Volkswagen Golf GTI prices announced

Volkswagen has announced that the new Volkswagen Golf GTI will cost from £25,845, which is £195 more than its predecessor.

Available as both a three-door and a five-door, the Mk7 GTI is the first version of the high-performance Golf offered with two different power outputs. A 2.0-litre turbocharged direct-injection petrol and a six-speed DSG gearbox are fitted to both versions. The standard model produces 217bhp, goes from 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds and has a top speed of 152mph, while an all-new GTI Performance model produces 227bhp, knocking a tenth of a second off the 0-62mph time and increasing a top speed to 155mph.

The extra £980 for the Performance also gets you upgraded brakes with red GTI lettering on the brake calipers, and a new limited-slip differential (called VAQ by VW) for improved grip when cornering. The top-of-the-range GTI Performance with automatic gearbox is priced at £28,895.

When fitted with the six-speed manual gearbox both versions of the GTI return 47.1mpg economy and emit 139g/km of CO2, with stop-start included as standard – making them 18 per cent more efficient than the old model. The automatic gearbox decreases economy to 44.1mpg, with the standard car emitting 148g/km compared to 149g/km for the Performance. Despite the GTI’s improved performance, it actually falls into insurance group 29E – five groups lower than the outgoing model.

On the outside, the characteristic GTI red stripe is present, along with a revised front grille, two chrome tailpipes and sports suspension. Side sills, 18-inch alloy wheels, side sills and a rear diffuser are also fitted as standard.

Inside, standard equipment includes two-zone climate control, sports seats covered in the signature GTI tartan material, a bespoke sports steering wheel, a touchscreen infotainment system with DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.

Safety equipment includes an automatic post-collision braking system, which applies the brakes after an accident to prevent a second collisio;, a pre-crash system that tenses seatbelts and closes windows if an accident is likely, improving the effectiveness of the airbags; front assist vehicle proximity warning that primes the brakes up to speeds of 99mph, city emergency braking to automatically brake the car at speeds below 18mph; and radar-operated automatic distance control that maintains a set distance from the vehicle in front. There are also seven airbags, including one for the driver’s knees.

Keyless entry, high beam assist, lane assist, park assist, a rear-view camera, adaptive chassis control, touchscreen sat-nav and an eight-speaker Dynaudio stereo are all available as optional extras.

The Mk7 Volkswagen Golf GTI is available to order now. To view the full Volkswagen range, see the CarBuyer Volkswagen reviews page.