Agua Dulce to Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond. Then the GTI took me on a detour through the dirt roads of east Lancaster. I called it a day after roughly 6 hours and 350 miles behind the wheel. The driver seat had more endurance than I expected, giving me a good 4-hour grace period before I fell victim to roadbutt. Its flat seat bottom was mostly to blame.

Early the next morning we aimed south. From home base in north Orange County we rolled as far as Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base at the San Diego County border. No pics there. But along the way we snapped a quickie of the always-ominous nuclear station at San Onofre. A stop at Pedro's Tacos in San Clemente is a must any time I find myself in the area. I don't know what it is about that place. No pic there either. Too busy stuffing my face. When I pulled into the driveway the odo read 125 miles higher and the clock 2 hours later. Ride quality stuck out the most along this stretch. The GTI rides soft across ruts, big and small, especially as compared to the competitive Mini Cooper and Mazda 3.

Errands around town accounted for the remainder of our weekend. GTI and I cruised to the beach, grabbed dinner with friends and finally returned that annoying rental modem to Time Warner.

The Way I Would Have Ordered It

First off, let me say I seriously enjoy driving our new 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI. What a stunningly good turbo four-cylinder engine, plus fun new handling manners.

But the way we ordered the car is not the way I would have gotten it.

If it were me, I would have stuck with the standard seats, even though that means doing without navigation and dual-zone climate control. I would do this not just because I'm cheap (although I am). Rather, it's because I love the plaid covering on the base seats, it's the classic way to go. Plus, they're great seats, and I prefer their material over leather.

I also would've stuck with the standard-issue six-speed manual transmission. In this case it has even less (basically nothing, in fact) to do with saving money. I would stick with the manual because the one in the GTI is absolutely fantastic, one of the best out there, with an easy-shifting action yet ultra-positive gates, plus a light clutch pedal for those of you weak-of-leg. And, yeah, doesn't exactly hurt that you get the way-cool golf-ball shifter knob with the manual.

Seriously though, if you're even close to being on the fence about getting the three-pedal setup in the GTI: Don't wuss out. Get it. Every time you go up and down through the gears, you'll be glad you did.

Great Gauges

Describing instrument panel gauges as "watch-like" is a common refrain among car designers. Unfortunately, it's usually more bluster than fact. Not so in our new 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI.

For the first time in a very long time, I looked at the speedometer in a car and said to myself, "Now that looks like the face of a nice watch."

Maybe it's the mix of standard and metric numbers that gives it that overloaded watch-face look, or maybe it's the clear, crisp numbers. Either way, it's a nice looking piece that's good looking and easy to read. At a time when more and more instrument panels are becoming video screens, it's nice to see a traditional setup that looks this good.

Fuel Economy Update for November

If the first month and a half is any indication, we should have no issue reaching the 20,000-mile mark in a year. Since we received the GTI in mid-October, we've already racked-up over 2,700 miles.

In November, Mike Schmidt helped with the mileage tally with a break-in road trip before we tested our Tornado Red hatchback at the track. That month also saw a tie for best mpg, with both Ed Hellwig and Mike Monticello attaining a 30.2-mpg average on a 10-plus-gallon tank.

To me, that says they're not driving a hot hatchback as intended, so I decided to take it upon myself to reach a new low. I logged a 21.1-mpg result right at the end of the month. Admittedly, it's not all that bad. Perhaps I'll try harder when the roads dry out above Malibu.

Worst Fill MPG: 21.1
Best Fill MPG: 30.2
Average Lifetime MPG: 25.3
EPA MPG Rating: 28 Combined (25 City/33 Highway)
Best Range: 330.8
Current Odometer: 2,820

Happy to Have a GTI in the Fleet Again

If you look through the list of past cars we've had in the Edmunds long-term fleet you'll see that we had a 2010 GTI. I still have fond memories of that car, and it remains one of my all-time favorite cars we've had as long-term tests. Now we have the newest generation 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI model in for another year-long go-around. Right on!

My initial impressions are already pretty similar to what we listed in our "A" rating of the 2015 GTI. Dynamically, it's sharper than before. It's quicker to accelerate and more nimble and capable around turns. But it also seems to be a little less comfortable in regards to ride quality. Of course, we have a whole year to really get into specifics.

But the core GTI-ness of it still seems intact. I've always liked how a GTI can be a great dual-purpose machine, one that you can use every day for errands and commuting but still have fun around town or on special trips. It's also still a step above other typical hatchbacks in the way it gives off a premium vibe, and that can make a considerable difference in the ownership experience.

Just like our white 2010 GTI, I'm really going to like spending time and taking trips with our red 2015 GTI.

Performance Tested

We're digging our new 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI. So much so that our Tornado Red hot hatch only had a few weeks of driving behind it before we had blown past the 1,000-mile engine break-in period. We quickly headed for the track to see if Volkswagen had addressed the overly-intrusive ESC system that we took umbrage with on our last-generation long-termer. After our day at the track, we pulled the performance numbers from our 2013 Ford Focus ST to see how the new GTI fared against the competition.

Vehicle: 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI

Odometer: 1,808

Date: 11/11/2014

Driver: Chris Walton

Price: $31,515

Specifications:
Drive Type: Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission Type: six-speed automated manual
Engine Type: turbocharged inline-4
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 1,984 / 121
Redline (rpm): 6,000
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 210 @ 4,500
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 258 @ 1,500
Brake Type (front): One-piece ventilated with single-piston sliding calipers
Brake Type (rear): One-piece solid with single-piston sliding calipers
Suspension Type(front): MacPherson strut
Suspension Type (rear): Independent multilink

Tire Size (front): 225/40R18 92Y
Tire Size (rear): 225/40R18 92Y
Tire Brand: Bridgestone
Tire Model: Potenza S001
Tire Type: Summer
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,161

Test Results: 

Acceleration:
0-30 (sec): 3.1 (w/ TC on 3.1)
0-45 (sec): 4.2 (w/ TC on 4.7)
0-60 (sec): 6.2 (w/TC on 6.9)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 5.9 (w/TC on 6.5) 
0-75 (sec): 8.8 (w/TC on 9.5) 
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 14.5 @ 97.9 (w/TC on 14.9 @ 96.6)

Braking: 
30-0 (ft): 27
60-0 (ft): 108

Handling:
Slalom (mph): 71.2 (70.5 w/ESC on)
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.94 (0.92 w/ESC on)
RPM @ 70: 2100

Comments:

Acceleration comments: With the drive mode in Normal and transmission in Drive, the GTI momentarily pauses after pressing the throttle all the way to the floor. When the auto-clutch manual engages the clutch, it's very smooth and positive, but once the car realizes it's being asked for maximum acceleration, it really changes demeanor into a rather aggressive machine. Upshifts are extremely rapid but remain smooth with a hint of head-toss. After selecting Sport mode and accessing the programmed Launch control feature, the engine spins up to 3,200 rpm and aggressively engages the clutch which causes quite a lot of wheelspin, but it works very well. As the car gains traction near the shift from 1st to 2nd gear, it hangs on to 1st right at the engine's maximum redline for what feels like too long, but again, this strategy seems to work quite well. Every upshift after that is just as quick and just as smooth as they were in the default modes and the result is a whopping three-quarters of a second chopped from the GTI's 0-60 time. Also, the GTI still upshifts automatically even when manual shift mode is engaged. The steering wheel-mounted paddles are solid and reassuring to use, but the console-mounted manual shifter is oriented in the counter-intuitive (Push = Upshift / Pull = Downshift) fashion. The gear shifts are only a little more aggressive and the exhaust note sounds far sportier in Sport mode, both in a really nice way.

Braking comments: The GTI has a very firm and confidence-inspiring pedal from the first fraction of an inch of travel. This trait continues even with our simulated panic-stop tests where it remains constant. The first stop from 60 mph was the shortest and only grew by two feet by the fourth stop. There was hardly any nose dive and not a hint of wiggle or wander under full-ABS stops. Very good brakes.

Handling comments: Whoa, we were not expecting this. Without a doubt, VW listened to the deserved criticism of the previous GTI's overly aggressive electronic stability-control system (ESC) and has taken the time to tune this one to near perfection. We used both the default ON mode as well as the three-menu-deep ESC Sport setting. In ESC Sport, the GTI has that rare quality of tenacious grip as well as a lively chassis that responds extremely well to skilled driver input at or near the limit of grip. Driven well, the GTI will allow the tires to slide (either front or rear depending on driver input) to affect the desired outcome. If the driver wants the rear of the car to slide to point into a corner, he can tell the car to do this with ease and confidence. Even if it was extremely fun and rewarding to slide the car between the slalom cones, the best practice was to keep it tidy and with a minimal amount of tire skidding. It should come as no surprise, then, that with the ESC system fully ON, it kept the car from sliding with both throttle intervention and brake application and it nearly matched the Sport ESC passes. The steering in either Normal or Sport mode is weighted properly and is highly responsive and precise regardless.

Here are the key performance figures versus the 2013 Ford Focus ST, the Golf GTI's closest competitor. The Focus ST was rolling on Michelin Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2's, while the GTI was shod in Bridgestone Potenza S001's.

Surprisingly Strong and Vice-Free Power

How much power do you want from your front-wheel-drive sport compact? "A thousand horsepower!" would be the likely answer from my 10-year-old next-door neighbor. And why not, right? But as you likely know, there's a limit of how much power you can put down in a front-drive car before it all goes up in tire smoke and/or vexing torque steer.

Volkswagen upped the power on the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine fitted to its 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI. It's now listed at 210 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. That's a healthy boost compared to the 200 hp and 207 lb-ft in the 2014 car. True, more power is available from the 252-hp Ford Focus ST or, if you don't mind buying used, an old Mazdaspeed 3. But the new GTI's power output is surprisingly strong and effective.

In our official test drive, our new GTI accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds (using launch control). That's quicker than the old GTI (6.4 seconds with DSG) as well as our long-term 2013 Focus ST, which posted a 6.6 second 0-60 mph time. The GTI has a better quarter-mile time, too at 14.5 seconds compared to the ST's 15.0 seconds.

But there's more to it than just numbers. Hit the gas in our 2015 GTI and it accelerates confidently. There's no drama, no lack of power at low rpm, and no torque steer that I've experienced so far. Redline is only 6,000 rpm, so it's not a revver like the Scion FR-S, for instance. But where the FR-S can sometimes seem like it makes more noise than speed, the GTI has actually surprised me on how effectively it gets up to highway speeds. Even if you're already rolling, just drop a gear or two and you're perfectly primed for cutting through city traffic or making a pass of a dawdling RV on the highway.

"More" is always attractive, but for this class of car, the GTI gets the horsepower and control balance down almost perfectly.

Suitably Classy Interior

In recent years, the Volkswagen GTI has earned a reputation for having an upscale interior. Pleasingly, that trend continues with the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI. Open the solid-feeling driver door and take a seat. Here you'll find a straightforward design finished with high quality materials. So, German.

Our GTI's interior just strikes me as classy. Check out the metallic trim that Volkswagen applies to the steering wheel and surrounds for the gauges, air vents and touchscreen. Then there's the red stitching on the seats, steering wheel and shift boot. That's complemented by the red accent strip lighting on the interior door panels. The door sills have red illumination as well.

The materials are nice, too. The dash is soft-touch and all the main controls and buttons have a solid and durable feel to them. That's also true for the DSG's shifter and steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. There's nothing flimsy to be found.

Granted, our GTI has an as-tested price of $31,515. So, it's not the cheap seats. But if this were my GTI, the interior would go a long way for helping me think I got my money's worth.

Much Improved Handling

The previous generation Volkswagen GTI was a great daily driver and fun up to a certain point if you drive with enthusiasm. But if you really wanted a car that you could push hard on a twisty road or hammer at a high-performance driving event, there were some people who felt it just wasn't up to the task. We learned that with our old 2010 GTI. I went back and looked at some of our updates on that car. Relatively soft suspension tuning, modest tire grip (at least with the all-season tires) and a zealous stability control system were the typical complaints.

But now we have something completely different. This new 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI has received all sorts of accolades for its newfound dynamic prowess. I was curious to check it personally, so I took the key to our GTI and headed out for a test run on some local back roads.

Initial impressions? I think lurking underneath the unassuming red GTI exterior is a Superman "S." This car is good. Point it into a corner and it just grips and rips. The suspension keeps the car much more controlled during quick transitions while the summer-rated tires let you carry plenty of speed. Want to drive this GTI aggressively? The car responds with a "Heck yeah, let's do this!" while high-fiving you and humming the original A-Team theme song. The steering is a little too heavy for my tastes, perhaps, but it's quick and contributes to the feeling that the car can be driven aggressively with confidence.

As I was on public roads, I didn't feel a need to turn off the stability control system. But there are now two different settings for stability control and, as we reported from our recent instrumented track test, they are minimally invasive and can actually be beneficial for tidying up the car's balance. Around tight turns, I could also feel the basic (brake based) torque vectoring feature of the car helping to get the power down.

Before, the GTI was great at getting you to destinations but perhaps a bit of a disappointment if you were really keen on putting the hammer down. Now, you get both.

30-Pin, Too

Like our A3, our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI is still holding onto its heritage via the stock 30-pin iPod connector.

And the VW fix is actually worse...

See that. That's VW's solution for those of us who've upgraded our iPhones at some point during the last 3 years. (There's also one for a mini USB or a USB, but I haven't tried those, so we'll ignore them for a bit.) Ignoring the fact that this is much worse than a simple USB input (of which our Silverado had 5), notice anything bad about this? Like the shape? Like that it's shaped like a key. Which is designed to help you exert force to turn a lock.

The trouble is, you don't want your Lightning plug to act like a key. You don't want to lever it and open anything. VW apparently thought of that because the plastic casing they use for the adapter isn't as well glued together as an iPhone. Check the photo. That happened at least a dozen times during my time with a short term GTI.

Like with the Audi, for our long-term car, we just went with the Apple solution which is cheaper, breaks less, is longer and still offers full functionality. Until VW finally gets on the ball and replaces their proprietary port and its myriad specialty cables, it's the best solution for iPhone users.

GTI Generation Spotter Guide

There have been a couple of times now when I've seen a GTI on the road and thought: "Is that a new GTI or an old GTI?" The styling changes for the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI are pretty subtle. I've put together a few pictures to show the differences.

The first photo is our new, seventh-generation 2015 GTI, of course. Next is a 2014 VW GTI (photo courtesy of Volkswagen of America). It's a Driver's Edition, so it has the special "Laguna" wheels, but the photo is an effective close-up of the sixth-generation car's front-end styling.

Here's our old long-term 2010 GTI with the more common "Detroit" wheels.

Now here's our 2015 car from the back.

And here's our 2010 from the back.

Not the easiest to tell the difference with just a quick glance, don't you think? I've decided to identify the 2015 car I'd look for the wheels, of course, but also the black-painted lower bumper slats in front and the upturned taillights in back.

