VW Golf GTi 5dr manual: Test Drive Review

We’d previously sampled the DSG auto version of the Golf GTi, and while it’s good, this six-speed manual is probably the one to pick because it’s £1500 cheaper and 9g/km more efficient, dropping the car two BIK bands. That combination adds up to a saving of £324 per year in BIK alone, without factoring in the 3.0mpg advantage of the manual. It also means a 3.4p per mile advantage, which is very impressive at 139g/km compared with a Ford Focus ST’s 169g/km.

The Golf GTi is excellent in terms of combining performance with lower medium hatchback practicality, and though a cracking-handling hot hatch, is an easy car to live with day-to-day.

The aforementioned Ford Focus ST is the most logical five-door rival, but others to consider include the Audi S3 and Skoda Octavia vRS. However, the Golf’s all-round excellence make it a clear winner on both logic and desirability – and the manual is the one to select.