Highly Recommended

A few days ago, I was talking with a friend of mine who's been thinking about buying a new car. Actually, he's been thinking for months now, and I've heard his whole thought process during that time that has run the gamut from a Honda CR-V to a used Jeep Wrangler to a brand new luxury sport sedan like the BMW 3 Series or Lexus IS 350.

Anyway, I think he's finally getting closer to the point when he's going to buy a car to replace his old Lexus IS. That sense of urgency could also have something to do with the fact that he and his wife just had their first child. He's got a lot to think about. So I simplified it for him. I said, "Just buy a 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI."

Granted, I'm very fond of our long-term GTI, so I was keen on talking up its virtues. But in a lot of ways it could be an ideal car for him. Similar to what you get from a luxury sport sedan, the GTI is sporty to drive thanks to its punchy turbocharged engine and sharp handling. And it's classy, with upscale interior materials and handsome exterior styling.

Yet there's some practicality here, too, which should appeal to the new dad side of him. The GTI isn't as useful as a small crossover, of course, but its backseat is decently sized and the hatchback design opens up more cargo carrying possibilities than you'd get from a sedan. The GTI is fuel efficient, too, with an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in combined driving.

And here's the best part: With the $10,000 or more he'd save on buying a GTI instead of a BMW 3 Series or Lexus IS 350, he'd have enough to buy that used Jeep Wrangler he wants, too. Now that was an eye-opener for him. (I just didn't have the heart to tell him that he'd probably just have to spend that money on diapers and college funds instead.)

I'm curious to learn what he's going to get. But I'll be pretty excited if he goes with a new GTI.

Fuel Economy Update for December

Our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI was driven more than 1,500 miles in the month of December. It made seven trips to the gas station, with one of those fills being the lowest mpg to date.

The GTI averaged about 25.4 mpg in December, which is right on par with the lifetime mpg of 25.5, but still lower than the EPA combined estimate of 28 mpg.

One fill last month, at 21.2 mpg, was the worst tank to date for the GTI. This didn't get us any closer to the EPA number.

The GTI is only a couple of months old in our fleet, so there's plenty of time to hit better fuel numbers.

Here's how the rest of the numbers shaped out:

Worst Fill MPG: 21.1 
Best Fill MPG: 30.2 
Average Lifetime MPG: 25.5
EPA MPG Rating: 28 Combined (25 City/33 Highway) 
Best Range: 330.8 
Current Odometer: 4,195 miles

Prefer Austin to Detroit

We still have plenty of time to form our collective take on this new-generation GTI. Our former 2010 model had fans and detractors. Most of us liked its athletic character and slick gearbox. Our more hardcore drivers hated its understeering softness and stability control intervention when really given the wood.

There will be much deliberation on our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI in the days ahead, especially how it ultimately stacks up against its more pedigreed kin, the Audi A3.

I'm just happy for the new 18-inch "Austin" wheels, which seem a pretty immediate visual upgrade over the "Detroit" cheese graters on our 2010 model. The Austin wheels remind me of a shuriken, a throwing star, and seem much cooler than the flower petal look of the old wheels.

Good Cargo Hauler

Christmas arrived in the form of a 60-lb, big-as-a-house photo printer from B&H Photo and Video in NYC. It presented the perfect opportunity to test the cargo-hauling capabilities of the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI. The seats flipped down easily and the cargo cover/shelf was simple to unsnap. Load height was perfect, too. And there was some room to spare on the side and front.

It's not a UPS van, but our GTI is a nice way to tote stuff around during a package-heavy time of year. And doubtless more fun to drive.

2015 North American Car of the Year

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI has been named the 2015 North American Car of the Year.

Michael Horn, CEO of the Volkswagen Group of America said, "Volkswagen is thrilled to start 2015 with the Golf and Golf GTI taking home the incredible North American Car of the Year title. This award highlights our achievements and hard work in the past year, and we are confident that the Golf family will continue to pave the way for the brand in the year ahead."

Fifty-seven automotive journalists from the United States and Canada, who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and Web sites, voted in this year's ballot, including Edmunds.com's VP of Editorial Scott Oldham, Deputy Editor Erin Riches-Wong, and News Correspondent Anita Leinert.

The Golf beat out two other finalists for this year's award, the Ford Mustang and Hyundai Genesis. The jurors voted for the vehicles based on innovation, comfort, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

According to Erin, "Volkswagen's family of hatchbacks represents one of the best values available for less than $30,000. The GTI, in particular, is a steal, because you're basically getting a luxury car — with equal parts performance, comfort and utility — for the price of a family car. We should all run out and buy one before VW rethinks its bargain pricing strategy on this car."

The 2015 Ford F-150 won truck of the year, beating out the Chevrolet Colorado and Lincoln MKC. Look for the F-150 to join our long-term fleet in the coming weeks.

Which car and truck would have gotten your vote?

Audio and Touchscreen Review

Our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI is the top trim level, also known as Autobahn. The Autobahn (and the mid-level SE) comes with a nine-speaker Fender audio system. This system is paired to the same 5.8-inch touchscreen you get in the standard GTI, and while that may seem a bit small by today's standards, it functions pretty well.

The GTI's touchscreen and the Fender audio system are excellent. The screen responds quickly to commands, scrolls quickly through songs and radio stations, and it catalogs my iPhone's 5,000 songs immediately, every time I plug it in. We've experienced an issue with the radio resetting in the past, but when I've got my phone hooked up, everything works just fine.

For audio quality, there are the three typical adjustments: bass, mids and treble. Like the screen, it's a basic setup that works well. At the highest volume levels, there is some very minor distortion of sound quality, but bass is strong and when I listen to the stereo at any reasonable volume things are generally crisp and clear.

There are a few drawbacks to note. The resolution on the touchscreen is underwhelming, with lots of pixelated graphics and a system that seems more MS-DOS than it does 21st century tech, but the aesthetic doesn't really interfere with the touch screen's commands. Also, I'd like more tactile buttons and knobs. The touchscreen is easy to use, but I just prefer physical controls.

Overall, though, this system is functional and worthwhile. If I had to choose between this system and the finicky MyFord Touch out of our old long-term Focus ST, it's the GTI system hands-down.  

Bum Seat Heater

Our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI doesn't have the plaid seats it should. Instead, VW cruelly makes GTI buyers choose between the awesome throwback and cloth-lined buckets dual-zone climate control and Navigation. Seat heating, however, is available on both* and an absolute must have.

Except when it doesn't work. Like on the passenger seat of our GTI.

Sure, the heated seats start off okay, but then, just about 5 minutes into use, turn off. The passenger reported no discomfort — the seats weren't overheating — when the switch-off happened, it just happened. No luck turning them back on, either. Only after a full restart did the seat heater turn back on. And then, just a few minutes in, it went out again.

I repeated the test without a passenger and the heater stayed on for my entire 30+ minute drive so this looks to be a faulty sensor. We'll get this one looked at during the next service.

*Note: A previous version of this incorrectly indicated that heating was not available on the cloth seats. That was not correct. Heating is available on the awesome plaid or on the leather.

Useful Cargo Space

Our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI has a roomy cargo area. With the rear seats folded, it has 52.7 cubic feet of cargo space, which is more than our long-term Mazda 3 hatchback (47.1 cu.ft.) or the Ford Focus ST (44.8 cu.ft). Smaller hot hatches like the four-door Mini Cooper S (40.7 cu.ft.) and the 2015 Nissan Juke Nismo RS (35.9 cu.ft.) have even less. The interior measurements aren't the only reason the GTI is a better candidate for cargo duty, though.

Inside the Focus ST, the rear seats don't fold completely flat and the wheel wells seem to intrude on rear cargo space a bit. While the GTI's rear seats don't fold completely flat, either, they do go further down than the Ford's seats. The Mazda 3 is a closer match for maximum space, but the roofline slopes inward towards the top of the cabin, which likely accounts for some of the 5 cubic feet of difference between it and the GTI. And if you're stacking a lot in the back or you're carrying anything tall, that's important. In this case, it's a win for the boxier VW GTI.

If you're looking for the most cargo space (and probably the most useful cargo space) in the hot hatchback segment, the GTI is the one to choose.

Moving Day

One of my best friends recently bought his first house, and I offered a bit of extra muscle to move his considerable amount of stuff to the new place. Muscle being a euphemism, as lifting anything heavier than an empty hamster cage triggers a medically alarming amount of perspiration and ends with my damaged body crumpled in the fetal position with a slipped disc. I had the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI that weekend, and it doesn't exactly have enough storage space to move an entire apartment. However, I was still able to take boxes and assorted items with the rear seats folded.

With couches and beds stored in a trailer towed by a GMC Sierra, I was running support in the hatchback. The GTI can store plenty of assorted odds and ends if you're careful about packing it. The 60-40 rear seats drop by squeezing a small plastic release on top of each seat. It's a shame they don't fold flat, but the angle isn't too severe. I fit a few boxes, fan, tool set and television in the back. Miscellaneous computer equipment and the GTI's cargo cover rode shotgun.

Newest and Oldest

The original GTI, the Rabbit GTI, (the Golf was initially called the Rabbit in the U.S.) debuted in the states for 1983. It was something of a landmark car, as it started the "hot hatch" segment and put to rest the belief that driving a small, practical and economical car had to be a snooze fest.

Being something of a car trivia buff, I wondered how our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI compared to the original in terms of size and performance. What a difference three decades makes...

*1983 GTI specs taken from Road and Track, November 1982

Vegas Road Trip Impressions

I've been the designated reporter to cover the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas for the past three years. I took a plane the first time, caught a ride the second time and this year I drove.

I didn't get a good first impression of our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI the first time I drove it, so I figured I'd take it on this trip to give it a second chance.

The last GTI I drove was a former long-term car and I remember really liking it. But it was a manual and that was about four years ago. I should note that I may be biased toward that sixth generation Golf, since I have a TDI of the same vintage. So maybe it's me looking back with rose-colored goggles on the last GTI, or maybe it's me being so familiar with that Golf that I regard any change as bad.

Sadly, I'm still down on this car.  I don't like driving the GTI in the city. It rides too rough for my tastes, for starters. The DSG transmission has a fair amount of lag from a stop, and it shifts too soon in Normal mode. Sport mode is too high-strung.

Once I got the GTI on the open road however, the transmission and stiff suspension weren't issues. There was plenty of power to pass slower cars and climb steep grades.

I averaged about 30.4 mpg on the way to Vegas and 31.9 mpg on the way back. The outbound tank set the car's record for longest range (333.3 miles). The return-trip fill was notable for having the best mpg to date. This was even more impressive since I had an average speed of about 77 mph on the way back. But despite the new record, our GTI still fell short of the EPA's estimated 33 mpg for the highway.

If it were my money, well, I'd probably get another TDI. But if someone asked me to make a recommendation, I'd say buy a regular Golf 1.8T.  It costs less, has almost as much power, is more fuel efficient and features a cushier ride.

I'm probably out on an island with my opinions, but what do you think?  

Another Use for S Mode

Our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI is equipped with the DSG dual-clutch automated-manual transmission. While it's not as clever as Porsche's similar PDK transmission (still the benchmark), VW's DSG does a very good job with smooth, nearly seamless shifts in typical driving and rapid shifts when things get going. The one scenario where it exhibits some less-than-optimal behavior is bumper-to-bumper traffic. When in Drive, the car sometimes starts from a standstill in second gear, often short-shifts (to the next, higher gear) at a very low rpm just as I go to the brake and once there and is loath to downshift when I squeeze either the brake or the throttle.

Luckily, there's a Sport mode which works wonders. As its label indicates, it's meant to make the transmission more responsive to aggressive driving, but the benefit here is that it holds gears longer than it would otherwise, eliminating all those short shifts, and as a result, it also provides far more engine braking when I removed my foot from the throttle.

Yes, I know I could simply shift the GTI manually (and I often do), but two hours is a long time in traffic and if the car can sort it out for me, I'll let it be.

Key Card Slot

I'm certain that if this 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI were my personal car, this slot would permanently house my key card that actuates the office building's parking arm. It's snug-fitting and quite deep, nearly enveloping the entire card, so that there's not a chance of the card popping out or getting in the way. I'm guessing those other two slots are for fitty-cent worth of quarters. Right?

Normally, my parking-garage key card resides in my brief case that I carry from car to car, but it just happened that I had the GTI for a couple days in a row and so I tried out the slot. I know it doesn't hide the car completely from prying eyes, and I don't know why, but it seems cooler and more secure than those flimsy tabs we often find on the backside of sun visors.

Fuel Economy Update for January

Our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI hatchback has been with us for three and a half months, during which time it has accumulated 6,083 miles.

This month 1,819 miles were added, the most so far by a thin margin. January's average fuel economy works out to 26.4 mpg, which is a welcome bump over the three previous reporting periods: 25.6, 25.7 and 25.3 mpg. It was enough to raise the GTI's overall average to 25.8 mpg.

That's directionally encouraging, but the GTI is still coming up short of its 28 mpg EPA combined rating. Maybe things will pick up as it accumulates more road trip miles.

Our VW GTI did venture out on one road trip this month, albeit a short one. Ron Montoya drove it to CES (the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas. On the way home he set new marks for Best Range (333.8 miles) and Best Fill (31.9 mpg). But there's still room for further improvement because the VW's estimated highway fuel economy is 33 mpg.

Ron's efforts were offset somewhat by a new worst fill of 19.4 mpg. Another staffer apparently stuck to local city streets and didn't venture onto any freeways. It didn't do much overall damage (and probably shouldn't qualify for worst fill status) because it was only a 4.279-gallon top-up after just 82.8 miles.

Worst Fill MPG: 19.4 (down from 21.1)
Best Fill MPG: 31.9 (up from 30.2)
Average Lifetime MPG: 25.8 (up from 25.5)
EPA MPG Rating: 28 Combined (25 City/33 Highway)
Best Range: 333.8 (up from 330.8)
Current Odometer: 6,083

A Driver's Car Once Again

I drove our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI for the first time this week. And, for the first time in several generations, I'm excited about a new GTI. This, it seems, is a car developed by those who like to drive for those who like to drive. It represents a shift in philosophy for a car that was the foundation of an entire movement but had most definitely lost its way.

But this GTI? It's for real.

I've yet to drive this car genuinely hard, but it doesn't matter. There's character here that, even in mild road driving, demonstrates the purposefulness necessary for getting after it. First, its suspension isn't soft. That means some people will notice the ride quality. Big deal. Don't like the ride? Get the base Golf. Plus, I'd argue that this isn't even a real compromise. It's noticeable if you're the type to notice. Most people aren't that type.

There's real response from every control. The steering actually makes the car turn. The brakes make it stop without feeling like a marshmallow under foot. And the DSG transmission makes few compromises, especially when driven with purpose. The engine is both powerful and flexible.

This isn't just a new GTI because it's on a new platform. No, this is a new GTI because someone at VW chose to take seriously the task of making it a driver's car. I can't wait to discover how far they went.

Traffic Alerts That Cry Wolf

So there I was, exiting the freeway in our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI hatchback near Los Angeles International airport. I was on my way to a parking structure before catching a flight to Barcelona, Spain to drive the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata.

All of a sudden an alert popped up. There were two of them, in fact: one on the small information screen wedged between the gauges and another covering whatever had been showing on the large central audio/navigation screen. The larger one wouldn't go away until I acknowledged it by pressing "OK" on the touchscreen.

Apparently there was a wrong-way driver on I-5 at Cannon Street.

But I was a dozen miles from Interstate 5's nearest tangent point. And even though I'd heard of Cannon Street, I couldn't place it. I looked it up after I parked the VW and unloaded my luggage.

Cannon Street is in Carlsbad, California. It's the Legoland exit in northern San Diego County. In other words, the alert referred to something going on 93 miles south of my position. Some 4 million people live between here and there.

What a waste of my time and attention. This car has navigation. It couldn't issue the warning if it didn't. It knows where I am. It knows the distance to the threat. And it knows I'm not neither headed in that direction nor traveling on the road in question.

A fluke, you say? Apparently our Audi A3, a close relation to this V-dub, has done this, too. But I'm not done with my GTI rant just yet.

Check this out. This was three days later, no more than a half-hour after I cleared customs and got back in the car after returning from Spain.

This wrong-way Joe was 52 miles and four freeways distant in Claremont, Calif., with the whole of the L.A. basin in between.

Or how about this one? This one popped up two days later while I was shaking off the lingering effects of jet lag.

This time I was running errands near my home in Santa Ana while the hazardous driver I simply had to know about RIGHT NOW was causing havoc some 48 miles away in Santa Monica, quite close to Edmunds.com headquarters, as it happens.

I get where this could be a good thing, but I'm not nearly as enthusiastic as those that experienced the same alerts in our Audi A3. At distances such as these, this is utterly useless information. It's nothing but noise. It's like watching a 24-hour news network and allowing your anxiety level to rise based on something happening four states away.

There should be a 5-mile or 10-mile exclusion zone to ensure this type of traffic warning has a fighting chance of being relevant. It would be fine if I had guidance active and the events in question were somewhere up ahead along my actual route. But even then, 50 or 100 miles ahead seems like too much in the big city.

Our GTI makes me want to find and deploy the "off" button, which is a shame. But I've got zoned-out phone-talkers and head-nodding texters in the next lane to worry about. Don't bother me with a hazard that's not even in the same county.

Good Navigation System Interface

One of the first functions I came to appreciate in our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI is its navigation system's interface. This is a small detail, but it's one I always notice. First, the zoom function is accomplished using a knob. Knobs are always better than buttons, especially touchscreen buttons.

More importantly, zooming in is accomplished by turning clockwise. Zooming out happens when the knob is turned counter-clockwise. Small detail, but one that I find very intuitive, like driving in a screw. Many German cars zoom out with a clockwise turn and I can't get my head around it.

Superb Seats

Our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI has good seats. Really good seats. Possibly you remember the wildly over-bolstered seats in our 2013 Ford Focus ST? They were polarizing. Some people loved the support they offered, but many, like me, thought it possible to offer similar support without such aggressive bolsters.

That's where the GTI's seats shine. They provide the necessary lateral support without such ridiculous bolsters. My preferred driving position in the Focus literally made it hard to squeeze between the steering wheel and the seatback side bolster when entering and exiting. In fact, I have a similar problem in our 2015 Ford Mustang GT. It's a Ford seat thing, I guess. Well, that and I like a fairly vertical seatback. Weird, I'll admit.

Not so in the GTI. Its seats let me have both my driving position and the lateral support I want.

Surprisingly Spacious Rear Seats

Considering its small footprint, our 2015 Volkswagen GTI packs a lot of space into the cabin. It's not obvious from the driver seat, but sit in back and you realize there's enough room for an average-sized adult to sit comfortably.

A quick check of the numbers shows that the GTI has about the same amount of legroom as the Mazda 3 and two-inches more than the Ford Focus hatchback. All three hatches are similar when it comes to shoulder room, but the GTI comes out on top when it comes to headroom, if only by half an inch.

The seats themselves are just average. There's some contouring to the outboard positions while the center seat is dead flat. Nice to see a set of rear vents, too, as they typically get left out of cars this size. It's a nice, usable setup for a car that isn't likely to carry rear passengers all that often.

Why Can't I Enjoy the Convenience of the DSG?

There is almost nothing I don't like about seeing our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI in my driveway. My husband and I spent a couple of years with an MkVI VW GTI (base-model 2011, United Gray Metallic, three-pedal setup), and we were sad to part ways with it. With all the improvements on the seventh-generation car, there's no reason to think I wouldn't like it even more.

Of course, soon after getting behind the wheel of our long-term GTI for the first time, I got right into a pocket of stop-and-go traffic. As Chris wrote, the car's six-speed, dual-clutch automated manual transmission (the DSG) can be bothersome in these situations when left in D.

Switching to S mode is a reasonable solution, but then when traffic picks up again, you've got to switch back to D because S locks out overdrive and has the engine revving needlessly at a 65-mph cruise. I could shift it manually, but if this is the "automatic-transmission" GTI, why should I have to?

I guess what I really want is another automatic-type shift mode, something like Sport lite that would provide the hastened responses in slow traffic but still go into 6th gear without input from me. Basically, I want a mode that would more closely mirror my own shift points in a GTI with a conventional manual transmission.

As usual, I'm overthinking it. I should just get the three-pedal version like Monticello said and let others just enjoy the convenience of the DSG. And I do understand that it's a convenience. For my father, it borders on a personal luxury, as he bought his DSG-equipped GTI (another MkVI) after 20 years in a 1992 Civic VX hatch. Near as I could tell, power brakes were the only convenience that little car had.

The DSG (and other automated manual transmissions) is just a different way of engaging with a car. I think I would be more excited about it if I hadn't grown up around manual transmissions or wasn't as interested in doing my own shifting. If you consider the rapidity and smoothness of its gear changes when you're moving along at a brisk pace, it really is impressive and the compromises I mentioned seem small.

In the GTI, it's also a matter of perception. In my mind, this will always be a hot hatch for the young at heart, and I associate that youthfulness with a love of clutch pedals (which is maybe a bit ridiculous in 2015). I find myself much more accepting of VW's automated manual transmission and its idiosyncrasies in our Audi A3 just because it's a sedan.

Manual or DSG?

While I think it is certainly a good idea that the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI offers an automatic transmission option, there is absolutely no way I would ever consider getting it. Although VW's DSG dual-clutch automated manual is a good, reasonably sporty automatic, it is still an automatic. With it, our long-term GTI just feels like a slightly faster Golf with a significantly worse ride.

At least in "normal" driving. Perhaps if I lived at the top of a mountain and would appreciate the lightning-fast shifts and lessened attention required to change gears (therefore allowing for greater attention put toward not steering off a cliff), DSG would pair with the GTI's sharper handling to provide a daily, get-the-blood-pumping drive. I just recently had that sort of drive in a PDK-equipped Porsche Boxster, which proved there are instances where an automatic is the way to go.

For the GTI, however, I remain firmly in the camp of the traditional, six-speed manual as equipped in a short-term GTI test car I drove recently. When driven as most people do around town or on the highway, it provides that extra, ample dollop of constant engagement that the GTI needs to warrant buying one over a regular old Golf (which has a 170-horsepower peach of a turbocharged engine, by the way). Plus, it is just about the easiest manual transmission to drive on the planet. Yes, even in traffic. Clutch effort and engagement is spot on, if a bit long in travel, and the shifter glides through its gates with ease. If anything, it errs on side of daily driving rather than performance.

In other words, the manual-equipped GTI made me utterly uninterested in our long-termer. Well, that and the plaid seats. There's absolutely no way I'd get our long termer's plain-old black leather, but that's another blog.

Still the Best Automatic Transmission

Although some members of our staff would like our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI better if it had a manual transmission, I'm fine with its automatic. That's because Volkswagen's Direct Shift Gearbox is one of, if not the best, automatics on the market.

Whether it's in the standard "Drive" mode or the more aggressive "Sport" mode, it delivers crisp, well-timed shifts that make the four-cylinder engine feel all the more powerful.

Its use of dual clutches to make the transitions from gear to gear gives it a slightly different shift feel compared to normal transmissions. The changes are ultra-quick and so smooth you almost don't notice them sometimes.

I'm on the fence whether I like the standard mode or the sport setting better. There are times when the aggressiveness of the sport setting holds a gear just a bit too long. Unlike most systems, it's truly made for serious canyon carving, not just driving fast in traffic.  Or maybe it's just because the normal shift mode is so good? Either way, it's a solid setup that I would gladly take over the manual shifter any day.

Rear-Facing Convertible Car Seats, An Informal Comparison

Before my daughter was born, a Volkswagen GTI (Mk VI) was going to be our family car. Because she arrived quite a few weeks earlier than we expected, we hadn't yet installed her infant car seat in it to assess the fit. Of course, the car seat fit fine. But due to its shape and our respective heights, my husband and I did not. We said a hasty goodbye to the VW and bought a Mazda 5.

That doesn't mean we don't miss the GTI, nor does it mean we won't buy another one someday. So it was with some excitement that I approached the task of installing our rear-facing convertible car seats in the long-term Mk VII 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI

Ideally, I'd like to have our primary car seat (a Tomy/The First Years True Fit C680 SI, pictured at top) installed in the coveted rear center position. Following up on the conversation thread from my Audi A3 car seat entry, the GTI has four lower latch anchors in the backseat, that is, two for each outboard position. And I did use the innermost LATCH anchors to install the car seat in the center position. Although I've read that my particular car seat allows you to do this, I haven't yet confirmed this in the documentation for my seat, which has been discontinued. And the GTI's owner's manual doesn't get specific about whether this is or isn't OK. (I know that most Britax seats allow it, but clearly, I need to do some more digging.)

But while possible, having this particular seat rear-facing in this position makes life very uncomfortable for both the driver and front passenger. I drove the GTI for about 30 minutes with this setup and just didn't like having my knees so close to the dash from the standpoint of comfort or safety. Notably, this was only possible because our long-term GTI has the DSG automated manual transmission; I couldn't have done this if I had to work a clutch pedal.

So I moved the seat to the rear passenger side.

Doing so really puts the squeeze on the front passenger's legs, whether it's my husband or me.

But as you can see, the car seat is a perfect match for our red GTI's interior. More importantly, it's very easy to get the seat secure, and my daughter was content in the seat.

As usual, I used a pool noodle to get the desired angle for a rear-facing installation. Here's a detail shot of the push-button LATCH connectors on this car seat. They're very easy to use. I also like how VW painted the anchors themselves red. In most other cars, they're unpainted metal and harder to see, especially in a dark interior when your view is partially obstructed by a large car seat.

If you really wanted the 2015 VW GTI to be a family car, though, you'd have to use a smaller convertible car seat. So out came our compact Safety 1st Guide 65. It doesn't fit as well in the rear center position as it did in our A3 sedan. The GTI's front seat-backs appear to be a smidge wider, and although you can wedge the car seat between them, it rubs up against them and limits your ability to adjust the front seats. (Note that I used the LATCH anchors to install the seat in the center, though a seatbelt installation would have worked just as well.)

Nevertheless, for adults of average height like my husband and me, there's ample room to sit comfortably up front. This car seat would definitely be better if you're planning to use the GTI as a family car. Unfortunately, my daughter isn't as comfortable in it and her head flops forward when she falls asleep. So if the GTI was my personal vehicle, I'd either use my gigantic First Years seat or, if I wanted to make things more comfortable for my spouse in the front passenger seat, I'd shop for a car seat with a shorter seat-back.

Armrest Rattle

From the first time I set off in our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI, I heard a rattle. It was coming from somewhere behind me, and would only pop up during travel over bumpy or coarse roads. I figured something was left behind in the cargo area by the previous driver. I'll check it when I stop, I told myself. Naturally, I'd forget about it by time I'd reach my destination, only to be reminded again when I got back to driving the GTI.

When I finally did peruse the cargo area, I found no extraneous objects back there and that all was in order. It was later that I found the source of the rattle (it should be obvious, what with the headline and lead photo...) and understood why I was probably the first on staff to notice it.

Yes, the flip-down backseat armrest rattles when it's deployed. "No problem," you're thinking, "just drive with it flipped up. And when someone's in the backseat, their arm will prevent it from rattling. Duh. Seriously, dude, this isn't hard. What a n00b! These Edmunds editors are such lamebrains. I mean, first this Magrath dude who, well, don't even get me started on him, and then they insult my beloved horse lasers, and you got Monticello's bike all over the place, and... "

Where was I? Oh, the rattle. See, I always flip down the backseat armrest in cars thusly equipped because I stow my laptop backpack on the backseat (other editors apparently don't do this). I don't want it on the (potentially dirty) floor or bouncing around in the cargo hold. I've found that the armrest prevents the backpack from sliding around during my commute. If I'm planning more, uh, vigorous driving, I'll buckle it in, too. But for normal commute driving the armrest-only approach works great, and the backpack stays put unless some knucklehead forces me to do a full ABS-activated stop.

tl;dr, the GTI's armrest rattles.

Fuel Economy Update for February

The staff piled on about 1,200 miles during the shortest month of the year, and the running fuel economy average for our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI ticked up wee-bit from 25.8 to 26.0 mpg. At this rate, it looks doubtful we will ever achieve the EPA's estimated 28 mpg combined unless the car goes on several more highway-intensive road trips.

Also, it appears the car's self-reported "Extend. Period" fuel economy runs a bit optimistic.

Worst Fill MPG: 19.4 (unchanged)
Best Fill MPG: 31.9 (unchanged)
Average Lifetime MPG: 26.0 (up from 25.8) 
EPA MPG Rating: 28 Combined (25 City/33 Highway)
Best Range: 333.8 (unchanged)
Current Odometer: 7,318 (up from 6,083)

Buy One Already

Welcome to scenic Hacienda Heights, California, home of my accountant. It's where I happened to be on my most recent evening with our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI, and daylight was fading fast, so I snapped this gem of a photo. Please enjoy.

Please also know that like the MkVI VW Golf GTI, this seventh-generation hatchback is really a wonderful car and probably priced too low for what you get. Although, our Autobahn-trim car came in at $31,515, which is not unreasonable but not cheap, either. For maximum value, I think an S or SE model with the Lighting package (and probably the Performance Pack, and if you're going that far, probably also the adaptive suspension dampers on the SE), would be the way to go.

Make your own choice on transmission (three-pedal or DSG) and door count (2 or 4), but seriously, consider buying one of these at some point during this generation.

I always liked driving our Candy White 2010 GTI, but the 2015 model has this extra edge to it that makes me want to go find a good, twisty-turny road every time I get behind the wheel. In the 2010 GTI, I just wanted to drive briskly on the wide open highway.

The steering is so much better in this new Volkswagen GTI. To my hands, it's quicker, livelier and ably delivers the impression that this car is more interested in changing direction than its predecessor.

I also like this combination of suspension tune and wheel/tire setup. It's not an apples-to-apples comparison with our old GTI, of course, because this 2015 GTI has summer tires (225/40R18 92Y Bridgestone Potenza S001), whereas our 2010 had all-season Dunlops.

So no, it's not fair to compare, but to me, there has been no real decline in ride quality. It's still comfortably firm. Yet, as Brent and Josh have written, this GTI feels much more capable and aggressive going around a turn. I wish I had more time to take it on my favorite back roads, but really, this GTI is fun no matter what kind of driving you're doing.

I'd still like to try out the Performance Pack and the adaptive suspension option before building my own 2015 VW GTI, but for now I'm envisioning a four-door S (because you can't get plaid seats in an SE) with Night Blue Metallic paint, the conventional manual gearbox and the optional bi-xenons parked in my driveway.

Oh Nuts, We Hate When This Happens

Usually this type of rear-wiper malady belongs to an SUV or crossover, but our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI hatchback also has a rear-wiper. Shouldn't that missing cover have been robust enough to withstand a car wash? Next time we run the car in for scheduled maintenance, we'll see how much it cost to replace.

Anybody else out there with a GTI missing one of these?

Useful Fuel Station Information

Are you one of those people who refuse to refuel your vehicle until it's nearly empty? I'm sure there is a well-know personality type like this, but I am not that guy.

Nonetheless, I found the fuel gauge in our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI getting low and this message popped up on the touchscreen: "Warning: Fuel tank almost empty. Do you want to find a gas station nearby?" Grammar aside, that's pretty cool. I was close to home and knew precisely where they were, but clicked "Search" just to see how accurate the list would be.

Yup, those are the ones I had hoped the car would show me, but if I were in an unfamiliar part of town, this could be really handy, no?

Feels Expensive Because It Is

Like many of our editors on staff, I like the overall feel of our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI, from the way the doors close to the precise steering to the crisp shifts from the DSG automatic transmission. This GTI is clearly a step above your average compact hatchback.

And it should be, after all it had a sticker price of $31,515. That's quite a bit more than your average hatchback. I'm as guilty as anybody when it comes to thinking of this car as a mid-priced hatch when it's not. Our last Mazda 3 was fully loaded and it still cost $4,000 less than this GTI.

Which would I prefer? I'm not sure just yet. I think I would have to agree with Erin that this car would be even more impressive if it was optioned in a way that brought the price down significantly. Much of the overall goodness would remain, it just wouldn't have the fancy options. I've got a feeling I wouldn't miss that stuff very much.

Audio Off and Camera On

This shouldn't be as rare as it is, but the rearview camera in our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI test car remains active despite shutting off the audio unit. I discovered this because I was listening to AM radio as I entered Edmunds.com headquarters underground parking garage, didn't want to hear the static any longer and shut off the audio. More often than you might realize, this can also shut off the camera's display (if it uses the same display as the audio unit). Not so in the GTI: The black screen came back to life as I slipped the shifter into R and backed into a parking stall. Nice.

Does your rearview camera still operate when your audio system is shut off?

L.A. Freeway Ride

Stereotypes have a basis in reality, and certainly L.A. traffic is not an exaggerated thing. Every once in a while (or for about 19 seconds at a time), there's a moment of free-flowing traffic on the notoriously choppy 405 freeway that enables a quick hand-held video from behind the wheel. Click through to see how our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI fared on the thoroughfare.

Sorry for all the purple debris on the lens (my phone has since been replaced), but you get the idea. Our beloved GTI's ride is certainly on the firm side, but it's not what we'd call un-livable and we certainly think it's a reasonable trade-off for the car's excellent handling. [Interesting note: Upon uploading this video, YouTube generated the following observation, "We detected your video may be shaky. Would you like us to stabilize it?"]

Fuel Economy Update for March

March was a record-breaking month for our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Dan Edmunds hit a new best range on a single tank of gas, with the GTI miserly sipping 91 octane for 376.5 miles. Then videographer Rich borrowed the Volkswagen for a highway-heavy road trip and achieved 34.5 mpg, the best fill MPG so far. The trips constituted the bulk of the 1,620 miles traveled in March, good enough to increase its overall fuel economy from 26.0 to 26.2 mpg.

Worst Fill MPG: 19.4 mpg
Best Fill MPG: 34.5 mpg
Average Lifetime MPG: 26.2 mpg
EPA MPG Rating: 28 Combined (25 City/33 Highway)
Best Range: 376.5 miles
Current Odometer: 9,119 miles

Impromptu Desert Coffee Run

At 4:00 am I found myself wide awake for no apparent reason. I tried to will myself back to sleep, but it was no use. So I fumbled around in the dark and grabbed the keys to our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI from the nightstand.

A couple of minutes later I was backing out of the driveway with coffee and donuts in mind.

I should have known it was far too early for my usual spot to be open, so I got back on the empty freeway and continued east. I glanced down at the GTI’s fuel gauge: full tank.

With no particular destination in mind, I called up a favorite podcast and sent it out through the VW’s speakers via Bluetooth connection and settled in.

I’m a big fan of this latest generation of Golf, and this new GTI seems to be the best iteration of this trailblazing “hot hatch” that I can remember. I can’t point to one single attribute that does it for me. It’s more or less the whole package.

For one, the seating position is about perfect for my 6-foot 2-inch frame. I don’t have to crank the seat all the way down to have good headroom or an expansive view, but I can lower myself down onto the deck if I want. Wherever I choose to sit, the telescopic steering pulls back far enough to allow my feet to stretch comfortably out to the pedals.

And that steering wheel tells me exactly what I need to know about how the tires and road are getting along, yet it never gets too talkative or insistent. Likewise, the chassis feels flat and settled without coming across as stiff and unyielding. It just feels right, whether I’m just putzing along or trying to make time on a winding back road.

And Volkswagen has figured out how to carve the Golf’s historically blocky shape into something that’s cool, but still manages to deliver a voluminous cargo hold without making the whole thing come across as a small-scale delivery vehicle.

Exactly none of this was going through my mind as I departed the outlying suburbs and passed between the windmills on the way towards Palm Springs. My podcast episode over, I found myself thinking, 'I wonder what Linda and Bill are up to this morning?'

Linda and Bill live in the isolated but stunningly beautiful desert community of Borrego Springs, some 90 miles as the crow flies from where I was at that moment. But crows don’t generally find themselves driving east on Interstate 10 in the general direction of Coachella and the Salton Sea. It would be another 125 miles before I got there.

I didn’t know for sure that they’d be home, but desert people tend to be morning people because that’s when the wildlife is out and the weather is most pleasant. I called about 15 minutes before I rolled into town. “Hey, you want to grab some coffee?”

“Where the heck are you, Dan?”

“Near the edge of town at the abandoned gas station.”

“We’ve got a pot brewing already. Come on over.”

I found them with slightly bemused faces on their back porch, newspaper in hand, with the morning light of the desert brightening in front of them. They had just returned from their usual early morning hike.

I gratefully accepted a cup of joe and spent a few minutes explaining my surprise appearance. We chatted about the upcoming Long Beach Grand Prix and my daughter’s progress toward getting her driver’s license. After about thirty minutes, we said our goodbyes and I climbed back into the GTI.

The eastern San Diego County back roads that lead home from Borrego Springs are some of my favorites. They’re also the perfect environment in which to enjoy the well-balanced handling of a sporty compact like the GTI.

And it starts not more than one mile from their front door with highway S22, a twisting and visually stunning two-lane grade that winds up from the desert floor to a high plateau over the span of 11 memorable miles. After that comes a gorgeous stretch of the somewhat less sinuous state highway 79 that eventually hooks up with civilization and the freeway system in Temecula.

I arrived home just before noon, my impromptu 327-mile coffee run complete. When I rolled into my local station, there were 376.5 miles on the GTI’s trip odometer, including 50 miles that were already there from driving home from work the night before. It took exactly 12.115 gallons to fill the tank, which works out to 31.1 mpg.

I’m still not sure what go into me, but our 2015 Volkswagen GTI was a big reason why I kept on going when I saw the closed sign hanging in the window of my local coffee-and-donut place.

Thanks For the Tip, But I'm Good

As an avid left-foot braker and habitual jack rabbit starter, I first want to apologize for my actions. Surely they have an adverse effect on a vehicle's fuel mileage.

But most of all, I'd like to thank our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI for the tip.

Although I will not modify my behavior, I appreciate the effort.

The Best GTI Yet

Years ago we had a 2010 GTI in our fleet. Certain editors were none too impressed by its non-defeatable stability control, soft reflexes and lame all-season tires. Another editor thought said editors were nuts.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago and one of the dissenters of the earlier GTI, Mr. Jacquot, seems to have done an about-face after driving our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI.

I was intrigued. Does the new GTI truly address the concerns levied upon the earlier car? To find out, I drove it.

It's still an ideal daily driver. Lots of comfort, headroom, civility. The ride has been firmed up ever so incrementally and the brake pedal has more starch in it, though it's still not as firm as I'd like to see in a performance-oriented car (see: Porsche). Still, directionally better. The chassis is poised and reasonably taut, but never punishing.

As for handling, there's now less soul-crushing terminal understeer in this GTI than before. Thumbs up since our car is equipped with summer tires. Most importantly, the stability control is less panic-stricken in its desire to snub spirited driving. Instead, the new stability control has two settings, normal and sport (still no "off", but this is less of an issue now).

Sport mode turns off traction control and attempts to maintain path accuracy by selectively braking the inside wheel or wheels. It's pretty effective at that. In the bargain you get handling that feels, to me, quite synthetic, as the stability control system's "adjustments" are heavy-handed and obvious.

Still, the new GTI is a better driver's car than the outgoing one. It's still not, and probably will never be, a handler in the vein of an MX-5 or an FR-S by dint of its front-wheel drive layout, yet it has more daily driver-related virtues than those cars. Pulls harder, too. It's the best GTI yet.

At the same time, I continue to wonder what would be so terrible about VW simply fitting to the GTI a proper mechanical limited-slip differential and fully-defeatable stability control. As it turns out, VW offers a Performance Package for the GTI that includes the former, but not the latter. We wanted to equip our long-term GTI thusly, but the package was not yet available when we built it. 

Returns Best MPG on the Road to Joshua Tree

For my girlfriend's birthday, I took her to Palm Springs for the weekend. As a video producer, I wanted to video the experience, but she would have none of it. What's the saying: what goes on during a road trip should be haphazardly remembered through the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI long-term blog?

Getting out of Los Angeles is always a chore. You expect bumper-to-bumper traffic anytime you want to get on the road and leaving Santa Monica at 11:30 on a Friday afternoon was no exception. 

But with the GTI, I had an unexpected weapon.

When any gap in traffic or chance to pass some half-asleep motorist presented itself, I fully utilized the transmission's sport setting. Acceleration was so effortless, it seemed like the GTI did the work for me, easily cruising past any mechanical cholesterol clogging the eastbound Interstate 10.

When we hit West Covina, about 20 miles east of downtown L.A., traffic thinned out to levels that didn't resemble an exodus from zombie attack. That's when the GTI hit its stride. To me, the GTI feels solidly built and connected to the road. It feels just as engaging darting around traffic as it does cruising down an open stretch of highway (open stretches that pair nicely with a great driving album, "Lost In a Dream" by the War on Drugs, loaded on my iPhone library, and which easily and intuitively synced with the GTI via Bluetooth). 

As a regular midsize SUV driver, I admit I pre-judged the tiny-looking GTI, thinking it might send me into an attack of claustrophobia before leaving downtown, and have me leaping from the car and breathing into a paper bag while running nude on the freeway. But my fears were unfounded and I have to agree with Ed's assessment on the spaciousness of this hot hatch. I wouldn't feel unconfident putting two other reasonably-sized adult pals in the rear seat.

The touchscreen is also a fine advancement suited to road trips, although the nav system's alerts about a wrong-way driver were alarming. Los Angeles: home to some of America's finest drivers.

Despite being mid-March, it was unseasonably warm in California, even by Palm Springs standards. The mercury registered a pleasant 95 degrees when we saw the first of the area's windfarms. After checking in at the ACE Hotel, we borrowed some bikes and headed into town for lunch, but soon vowed never to make that mistake again. We felt like grilled onions atop an In-N-Out Burger by the end of the ride.

From then on, it was constant sunscreen, cranking the room A/C and frequent visits to the pool. Driving was no different: Windows up, A/C maxed. The next day, we made the steady climb from 487 feet to Joshua Tree National Park's elevation of 2,700 feet. Along the way, we made stops at the Integratron and the Gubler Orchids Nursery.

Even with temps well into the 100s, the GTI never faltered in either power or function. On this highway-heavy trip, we even managed to eke out the best fuel economy of our long-term test so far: 34.5 mpg.

Most of Sunday was spent lounging by the pool until late afternoon, when we pointed the GTI back towards L.A. As soon as we hit the interstate, still 100-plus miles from home, we were swept into an immediate traffic jam. But the cool confines of the GTI, its calm manner in maddening traffic, and some provisions from a nearby In-N-Out allowed us to hang on for the three-hour lurch home.

Ah, Los Angeles, great to be back.  

Last-Gen GTI Has Better Hatch Gate Design

One thing I always liked about our last long-term GTI, the MkVI 2010 Volkswagen GTI, and the 2011 GTI my family subsequently leased, was the double hand-hold on the inside of the hatch gate. Whether you were right- or left-handed, it was easy to get hold of the overhead gate and close it.

Our seventh-generation long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI also has this feature, but the cutouts in the plastic aren't as deep, so the hatch isn't as easy to grab.

My apologies for the shadowy nighttime photos, but my model was only available after 8 p.m. Here his fingers are as far as they'll go into the cutouts of our 2015 GTI's gate. He has no trouble closing it, but the leverage isn't as good compared to the 2011 GTI we had.

I wish I'd taken a photo of the old hatch design (and yes, in daylight) to allow for a better comparison. I'll still take the double handholds over a single grab point any day of the week. My only point here is that this convenience was a little better executed on the previous-generation GTI.
Of course, the old GTI wasn't anywhere near as fun to drive as this car, so it's a matter of priorities.

These Gauges Are Great at Night

Ed already told you how great the gauges are in our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI. I'd like to add that they are particularly stunning at night. I noticed them on the way home from the grocery store this week.

If I was making a list of the top 10 instrument panels in vehicles of any price, our GTI's dials would definitely make the cut.

Sleepy Infotainment Screen

After a run/bike/run workout at O'Neill Regional Park last week in preparation for an upcoming mountain bike duathlon, I stopped into the Trabuco Canyon General Store for a Coke and a Snickers. Negated some of my hard work, yes, but I was tired and hungry.

I was in the store for only a minute or two, but when I got back into our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI and fired it up, the infotainment screen didn't turn on. Worse, as I put the gear selector in reverse, the backup camera didn't come on either. I waited a few seconds, but still nothing from the screen.

And then, yes, I was forced to use my mirrors and even turn my head to look behind me before backing out. The horror!

I don't really care about the backup camera too much, but after a hard workout, I need a country music fix from my iPod. As I drove up Live Oak Road, the screen remained blank.

After a couple minutes with no sign of life, the screen slowly came back. First displaying the VW logo, then lighting up different parts of the infotainment screen, and then finally playing music.

This whole process took several minutes. This occurred a few times to varying degrees over the weekend. A couple of times the screen stayed blank for just a few seconds, but another time it stayed blank for almost the same duration as the Trabuco Canyon episode.

Most of the time, the screen fired right back up without any problem.

I'm not sure what's going on here, but we'll have to ask the dealer to check it out next time we take it in. And to clarify, the backup camera image should display even when the infotainment screen is turned off.

Fuel Economy Update for April - A New Low, A New High

After road trips to popular desert destinations like Borrego Springs, California, and Joshua Tree National Park, at the very end of March, our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI spent most of April in heavy traffic.

In the midst of those 656 miles, we achieved a new low water mark in fuel economy: 15.2 mpg. The rest of our travels netted better numbers though, so the GTI's lifetime average crept up 0.1 mpg to 26.1.

Of course, one of the best things about the seventh-generation Volkswagen GTI is that you don't have to be on a spectacular road trip to enjoy driving it. Daily commutes and just-because runs to the grocery store are their own reward in this car.

Still, we're well shy of the GTI's 28 mpg combined EPA fuel economy rating and we won't be able to fix that putting along in scenic Alhambra, Calif. (as seen in the above photo of the VW refueling). Road trips of significant duration are a must for the next 10,000 miles of our ownership experience.

Worst Fill MPG: 15.2
Best Fill MPG: 34.5
Average Lifetime MPG: 26.1
EPA MPG Rating: 28 Combined (25 City/33 Highway) 
Best Range: 376.5
Current Odometer: 9,621

10,000 Miles and a Return to Form

We've reached the 10,000-mile mark on our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI. Most of us love this new-generation GTI, which is once again hailed as a driver's car. Some feel the ride is a bit too stiff, but hey, it's a rare car that pleases everyone on our staff. 

The GTI has been pretty reliable so far, though not completely trouble-free. The first problem was a faulty passenger seat heater early on. Strangely it would turn itself off about five minutes into use, and then refuse to turn back on without a full restart.

Next, the rear wiper cover fell off when the GTI went through a car wash. Most recently, we noticed the infotainment screen fritzing-out sporadically. Twice, on start-up, the screen stayed blank for several minutes, also eliminating the rearview camera display.

Since we just passed 10,000 miles, the car reminded us via the instrument panel that it needs an oil change pronto. All of the above is on the dealer's to-do list for our next visit.

No Repair for Severely Cut Tire

Was it a debris strike? A half-assed vandalism attempt by a would-be tire slasher? How long has it been like that anyway?

There's no way to tell. The left rear tire is holding air and the pressure is correct, so the TPMS warning light hasn't been triggered. I only found it because the gash and the setting sun happened to converge in the right place, catching my eye as I walked from the hatch to the driver's door of our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Whatever the cause, this tire is a goner. The slash is deep and I can see cut nylon belts down in there. It could come apart suddenly and violently if subjected to too much stress. At least it's a rear tire, largely removed from the bulk of steering, acceleration and braking forces. Because of this I decided I could drive it back to the office.

The GTI is out of service until we get it some new rubber.

Back on the Road With Two New Tires

A severe gash in the tire of our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI was beyond repair. One new Bridgestone Potenza S001 was a given. With more than 10,000 miles on the opposite tire we decided to replace it, too. It wasn't as easy as we anticipated.

We had no reason to believe these tires were hard to locate until we picked up the phone. Both our local Volkswagen dealership and Stokes Tire Pros, our local tire shop, gave us the same story: The tires weren't available for 24 hours.

So we parked the GTI overnight and bought a pair of P225/40R18s from Alberto at Stokes for a price slightly below the dealer's quote. Our car was up on a lift and back in our hands in no time. We held on to the worn tire as a spare should anything similar to come up in the future.

Total Cost: $616.90 (installed)

Days out of Service: 1

Oil Change and Software Update at 10,000 Miles

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI calls for routine service at 10,000-mile intervals. When the odometer reached the magic number, it displayed a "service due" warning, so it was off to Volkswagen Santa Monica. Our experience here has been hit-or-miss over the past several years. This visit was different.

Our advisor, Ed, was on top of things. He meticulously walked around our car with us at the drop-off and took notes as we mentioned our concerns: 10,000-mile service, no tire rotation (we did that with the new tire purchase), the rear wiper cover cap was missing, the infotainment screen was slow to load and the front passenger seat heater was failing intermittently. He mentioned our car was due for an ECM software update (97102599, according to the work order) and promised a call in two hours with an update.

Two hours and 45 minutes later, Ed called.

"The oil change is complete," he said. "We did not rotate the tires, per your request, but we did inflate the pressures to reflect the door-jamb sticker. The car is parked in a stall now waiting for my tech to perform the software update and look at the other issues. I will call you back when he is finished."

Another two hours passed and he rang again. The wiper cap was replaced free of charge. The ECM update was complete, which hopefully remedied our infotainment issue. The seat heater failure could not be recreated. I'll take the blame for that, as I did not relay the issue to them as accurately as I could have. We'll have to bring it up again next time.

This was a painless and efficient visit overall. It was a nice surprise and a reason to come back.

This Is a New One

I have never seen this before. Our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI just told me it needs a new key fob battery. I can't remember this warning on any other car we've tested. Maybe because we only keep them for a year? Maybe VW is the only one that does it?

Has anyone seen this before?

Key Fob Battery Replaced

Our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI was persistently informing us that it needed a new key fob battery, so I figured I'd stop by Santa Monica Volkswagen and hope for a quick resolution. I was in luck. The parts department located the appropriate battery promptly, and one of the service managers installed it on the spot. Presto change-o.

In case you're wondering, yes, key fob battery replacements are covered under VW's factory warranty. But the battery only cost nine bucks anyway, so this is one potential issue that out-of-warranty GTI owners needn't lose sleep over.

Fuel Economy Update for May - Small Gains Toward EPA Rating

Our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI continues its incremental climb toward the EPA combined rating of 28 mpg, adding 0.2 mpg to its lifetime average during the month of May. Although 26.3 mpg over nearly 11,000 miles of driving remains mildly disappointing, it's an easier pill to swallow when you take into account the GTI's invigorating acceleration.

Indeed, considering that our base Mini Cooper long-termer is hovering around 28 mpg with 76 fewer horses and 96 fewer torques, I'd say the VW's acquitting itself fairly well. And now we know that 34.5 mpg is within the realm of possibility, so it seems there's room for further improvement.

Worst Fill MPG: 19.4
Best Fill MPG: 34.5
Average Lifetime MPG: 26.3
EPA MPG Rating: 28 Combined (25 City/33 Highway)
Best Range: 376.5
Current Odometer: 10,728

Pickup-Driving Ladies Like It

I recently needed to haul away a large collection of broken-down cardboard boxes that had been building up at my house. It was a perfect job for Edmunds.com's long-term 2015 Volkswagen GTI. I just lowered the rear seats, no need for headrest removal or other shenanigans. You just squeeze a release button, the seatbacks plop right down, and you have a suddenly-roomy cargo area ready to be filled with cardboard.

I headed over to a storage unit facility where I rent a unit. I knew I could use the recycling dumpster there. When I pulled up in the GTI, a woman was already there with her Ram truck, presumably doing something similar. We exchanged pleasantries.

"That's a cute little red car you have," she said.

I'd never thought of Edmunds's GTI as cute. The Fiat 500? Sure. The GTI? Hmmm. All the same, I took it as a compliment.

You meet the nicest people at dumpsters.

Really, the dual-use nature of a GTI is what I love. You can drive it around every day, hauling your cardboard to the dumpster, your groceries back home, or your broken lawnmower to the shop, and it gets the job done. But when the hauling is done, you've still got a sharp little car that's fun to drive and worthy of admiration.

Better Enough Than the Last?

With a free day on my calendar and the key to our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI in my pocket, I couldn't resist the call of the open road. My typical approach is to scroll around on Google Maps until I find an interesting-looking place that I've never visited, and then conscript my wife for companionship. In this case, I wanted to leave at 10 a.m. and be home by midnight, so I limited myself to about four hours of driving each way.

The winner? Oceano, Calif., a.k.a. the home of the Oceano Dunes. And if you want some additional commentary interspersed with dune photos, you'll just have to follow the jump.

The town is perhaps best-known for the Oceano Dunes SVRA, which is the only state park in California where vehicles can drive on the beach. If you're familiar with just about any other beach town in the state, you're in for an unusual experience. Think heavyset guys with tattoos and Harley-Davidson shirts, and death metal blaring from lifted pickup trucks - that sort of thing. A festive atmosphere, you might say.

I'd like to tell you that the GTI showed its mettle in the sand, but although the Internet suggests even a Prius could hack it, that wasn't part of the plan. Instead, I parked curbside and set out for the pedestrian-only Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve, bravely leading my companion along a fennel-lined footpath through the trees.

I've been to Mesquite Flat in Death Valley and White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, so I wasn't expecting much from this little coastal preserve. But as it turns out, Oceano's got some pretty serious dune action going on.

We were amazed by the desert-like landscape. The Pacific Ocean is right next door, yet it's easy to find yourself in a deep valley where all you can see is rippled sand.

Let me say a bit about the car while you enjoy the scenery. Full disclosure: my wife commutes in a 2013 GTI Driver's Edition, so I'm intimately familiar with what the previous-generation "Mk6" has to offer.

Does the Mk7 move the needle for me? Not dramatically, to be honest. Sure, it's faster - you can really feel the extra torque (51 pound-feet) on a back-to-back drive - but if you ask me, the Mk6 didn't need more speed.

Also, I prefer the Mk6's engine note at full throttle. It manages to be at once exuberant and refined, whereas the Mk7's just seems loud. Apparently the Mk7 Soundaktor's volume can be adjusted with VAG-COM, which means nothing unless you're fluent in VW geek-speak. I wish they'd simply copied the Mk6's perfectly juicy soundtrack instead.

Handling? Our long-term Mk7 has been rightly praised for its sharpness in corners, but how much of that is down to its summer tires? My wife's Mk6 came with all-season Pirellis that squealed at the slightest provocation, but then I threw on a set of Michelin Pilot Super Sports, and they changed the character of the car. I'm sure it's not as capable as the Mk7 at the limit - the latter's more permissive stability control system is a difference-maker - but it may not be far off.

Don't get me wrong, I still think the GTI is one of the best cars out there for the money. And it offers some welcome everyday improvements over the Mk6, like a quieter interior on the highway.

But as a Mk6 owner, I didn't come away from the trip with a strong desire to upgrade.

If you came to me for GTI shopping advice right now, I might recommend grabbing a certified pre-owned Mk6 and keeping a fat wad of cash in your pocket.

Six Months Later, Still Want One

I've been busy driving other cars in our long-term fleet and the last time I drove our 2015 Volkswagen GTI was about six months ago. I hadn't realized how much I miss this car. The strong turbo-4 power, upscale interior, hatchback/four-door utility and handsome styling are such a great combination. I don't need a new personal car right now, but if I did, the GTI would be high on my list.

That said, I've changed my mind on what kind of GTI I'd want.

Originally, I was certain I'd want a GTI with the optional performance package and adaptive suspension. Maybe I'd even upgrade to the Golf R. But as Ed wrote a while back, the GTI is expensive relative to other hatchbacks. There is so much inherent goodness with the GTI that I'm not sure I'd really want to spend a bunch more.

This is a result of driving our GTI again. I just don't find myself thinking, "Gee, this car is cool, but if only it had the performance package and adaptive dampers!"

As it is, our car is plenty quick and powers out of turns with enthusiasm. We've tested a GTI with the performance package and adaptive suspension and haven't come away with revelatory findings. As for the other upgrades, I could live without items like leather upholstery, the rearview camera and keyless ignition and entry.

Lightly optioned could be the way to go. Just a base GTI S with the manual transmission for me, please.

Four-Door Is the Obvious Choice. Or Is It?

I've mentioned in some previous updates that my fondness for Edmunds' long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI largely stems from its dual-use nature. It's a fun-to-drive car that's also quite practical. For me, that practical part often involves shuttling my two small children around to school or summer camps.

Our GTI is great for this. The backseat is plenty roomy for munchkins (but still close enough to the front seat for me to grab or hand them items) and entry and exit for my kids is easy thanks to lightweight doors and decent-sized openings.

But it occurs to me that my feelings might be different if Edmunds had opted for a two-door GTI instead of a four-door. If the car was a two-door Golf GTI, I'd always have to help my children in and out of the backseat. Buckling them in to their safety or booster seats would be more cumbersome, too.

It wouldn't be the end of the world, of course. I've shuttled my kids around just fine in our Mustang, for example. But if VW gives you a choice, would you buy a two-door GTI?

I suppose the answer could just be: "Because I want a two-door." Fair enough.

But the way I see it, there's no logical reason to get the two-door other than it costs about $500 less. Unlike some other two-door versions of cars (BMW 4 Series versus 3 Series, Kia Forte Koup versus the Forte sedan), the two-door GTI lacks any easily noticeable visual differences that might make it look "cooler." Nor does it have any tangible benefits in performance that might be gained by giving up some practicality.

For me, the four-door is the obvious choice. Would it be yours?

VW Promises More Advanced Touchscreen Interface for 2016

The touchscreen interface fitted to our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI has earned generally favorable comments so far. Travis Langness gave the audio system a thumbs-up review while Josh Jacquot noted how he liked the navigation interface. Mike Monticello did encounter a glitch a few months ago, but to my knowledge it hasn't reappeared.

Personally, I like the touchscreen. It's easy to reach and responds pretty quickly to inputs, but there's room for improvement. The screen is relatively small (5.8 inches) and doesn't have truly crisp, detailed graphics. Volkswagen plans to install a new touchscreen system for the 2016 GTI (and other models in the lineup) as well as add a big dollop of smartphone app integration.

A Volkswagen rep confirmed that the GTI will get VW's newest system, which is called "Modular Infotainment Platform," or MIB II. Volkswagen showed off this new system at CES earlier this year.

Full details about the system aren't available yet, but the most interesting aspect about MIB II will be the greatly enhanced smartphone app integration. VW says it will include MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Basically the hope is that with these features, the GTI (as well as other 2016 VWs) will display and operate much of what's on your phone without mucking it up with a proprietary interface (for more info, check out our primer article about CarPlay and Android Auto).

If you're thinking about buying a GTI and aren't fond of the 2015 model's touchscreen, it might be a good idea to wait for the 2016.

Fuel Economy Update for June — Incremental Improvement in Lifetime MPG

Our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI is still shy of its EPA combined rating of 28 mpg, but this month it climbed one-tenth of a mpg closer. After receiving its 10,000-mile service, and a new battery for its key fob, the GTI spent the month of June quietly logging miles.

We added 1,481 of them this month, consuming 61.1 gallons of gas in the process, and upping the GTI's lifetime average to 26.4 mpg.

While the best-fill award stands at 34.5 mpg, Josh Sadlier got close in June with a 31.7 mpg fill. He also thinks customers looking to buy a GTI would be better served with a pre-owned Mk6 model, while Brent wants a Mk7 of his own.

Worst Fill MPG: 19.4
Best Fill MPG: 34.5
Average Lifetime MPG: 26.4
EPA MPG Rating: 28 Combined (25 City/33 Highway)
Best Range: 376.5 miles
Current Odometer: 12,488 miles

Grand Canyon and Back, For Americ

My plan for the 4th of July weekend was simple: Pick a destination about 500 miles from home, drive there, stay the night and come home. My holiday celebration would be a road trip rather than watching the same fireworks show I'd seen 100 times. So I asked Edmunds car-czar Mike Schmidt what vehicles in our fleet needed miles and he swiftly pointed me towards our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI.

I hadn't spent much quality time with the little red Volkswagen and this would be a perfect opportunity for some one-on-one time. I flipped a coin to decide between Northern California and the Grand Canyon and the coin came up tails. So I packed my bags and headed for the big crack in the desert.

Leaving Los Angeles, I worried immediately that I'd picked the wrong vehicle. The GTI's firm ride and stiff tires made for a bouncy, harsh ride and a noisy cabin. Not ideal. The broken concrete freeways around here deserve some culpability, but ride quality and cabin noise are probably the GTI's weakest links.

The seats are an entirely different story. For my 5-foot 9-inch, 170-pound frame, the driver's seat felt nearly perfect. Throughout the entire road trip, I can't remember a time where I shuffled, squirmed or adjusted to get more comfortable.

To keep things interesting on day one, I abandoned major highways for about 100 miles and found a few great roads in the Arizona desert. This gave me a chance to feel out the GTI's handling and cornering characteristics. The steering felt responsive at any speed and the chassis felt right at home along the high-speed desert sweepers. The DSG transmission shifted quickly, with swift responses from the paddle shifters.

Inside Grand Canyon National Park, the GTI continued to prove its mettle. I must've stopped thirty or forty times to check out the sights and slipping in and out of the GTI was a breeze. Getting in and out didn't require any craning over or ducking under the A-pillar. In the heat of the day, I returned to a hot car several times, but the air conditioning got cold in a hurry. The GTI would make a great getaway car.

When it rained on my way out of the park on the second day, the rain-sensing wipers worked well without more than a few occasional inputs to adjust speed during torrential downpours.

Over 36 hours, I clocked 1,200 miles in our GTI and the time flew by. The ride was stiff and there was a lot of road noise though, so I left the experience thinking that the GTI would be a much better weekend car than a daily driver. And I guess that's pretty much the idea. With a car like the GTI, you get a bit more performance at the expense of some of the standard Golf's comfort.

I broke a couple of the GTI's fuel economy records along Interstate 40. Stay tuned for a follow-up, as well as extra photos from the holiday pilgrimage.

A Compact Hatch To Colorado and Back - Will We Regret It?

"Great road trip car!" a friend of mind said when he heard I was driving our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI to Colorado and back. I was glad to hear him say that because my first choice had been our new 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8. That's my idea of a road trip car - plenty of room and lots of muscle to get up and over Vail Pass at 10,662 feet.

I was initially disappointed when I heard it was spoken for and I was assigned to the pint-sized VW.

But driving back home to pack, I realized this could be a blessing in disguise. Other editors have raved about the seats and I was gradually fine-tuning all the adjustments that contribute to hours of comfort on the open road. The steering felt precise, but not jumpy. The transmission shifted knowingly. This could be good.

The following day, I drove 10 hours to my first night's destination, Grand Junction, Colorado. By the time I reached it and climbed out from behind the wheel, I had a good idea of whether or not the GTI would be a good car for the remaining miles.

More on the trip, MPG and character of the car in this week's follow-up posts.

Art Car

On my way to Colorado in our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI, I had to make a quick stop in downtown Las Vegas. Heading back to the freeway, I saw this mural and knew I had to pose the GTI in front of it. The result was better than expected. The Tornado Red paint really pops and makes the car - and the art - look great.

Gets Impressive MPG on Rocky Mountain Traverse

A 2,200-mile road trip to Colorado and back in our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI is a great way to see what kind of mileage it's capable of on the highway. But the problem is that in one direction is it climbing most of the way over some of the highest mountain passes in the lower 48 states. Then, on the way back, it's mostly downhill from Denver to Las Vegas.

So, while heading to Denver I got between 29 and 32 mpg. On the way back I got from 34 to almost 36 mpg, a record for this car. On one 100-mile stretch, I saw 40 mpg!

On my trip, I filled the tank eight times with premium gas. In California I paid $4.80 a gallon for premium. In Colorado, $2.50 a gallon for premium. Diesel was as low as $2.47 a gallon. Articles in Los Angeles newspapers have lately tried to explain away these pricing spikes with rational sounding reasons. Frankly, I don't believe any of them.

To get your mind back on more pleasant subjects, I'm including this photo taken near Green River, Utah. It rained a lot during the drive and the GTI did great on the slick roads. The rain-sensing windshield wipers adjusted quickly to sudden downpours, which let me focus on staying on the road.

Handles Evasive Maneuvers With Ease

Ever notice how quickly the brain processes information while driving? I was thinking about that while driving the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI to Denver last week. For example, I saw something in the road and was closing at it doing about 80 mph. But then the wind gusted and I saw it was very light, just a harmless plastic bag. No evasive maneuvers required.

Later in the trip, I wasn't so lucky.

I was in Utah somewhere, traveling behind an 18-wheeler that was oh-so-slowly starting to pass another truck. Suddenly, from underneath the truck, appeared what looked like the chrome bumper of an old car. It began spinning toward me, shooting sparks, right in the middle of my lane. It was big enough that I knew it wouldn't just pass underneath me. I cut the wheel and swerved into the right lane, behind the slower truck, and let the steel strip pass to my left.

In another car, I might not have attempted the move. I might have just hit the thing and suffered the consequences. But I had confidence that the GTI's stiff suspension could handle the sudden turn without going into a slide.

During this entire incident, which probably lasted about two seconds, I speculated about what would've happened if I'd hit the metal object. At the least, it would have blown the front tires and probably torn up the undercarriage. I'd never really thought of precise steering and a stiff suspension as a safety feature.

And just to be clear, I didn't shoot this photo. It was taken by my co-pilot. I don't shoot pictures while traveling on a mountain road at 65 mph.

Compact Hatch Works Great for Colorado and Back

When I headed out of town behind the wheel of our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI, I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy driving it to Colorado and back. I imagined it to be twitchy, loud and underpowered for the climb over lofty Rocky Mountain passes. I had planned the trip with the idea of putting miles on our 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8. But, as so often happens, it turned out better this way.

While the GTI only sports a four-cylinder engine, as opposed to the Charger's massive V8, the VW is turbocharged and delivers 210 hp with a healthy 258 lb-ft of torque. While turbo lag was noticeable, once it got moving, it was never winded at higher elevations. 

But here's what really sold me on this little four-door hatchback.

I liked the seats, the driving position and the steering - all welcome features on a long road trip. As noted in an earlier post, the GTI's sharp reflexes helped me dodge deadly road debris, but I never found its steering nervous. When the coast was clear, I could relax and easily keep it center in the lane.

I wasn't a fan of the small center display or the graphics on the nav system, however. Furthermore, the navigation system took a long time to power up and continue the route every time I started the car. Also, with the CD player in the glove compartment, the driver would never be able to change it on the fly (luckily I had a co-pilot).

The fuel economy was good, even at Utah's allowed 80-mph speed limit. At least in California, however, buying premium fuel added 25 cents to the already steep gas prices.

I've always liked VWs but this trip refreshed my interest in this German icon.

Grand Canyon Road Trip Shatters Old Fuel-Eco Records

If you use Interstate 40 most of the way, it's 502 miles from my home in Los Angeles to Grand Canyon Village in northern Arizona. I drove there in our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI, and with a bit of hypermiling I set two new fuel economy records along the way. Hypermiling can be a bit boring though, so I took plenty of photos along the way to keep things interesting.

Here are the numbers.

I covered 1,201 miles in the GTI in two days. The GTI used 36.2 gallons of fuel, averaging 33.2 miles per gallon over the length of the trip. The worst of four fills was a 28.5-mpg tank, while the best was 38.5 mpg. This beat our previous best-fill by 4 mpg.

For some perspective, the EPA's highway rating for the GTI is 33 miles per gallon. I beat that by 5.3 mpg, or 16 percent. That tank of fuel also set a new best-range for the GTI at 480.3 miles, beating the previous best by 105 miles. Filling up the GTI after 480 miles took 12.5 gallons of fuel, meaning there was about 0.7 gallons left in the tank.

I didn't intend to cut it that close, but I didn't see any gas stations from the highway with 90, 60, and 30 miles left on the clock, so I crossed my fingers and just kept going. At 38.5 mpg, 0.7 gallons means 27 miles until empty, but the on-board computer was a bit conservative, indicating only 5 miles left until empty.

A low speed limit in the park, combined with a passive approach to passing 18-wheelers and a 2,000-foot drop in elevation led to those numbers, but I still think the GTI's capability is rather impressive. It won't be my first pick for future long road trips, but after 1,200 miles in the driver's seat, I gained a lot of respect for the little German hatchback.  

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

We've written quite a bit comparing our seventh-generation 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI to our former long-term sixth-gen 2010 GTI. That's part of the reason we have these cars. The general consensus is that the current GTI is an improvement in every way over the previous model. I don't disagree. The GTI lost weight, tightened up and gained power. The new car, like the old one, is really, really good. 

I'm the proud owner of a fifth-gen 2006 GTI. Like others have said, everything on the MK7 is just a little better than the MK6. Compared to my MKV, everything is a lot better. I've yet to find something in our new GTI that's inferior to my 2006 GTI that can't be fixed with different options.

First off, my three-door GTI is equipped with plaid-patterned cloth seats and a row-your-own transmission, although it's the same Tornado Red as our current long-termer. As nice as the DSG and leather interior are, I prefer my more basic setup. But that's only a difference of options, not a fundamental flaw or something that's gotten worse.

All the materials in the new car are much higher quality. Everything is positioned in a slightly better place. All of the buttons have a little more weight behind their clicks. The sound of a closing door is just a little more solid. The gauges are just a little bit brighter and easier to read. 

The MKV generation is considered the car that got the GTI back to what it always intended to be, equal parts sport and practicality. The car had gotten fat and, while not necessarily slow, lagged behind the competition in performance. The sixth and seventh generations built on what the MKV reestablished.

The GTI delivers most everything I want in a car. It's reasonably quick, reasonably cheap to maintain, and it could fit everything important to me inside when I decided to move to across the country to Santa Monica when I landed an internship at Edmunds.  Most of all, it's never boring.

The GTI isn't the fastest front-drive car on the market. The turbocharged four-cylinder isn't the most powerful or the loudest. There are less expensive cars, there are faster cars and there are more practical cars available. It's the way the GTI combines all of these attributes that makes it special. Other cars can do any one of these things better, but few do the whole package better.

Cruise Control Offers Stealth Adjustment

How many ways can you adjust cruise control? More importantly, how many ways should you be able to adjust cruise control? It may not look like it from the photo, but our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI has three.

First: The silver rocker switch with "+" and "-" changes the cruise control's target speed in 5-mph increments when tapped. Second: When pressed and held, the target speed slowly climbs or drops by 1 mph. I'd prefer if this were the other way around, but it's certainly livable. I drove with this understanding of the cruise control for some time.

Then, on one early morning drive, I accidently tapped the resume button when cruise control was engaged. The target speed increased by 1 mph. I thought that was strange, so I tapped the "SET". The target speed dropped by 1 mph. I'd found the third way to control the system. And this is the method I prefer.

In fairness, the owner's manual explains that the GTI has three settings and how to operate them. It just takes nearly two pages to do so.

Yes, it sounds like overkill, but the nice thing about these options is you can choose to ignore the ones you don't like. The sliver rocker might as well not exist when I drive the GTI, but others might like it.

It's also fun to see how high the cruise control will go. For the GTI? It's 130 mph.

Show Me the Tire Pressures, Please

The now ubiquitous tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a fantastic safety feature. That little tire-and-exclamation-point warning light icon is super helpful for learning when a tire is going low and giving you an opportunity to deal with the situation before it becomes dire.

That said, not all tire pressure monitoring systems are created equal. Some vehicles have a readout that gives you real-time information on each individual tire's pressure. Some can at least tell you which tire on the car is low. Others just tell you something's wrong and leave you to figure out the rest.

Our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI falls into the last group, unfortunately.

I had the GTI's tire pressure warning light fire off a while back right in the middle of a long highway road trip. I was initially aggravated (about the timing) but thankful for the heads up. But it became apparent that the GTI was only going to tell me that a tire was low, nothing else. I kept driving a few more miles until I made it to a gas station.

I didn't have my tire pressure gauge on me, so I bought one of those cheap pencil-style gauges from the station. I figured it would at least give me an idea of what was wrong. I went around to each tire, one by one. The right rear tire seemed like the culprit, but it was only a few pounds lower (hard to tell with the cheap-o gauge). None of the tires were direly low, and I didn't spot any punctures from screws or nails.

I topped off the right rear tire with the station's air hose. Normally, I would have reset the tire pressure system for the correct pressures, but since the tires were hot from driving and I didn't have a reliable gauge, I left the warning light on and just checked that suspect tire a couple more times along the way to make sure it wasn't losing pressure. It wasn't.

But I could have been spared the mental concern and wasted time stopping had the GTI been equipped with an in-car pressure readout.

Once I got to my destination, I adjusted the tires correctly and reset the monitor. We haven't had any problems since. Interesting side note: I had the same thing happen to me in our long-term Audi A3, a close family member of the GTI. The A3's TPMS doesn't give you specific readouts either, but it does at least indicate which tire is low.

The Case for a Hatchback

A few times while driving our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI, I've wondered if it's a car on which I'd spend my hard-earned cheddar. At $31,515 as spec'd, this hot hatch isn't exactly cheap and I've wondered if I could instead bite the bullet, stretch for another $10K, and get into an A3 like ours.

By its body style and badge, the A3 seems like the car for grown-ups. Though it's the baby A4, the Audi for Beginners, you still won't feel sheepish — nor will your date — when you roll up to the hotel valet for a spring wedding. People with real money might scoff privately, but they can pound sand.

The nice thing about an entry-level Audi is that it says you might be thinking S6 eventually, but you're smart enough to stay within the lines now. It can also say that you too have plenty of dough and have simply decided you don't need a larger or faster sedan.

Then there's the GTI.

For better or worse, no matter how distinguished the driver, a hatchback will always be a kid's car. That's not my personal view, but it's the impression I get from people who know little about cars except size, badge and a vague notion of price. These people, some of them in my life who are very nice people, can also pound sand. 

A hatchback may look like a kid's car to them, but to me, they offer real adult utility. Such as when you score a sweet, barely-used bike off Craigslist for your daughter who long ago outgrew her first bike, but the seller really wants you to pick it up, like, now (especially if you're trying to grind her a bit on the price).

Fair enough. Kid's car or not, I was glad to have the GTI this particular weekend when I found this Diamondback Miz Della Cruz 20-inch cruiser in excellent condition and needed to act quick. The A3 or any other small premium sedan with a fold-down rear seat could've also handled the job, but definitely not with the same ease.

All told, I'd probably opt for a hatch for moments like these, rather than for moments I want to impress or just feel like a mature adult. The latter notion is much overrated anyway.

Audi could of course deliver the best of both worlds by again offering the A3 as a mainstream sportback with a gas or diesel engine, and one not limited to simply an electric powertrain.

Fuel Economy Update for July - Long Legs Shatter Old Records

We kept our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI busy in July. Brent drove it around central California for a week or so and it helped him make new friends. Travis used it for a celebratory Fourth of July run out to the Grand Canyon. Shortly after, Phil drove it out to the Rockies and back.

At the end of the month, we'd tallied more than 4,000 miles and 15 fill-ups. Travis managed the impressive feat of setting the best mpg and range records of the test thus far. During the Grand Canyon drive, the GTI legged out 480 miles and 38.5 mpg from a single tank. That kind of range obliterated the previous best of 376 miles.

All of that highway-intensive mileage raised the GTI's lifetime fuel economy average to 27.5 MPG, just a half-point shy of its EPA rating. Although it took us 17,000 miles and some restrained driving to get there, it's impressive regardless. It's no surprise the GTI has been a staff favorite with its seamless blend of style, hatchback utility, snappy acceleration, handling thrill and, when called upon, thrifty fuel consumption.

Worst Fill MPG: 19.4
Best Fill MPG: 38.5
Average Lifetime MPG: 27.5
EPA MPG Rating: 28 Combined (25 City/33 Highway)
Best Range: 480.3
Current Odometer: 17,340

The Cooler Fits, Sort of

That's a 75-gallon cooler in the back of our 2015 Volkwagen GTI. That's a big cooler for a small car like the GTI. I had to set aside the cargo cover to get it in there and even that wasn't quite enough.

Turns out, the hatch wouldn't close completely unless I was willing to give it a serious shove. I didn't think that was a good idea, so in order to make this huge cooler fit I had to unlatch the rear seatbacks and tilt them forward. Not much, maybe an inch or two, but enough to make them unusable for rear passengers.

So no, you can't put four people and a 75-gallon square cooler in a GTI. But it's close.

Fixing the Radio by Putting It on a Time-out

I was enjoying some good early 90s grunge on satellite radio while driving our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI home last night. But a funny thing happened when I tried changing stations: I couldn't. The video below provides a better explanation.

I was listening to channel 34, but nothing happened when I twisted the dial clockwise to go up a station. I turned it counter-clockwise and the stereo switched stations downward numerically, as you'd expect. But when I twisted the dial back, it refused to go past channel 34. Clearly the GTI thought I needed more 90s grunge.

The free time you have sitting in traffic during rush hour gives ample opportunity for experimentation. I dug around through the menus a bit, thinking it might be an option or something. I couldn't find anything, but nor could I think of a reason why you'd want this to happen. I also tuned downwards, past channel 1 and down from channel 450. I got down to channel 35 this way, but as soon as I passed channel 34, I couldn't go back up.

Perplexed, I got home and fired off a few emails to other staffers who'd driven the car recently. A few hours later, I turned the GTI back on and tried to switch channels. It worked fine.

Maybe that time in the garage gave the GTI some time to think about how silly it was being.

Radio Is On the Fritz

The infotainment system in our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI is acting funny. A few weeks back, it refused to let me tune past channel 34 on satellite radio. Putting it on a time out fixed that problem, but I found a few others this past weekend.

For a brief moment on Friday, I couldn't turn the volume up. Down, sure. But up? Nope. Mike Schmidt blames it on my taste in music — not enough Kraftwerk.

Later, as I was setting off for a drive to Lake Arrowhead, the GTI refused to "acquire" the satellite radio signal in a place where previously it had no problem. Fortunately everything else worked, so we listened to FM radio and my iPod. I tried switching back to satellite radio repeatedly over the course of the 90-minute drive, but the screen simply displayed "Acquiring signal" for the rest of the day. The speakers were silent.

Satellite radio returned after letting the GTI sit overnight, but a new issue arose: The system would crash and reboot itself immediately after startup. It would function fine afterwards, and it happened maybe once every three starts.

Either the infotainment system's gained sentience and has become very picky about the music it plays, or there's something up with our stereo. We'll get it checked out soon.

August Fuel Economy Update - Just Another Month Burning Gas

We added another 1,400 or so miles to our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI in August. After a very busy July which saw the GTI traveling to Colorado and Arizona, August was mostly spent in routine daily duty hauling coolers and bicycles.

But the bottom line, the common denominator pulling every month of life with our GTI together, is that it always burns fuel. The only question is how much. This is the post every month where we answer that question.

We filled the GTI only five times last month with tanks ranging between 28.8 and 22.9 mpg, none of which changed our best or worst fills of 38.5 and 19.4 mpg, respectively. The reduction in highway mileage dropped our lifetime average one-tenth of an mpg from 27.5 to 27.4 mpg. Woo hoo.

Here are the digits for August:

Worst Fill MPG: 19.4
Best Fill MPG: 38.5
Average Lifetime MPG: 27.4 
EPA MPG Rating: 28 Combined (25 City/33 Highway)
Best Range: 480.3

Better Seat Comfort for Short Drivers

I have to admit that when I saw our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI was available for the evening, I hesitated. I remembered the last time I drove our 2010 GTI long-termer and how the driver seat was angled in such a way that it was difficult for short-legged folks (read: me at 5'5") to reach the pedals.

The rear of the seat hung so much lower than the front that I had to scooch the chair until I was basically half an arm's length away from the steering wheel, even with the column collapsed as far as its telescoping ability allowed.

I was never able to find a comfortable seating position in that car, and assuming our new long-termer shared a similar seat angle, I was not looking forward to driving it in rush-hour traffic.

Fortunately, it wasn't the case at all! And no, it wasn't because this car was an automatic (our 2010 long-termer was a six-speed manual). This time, I could actually reach the pedals, all two of them, without having to push myself up against the steering wheel.

And I am not alone in thinking how awesome these seats are. Even editor Josh Jacquot thinks they're "superb," for other reasons, but still. I love the power-adjustable features and having more options to customize a comfortable driving position.

Eco Minders Ruin the Fun

Our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI is supposed to be a fun car. This is why I find it strange that it routinely tells its driver to stop doing fun things.

The anti-fun messages are disguised as "Eco tips," and when given, they arrive with a chime and take up most of the center digital display in the gauge cluster.  

Scott Oldham already wrote about the "Do not activate the gas pedal when stationary" message. I've seen many others, "Close the windows/sunroof when moving," "Use 'D' shift position [instead of Sport]," and "Shift to a higher gear."

Here's what they really mean:

Don't rev the engine. Don't enjoy the wind and smell of the mountain road. Don't use any more rpm than absolutely necessary for forward propulsion, else sacred gas droplets might be needlessly consumed. Don't have fun.

Don't get me wrong. These are sound, fuel-saving tips. Driving with the windows down increases drag and worsens fuel economy. Keeping engine speed up while you putt around town burns fuel, too. But the last thing that should happen when you're having fun, in a car intended to be fun, is be told to stop.

If my priority was fuel efficiency, I wouldn't be in a turbocharged GTI equipped with summer tires. I'd be in a less-expensive diesel Golf TDI or, if the commute and finances were right, an electric e-Golf.

Fortunately you can turn these Eco tips off — unlike the stability control. Small steps, Volkswagen. Small steps.

How Tall is Mount Everest In Yards?

You must be wondering what Mount Everest has to do with anything. And what's all this talk about yards? We measure mountains in feet, don't we?

Exactly, but the software engineers that stand behind our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI must have missed that memo. Behold the wonders of a navigation system that displays elevation in yards.

It isn't all bad news. At least the elevation is clearly displayed right on the map. I like that part. But yards?

And the math doesn't even work out. The 3,000-foot parking space shown above should correspond to 1,000 yards, not 912 yards. Every fifth grader knows that.

By the time I got home I had a thought. But they couldn't have done that, could they?

Here's a screen grab taken near my home: elevation 37 yards, map scale 300 yards.

Next I punched up the Setup menu and found the Units section. Under the Distance tab they offer a choice between miles and kilometers, which refers to the odometer and trip odometers. But it turns out these choices also toggle the navigation system between yards and meters.

So I changed the unit setting to kilometers to see what would happen.

Get a load of that. I was right. The exact same numbers appear. They're not even bothering to do any math. As far as the software guys are concerned, one yard equals one meter.

Um, no.

This explains the math error highlighted on the first picture. If I assume 912 meters instead and convert that to feet, I get 2,992, which is close enough to the 3,000-foot value on the elevation sign for me. But 912 meters does not equal 912 yards. It just doesn't. We need to see 997 yards.

But we shouldn't be seeing yards at all. It should be feet. But to display elevation in feet a mathematical conversion would be absolutely necessary. I guess they figured they could leave the numbers alone, change a little text and hope we don't notice.

Lame.

I take back what I said about it being neat to see the elevation right there on the screen. This belongs under the heading: If You're Not Going To Do It Right, Don't Do It At All.

Incidentally, the frozen summit of Mount Everest stands 9,676 yards above sea level. But our GTI would undoubtedly display that as 8,848 yards, because that's how high Sir Edmund Hillary climbed in meters. I'll take a picture next time I drive up there.

Cruising Through Its 20,000-Mile Service

We did it early.

That's right, our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI headed to the dealer at 19,621 miles for its 20,000-mile scheduled service.

The 20,000-mile service is pretty simple for the GTI. It consists of an oil and filter change, a new pollen/dust filter for the HVAC system, an inspection and a tire rotation. I took the car to Volkswagen of Orange in Orange, California, for the work.

Probably the most notable feature of the service was the ease of scheduling an appointment. I first went to VW of America's official site to find a nearby dealer and was able to quickly and easily make an appointment for the next morning through the dealer's site. Didn't talk to anyone until I showed up at the dealer at 8:30 a.m. the next day.

Service Advisor David Aguilar received the car and offered me a ride so I wouldn't have to wait. My wife was there to give me a ride home, but we agreed that the car would be done by 2:00 p.m.

I received a call about 1:00 telling me the car was ready. David said the tires that had been on the front of the car were excessively worn and appeared to have been overinflated. He rotated them to the rear.

I'd also asked David to have the tech check the audio system for the various issues Carlos experienced. Unsurprisingly, the problem couldn't be duplicated despite trying the system after multiple key cycles. The tech did perform a hard reset on the system, but there are no TSBs related to it and I haven't experienced it myself, so there's nothing we can do until it reappears.

The car had been washed when I picked it up, always a nice touch.

The front tires that were previously on the rear both look like this:

And the rears that were previously on the front look like this:

Though they're clearly more worn, I wouldn't be surprised if this is just a result of being on the front of the car where they drive and turn rather than in the rear where they just keep the bumper off the ground. All four tires were set to the recommended pressure (37 psi cold) when I checked the day after the service.

We paid $228.27 for the service. That breaks down to $156.00 in labor, $66.92 in parts and $5.35 in tax.

In Defense of the Older Generation

Our former Intern Extraordinaire, Reese Counts, now turned full-time Vehicle Testing Assistant (applause), lauded our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI as harder, better, faster, and stronger than the generations of GTI that came before. While I don't disagree with his overall sentiment, there are elements in the older vintage that I prefer to the newest iteration out of Wolfsburg — or should I say Puebla, Mexico?

Full disclosure; my wife and I own the 2013 Volkswagen GTI pictured above (the last generation built and assembled in Germany), which she often refers to as "the best car ever made." I think she's pretty fond of it, as am I.

Looking at our 4-wheel friend through a lens of objectivity, I can see why buyers might prefer the new MK7 over this car. The interior has shifted slightly upmarket, the handling feels tauter, and the body lines have been squared and sharpened for a sportier look. Additionally, subtle improvements like better placement of the MDI smart phone connector, and courteous reminders and notifications that pop up on the infotainment screen, show that VW is tweaking the recipe rather than trying to reinvent a magic formula.  

With that said, here are a few things they should have left untouched.

Steering wheels: 2013 (Left) versus 2015 (Right)

The MK6's steering wheel is arguably superior aesthetically and ergonomically to the 2015 car. The thinner and less shapely rim of the MK7 is a bit of a letdown from what I am used to gripping in the MK6. And sure, the MK7 squeezes a higher button count on the spokes of the wheel, but it compromises the more natural layout that the MK6 embraces — most notably the up/down volume control buttons.

Steering wheel controls: 2013 (Left) versus 2015 (Right)

The second thing I noticed about the MK7 is the difference in sound and shift characteristics. The new 2.0-liter turbo engine emits a much more gravelly note and the 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission feels like it engages at a more gradual rate. For people who haven't spent any time in the last generation car, this is essentially a non-issue.

However, drive a MK6 and the gear shifts feel much more crisp and are accompanied by a sound that emulates, to a small degree, a racing-style sequential gearbox. Even non-car enthusiasts, like my wife, appreciate this sound. It's satisfying and even slightly addictive, and it's missing in the new car.

The final element the MK6 got right: wheels!

For some reason VW struggles to keep an attractive factory wheel option on modern GTIs, with the exception of the MK6's Wolfsburg's edition upgrade. I realize this is more a matter of personal taste, but the old "cheese grater" and new "fan blade" wheels look like the design team settled on the first suggestion.

MK6 Wolfsburg (2013)

MK6 "Cheese Grater" (2013) Kind of cheesy, right?

MK7 "Fan Blade" (2015) Not a fan of these either.

The sum of these elements do not tip the scale to either side for me when it comes to picking one generation of GTI over the other. They're equally enjoyable cars with slightly different personalities. And as long as VW sticks to this winning combination, I'm sure I'll love the next one, too.

In Search of Cooler Mountain Air

A couple of weeks ago, I had the key to our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI and a hankering to go somewhere. My friends in Borrego Springs were away on vacation, and their place wasn't high on my list this time because the desert would offer no respite from the heat. I was looking for cooler surroundings, so I pointed our VW GTI north towards the mountains instead.

About three-quarters of my 430-mile route was given over to routine there-and-back-again highway miles. The remainder climbed up and over the southernmost spur of the Sierra Nevada on the sort of tight and twisty two-lane roads the GTI was bred for.

These sorts of California back roads can be more entertaining than you might think. Most of the lesser-travelled two-lanes are posted at 55 mph, which can leave a lot of headroom with which to work. It's not uncommon to lean on the tires with a grin on your face and still be under the posted limit. Out here, the Basic Speed Law reigns supreme.

Take it easy on the straights and you can have a lot of fun without ruffling many feathers. Growing up here is a big reason why I have always gravitated to smaller "momentum" cars that are light on their feet like the Volkswagen GTI, Honda Civic Si and Mazda Miata. Over the years I've owned one of each, with an Acura Integra and Honda CRX thrown in for good measure.

This particular GTI is the best I can remember in the last few generations. But the tight confines of these roads did underline a couple of points.

For one, I would not buy the DSG transmission. It's not that great as an automatic at very low speeds, and it's not that much fun out here. Shifting is distilled down to a paddle-pulling exercise, which totally removes the visceral connection to the machine. It's never absolutely necessary to manually execute a shift, so it doesn't become an instinctual part of the activity. For a car like this, I would absolutely have the manual.

Second, there is no reason for me to tolerate the reduced cornering and braking performance of all-season tires. High performance "most-season" summer tires would be a far better choice. I'll never come up here when there's snow on the ground, and Orange County isn't likely to see a freak snowstorm. Snow is something SoCal denizens visit on our own terms, something we plan for. It's been years since I've made such an outing, and the next time I do I can always take the Jeep or my wife's car.

When all was said and done, the GTI had climbed over four mountain passes: Tejon Pass (4,160 feet), Greenhorn Summit (6,102 feet), Walker Pass (5,250 feet) and Cajon Pass (3,777 feet). I topped up the tank at the station just around the corner from my house, where my calculator told me the GTI had averaged 31.5 mpg. To my mind that compares very favorably to its EPA ratings of 28 mpg combined and 34 mpg highway, especially considering the mountainous terrain and contorted back roads that had been the morning's entertainment.

Missing the Extra Half-Step

When it comes to performance cars and hot hatches like our 2015 VW GTI, most manufacturers leave a little something on the table. And while that can leave the true enthusiasts whining and wanting for a more complete package, something that caters to their very narrow needs, it ensures most cars leave the factory with a good degree of compromise — something for everyone.

But there's always a room for improvement. There's always a half-step closer platform nirvana. Some manufacturers offer limited-run versions of their performance cars with more power, less suspension travel and a street credibility on the internet. Some offer in-house performance upgrades. These parts might have been cast off during the final vetting process as a half-step too far, but still well-sorted enough to sell as a package. It's automotive DLC.

These thoughts aren't particularly new ones to have about a GTI, but they are when you consider that I had them while ripping around in Focus ST.

To be fair, it wasn't just any Focus ST. The ST in question had a hatchload of trick parts from Mountune (lowering springs, a Quaife differential, a strut tower bar, a cat-back exhaust system, a new induction hose and a fresh engine calibration). It had better power delivery, sounded stronger, shifted a bit quicker, rode just fine and still packed its full factory warranty. And all that real world DLC only sets you back five grand.

How could I not think about our GTI? It standard trim, it's as capable as it is dull, a performance fleece in vehicle form and something engineered not to offend the people who accidentally bought the GTI instead of the TDI. In short, it's got at least a half-step left in it.

Just like Ford makes the RS, Volkswagen makes the Golf R. But VW does make a half-step for the GTI and it's all with in-house parts. It's called the Volkswagen GTI Clubsport and it's got more beans in the can, smart bodywork, wild seats, a sprinkling of suede to deliver a different look and feel to an already proven platform. Plus, it's built this way at the factory, so there's no need to take anything apart just to bolt on aftermarket parts.

That's the good news. The bad news? It's not available in the United States. Naturally.

But hey, maybe VW can use the empty space on the cargo ships once reserved by the TDIs that no one will be buying anymore and slip a few Clubsports into the States.

Please?

Strikes Good Balance Between Commuter and Weekender

Our long-term 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI isn't perfectly suited to the daily grind. If you spend most of your time in stop-and-go traffic, or if you do a lot of road trips, the GTI isn't the best car. The suspension is stiff and the sidewalls are thin, which means the ride is almost always a bit bumpy.

Its twin brother, the standard Golf, is better at these tedious daily tasks. Luckily for the GTI, this is where the plot thickens.

Few cars successfully strike a balance between being entertaining and practical, but the GTI does it really well. I immediately forgive the stiff suspension every time I drive the GTI quickly through a corner. The steering wheel provides plenty of feedback without being tough to control and the stiff suspension helps the chassis feel flat around long, high-speed sweepers.

It's quick in a straight line, too. The GTI is almost two seconds faster to 60 mph than the standard Golf, which is a big advantage in the city. When you're trying to exploit a gap in traffic or make it through a yellow light at an intersection, that difference in speed matters.

If you've never gone out for a drive without a destination, then don't bother with a GTI. Equip a standard Golf with some nice equipment and enjoy the three grand you'll save. But if you're the kind of person who wakes up early on a Sunday just to take empty back roads to your local café, then this is the car for you.

Fuel Economy Update for September - Still Great Mileage After 20,000 Miles

As you can see, we crossed the 20K-mile threshold in our 2015 Volkswagen GTI this month. It was an uneventful four weeks for our GTI given that it's not a diesel. That would make it a GTD. They actually exist, but are not offered in the States.

We put about 2,000 miles on the clock this month. Along the way Dan Edmunds figured out that the navigation system doesn't seem to care that there's a difference between yards and meters, while Josh found out that it's pretty easy to schedule a service appointment online.

Shorter drivers will also be glad to know that the GTI accommodates their frames just fine while eco-minded owners may or may not find the GTI's friendly reminders all that friendly.

After crunching the fuel log numbers, the GTI's overall mileage dropped by one-tenth of a gallon. It's still close to its official EPA rating, though, so that's good. And no, we have no idea what's its NOx levels are, although since it's a gas engine they're likely to be well within the limits.

Worst Fill MPG: 19.4
Best Fill MPG: 38.5
Average Lifetime MPG: 27.3
EPA MPG Rating: 28 Combined (25 City/33 Highway)
Best Range: 480.3 miles 
Current Odometer: 20,000 miles

Could Be Slicker in the City

We've discussed my commute before. It's not pretty. Start, stop, honk, floor it, honk, stop, repeat for nine-ish miles.

But, I like where I live and I like where I work, so I deal with it. I could not deal with it if I had to drive our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI every day.

The first thing that bugs me is the brakes. They're pretty good during normal driving, but in the 0-8 mph zone, they're touchy and lack the predictability they offer during higher speed affairs. If you like forcing your passenger to act like a bobble-head, you'll dig these brakes.

Next up is another fun, low-speed quirk and that's the transmission's confused behavior around town. In this kind of traffic, the DSG simply doesn't know what to do. Lockup? Slip? First gear? Third? Second? First? Coast?

Instead of picking, it just cycles between all of those things.

The nail in this car's coffin is again related the transmission. This time it's the GTI's annoyingly soft launch. City drivers can be broken into two camps: Aggressive drivers and people who get passed by a steady stream of aggressive drivers.

When the light turns green or the traffic breaks, I pin the throttle to separate from the pack. The GTI hates this. You hear the gas pedal bounce off the floor and nothing happens. Then the clutches kind of start to do their thing and, somewhere around 10 mph (ish), the GTI takes off.

Right before it shifts into second, there's a delightful shudder of wheel hop. In our testing, we recorded a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds with Sport mode and launch control, 6.9 seconds in standard drive.

A manual transmission would save about a grand, fix both of these problems and would make the GTI a much better city commuter (the clutch on the GTI is super easy, even for city driving. You barely need to be awake to drive it). I'm not usually in the "ALL CARS NEED TO HAVE A MANUAL ALL THE TIIIIIIMMMMME!!" camp, but in my case, it's a better pick.

Wrap-Up

What We Got
It's been one of the best hatchbacks on the road for decades, so when the Volkswagen GTI gets a top-to-bottom redesign we want to know more about it. This time around the latest GTI looks much the same, but the story under the hood is quite different. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder added 10 horsepower and 51 pound-feet of torque over the previous model, bringing totals to 210-hp and 258 lb-ft. There are also selectable drive modes that promise sharper throttle response and heavier steering when appropriate. Add in all the typical goodness that comes along with the GTI like a sharp interior and useful size and there's was no doubt we wanted one in the long-term fleet.

We ultimately chose the top-trim Golf GTI Autobahn. Standard were the six-speed DSG automated manual transmission, leather seats, navigation, sunroof, Fender audio system, dual-zone climate control and push-button start. Our decision to add the performance package cost another $1,495 but we felt it was worth the extra 10-hp, larger brakes and electronic limited-slip differential.

As-tested our 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn with Performance package was $31,515. Here's how if fared after 12 months and just over 20,000 miles.

Performance

"More power is rarely looked down upon around here. Most cars get better when they have more guts underneath the hood, but our GTI isn't one of them, at least not all of the time. The problem is traction. Trying to send 210 horses through the front wheels doesn't always work very well. Spinning wheels and choppy acceleration often result and there's not much you can do about it other than lift." — Ed Hellwig

"The previous generation GTI was a great daily driver and fun up to a certain point if you drive with enthusiasm. But if you really wanted a car that you could push hard...it just wasn't up to the task.... This [2015 GTI] is good. Point it into a corner and it just grips and rips. The suspension keeps the car much more controlled during quick transitions while the summer-rated tires let you carry plenty of speed." — Brent Romans

MPG

"If you use Interstate 40 most of the way, it's 502 miles from my home in Los Angeles to Grand Canyon Village in northern Arizona...I covered 1,201 miles in the GTI in two days...36.2 gallons of fuel, averaging 33.2 miles per gallon over the length of the trip...the best was 38.5 mpg." — Travis Langness

"We filled the GTI only five times last month with tanks ranging between 28.8 and 22.9 mpg, none of which changed our best or worst fills of 38.5 and 19.4 mpg, respectively. The reduction in highway mileage dropped our lifetime average one-tenth of an mpg from 27.5 to 27.4 mpg. Woo hoo." — Josh Jacquot

Comfort

"Our GTI has good seats. Really good seats. Possibly you remember the wildly over-bolstered seats in our 2013 Ford Focus ST? They were polarizing.... That's where the GTI's seats shine. They provide the necessary lateral support without such ridiculous bolsters.... Its seats let me have both my driving position and the lateral support I want." — Josh Jacquot

"I called it a day after roughly 6 hours and 350 miles behind the wheel. The driver seat had more endurance than I expected, giving me a good 4-hour grace period before I fell victim to road butt. Its flat seat bottom was mostly to blame.... Ride quality stuck out the most along this stretch. The GTI rides soft across ruts, big and small, especially as compared to the competitive Mini Cooper and Mazda 3." — Mike Schmidt

Cargo Space

"The GTI can store plenty of assorted odds and ends if you're careful about packing it. The 60-40 rear seats drop by squeezing a small plastic release on top of each seat. It's a shame they don't fold flat, but the angle isn't too severe." — Cameron Rogers

"If you're looking for the most cargo space (and probably the most useful cargo space) in the hot hatchback segment, the GTI is the one to choose." — Travis Langness

Interior

"For the first time in a very long time, I looked at the speedometer in a car and said to myself, 'Now that looks like the face of a nice watch.' Maybe it's the mix of standard and metric numbers that gives it that overloaded watch-face look, or maybe it's the clear, crisp numbers. Either way, it's a nice-looking piece that's good-looking and easy to read." — Ed Hellwig

"Our GTI's interior just strikes me as classy. Check out the metallic trim that Volkswagen applies to the steering wheel and surrounds for the gauges, air vents and touchscreen. Then there's the red stitching on the seats, steering wheel and shift boot. That's complemented by the red accent strip lighting on the interior door panels. The door sills have red illumination as well." — Brent Romans

Audio and Technology

"One of the first functions I came to appreciate in our GTI is its navigation system's interface. This is a small detail, but it's one I always notice. First, the zoom function is accomplished using a knob. Knobs are always better than buttons, especially touchscreen buttons. More importantly, zooming in is accomplished by turning clockwise. Zooming out happens when the knob is turned counterclockwise. Small detail, but one that I find very intuitive, like driving in a screw. Many German cars zoom out with a clockwise turn and I can't get my head around it." — Josh Jacquot

"The infotainment system in our long-term GTI is acting funny. A few weeks back, it refused to let me tune past channel 34 on satellite radio.... For a brief moment on Friday, I couldn't turn the volume up.... Later, as I was setting off for a drive to Lake Arrowhead, the GTI refused to 'acquire' the satellite radio signal in a place where previously it had no problem.... Satellite radio returned after letting the GTI sit overnight, but a new issue arose: The system would crash and reboot itself immediately after startup...it happened maybe once every three starts." — Carlos Lago

Maintenance

"...not all tire-pressure monitoring systems are created equal. Some vehicles have a readout that gives you real-time information on each individual tire's pressure. Some can at least tell you which tire on the car is low. Others just tell you something's wrong and leave you to figure out the rest. Our GTI falls into the last group, unfortunately." — Brent Romans

"In case you're wondering, yes, key fob battery replacements are covered under VW's factory warranty. But the battery only cost nine bucks anyway, so this is one potential issue that out-of-warranty GTI owners needn't lose sleep over." — Josh Sadlier

Miscellaneous

"It's a fun-to-drive car that's also quite practical. For me, that practical part often involves shuttling my two small children around to school or summer camps.
Our GTI is great for this. The backseat is plenty roomy for munchkins (but still close enough to the front seat for me to grab or hand them items) and entry and exit for my kids is easy thanks to lightweight doors and decent-sized openings." — Brent Romans

"Whatever the cause, this tire is a goner. The slash is deep and I can see cut nylon belts down in there. It could come apart suddenly and violently if subjected to too much stress. At least it's a rear tire, largely removed from the bulk of steering, acceleration and braking forces. Because of this I decided I could drive it back to the office." — Dan Edmunds

Maintenance & Repairs

Regular Maintenance:
Routine service is due on the Golf GTI every 10,000 miles. Volkswagen pays the tab for the first 12 months or 10,000 miles so our first visit was free. At the second interval we paid $228 for recommended maintenance. Both appointments took place while we waited so the car didn't miss any time out of service.

Service Campaigns:
One recall for an ECM update arose during our test but it wasn't the extent of any open campaigns. A handful of infotainment system glitches plagued the GTI. Though the dealer investigated it and they didn't return, we were never confident the issues were fixed prior to our test ending.

Fuel Economy and Resale Value

Observed Fuel Economy:
The EPA estimates fuel economy for the Golf GTI at 28 mpg in combined driving (25 city/33 highway). Over 20,000 miles we averaged 27.1 mpg. Our best single-tank of fuel achieved 38.5 mpg and a range of 480 miles.

Resale and Depreciation:
After 20,684 miles Edmunds TMV Calculator valued the GTI at $21,933 based on a private party sale. This reflected 27 percent depreciation from its original MSRP. For reference, our long-term and Mini Cooper depreciated 19 percent under similar circumstances.

Summing Up

Pros: Still one of the most fun-to-drive small cars on the road, refined ride quality feel great on long road trips, above-average driver seat, top-notch interior materials, more than 400 miles of range on a single tank, solid cargo capacity, minimal maintenance.

Cons: Resale value was not as high as competitors. Dual-clutch transmission lags at low speeds. Infotainment glitches came and went sporadically.

Bottom Line: The Golf GTI is still a versatile hatchback that is fun to drive fast. Impressive range and seat comfort make it suitable for long distances. Low-speed drivability is hampered by its dual-clutch transmission, but overall this is a car we enjoyed driving both in town and out on the highway.

The manufacturer provided Edmunds with this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.