The GTI’s power doesn’t come with excessive pain at the pump, either: Official ratings are 9.5/7.2 l/100 km (city/highway), and despite some spirited driving I managed fuel economy within reasonable striking distance of the official numbers, with an average of 9.4 l/100 km in mixed driving and mid-8s on a mountainous highway drive. I likely could’ve achieved numbers even closer to the official ratings if I’d been content to leave the transmission in Drive, but I find that the Volkswagen’s otherwise excellent DSG transmission remains a bit overeager to upshift in its search for efficiency, and so I was constantly either slapping it into Sport mode (which has the opposite trait of frequently staying too long in lower gears) or flicking the somewhat small and plasticky paddle-shifters to force a downshift. I’ve said it before, but I think Volkswagen needs a third, semi-sport mode for the DSG transmission.

Around the corners, the GTI is tossable and fun, with precise steering, tenacious grip, and admirable balance for a front-drive car (and if you want all-wheel drive, there’s always the Golf R). The brakes live up to the promise of their red-painted calipers with confidence-inspiring stopping power and an easy to modulate pedal action. The Performance trim comes with selectable dynamic chassis control that offers Comfort, Normal and Sport modes, and to the chassis’s credit I found all modes offered a reasonable balance between ride and handling. Normal mode offers a fairly firm ride, certainly, but it doesn’t jostle you around and I found it just about perfect for everyday driving enjoyment. Comfort mode is a wee bit softer riding without becoming mushy, and Sport firms things up a little for even crisper handling, without becoming harsh.

Warranty:
4 years/80,000 km; 5 years/100,000 km powertrain; 12 years/unlimited distance corrosion perforation; 4 years/80,000 km roadside assistance

Competitors:
Ford Focus ST
Mini Cooper S
Subaru WRX STI

By the end of the week, the Volkswagen GTI had won over our entire family. I enjoyed the spirited driving dynamics, my long-legged teenage daughter appreciated the rear-seat legroom, my mother-in-law was impressed with the well-appointed interior, and my wife simply didn’t want to give the GTI back. While my top-of-the-line test car priced out at a fairly heady $39,495 before freight, if you can forego the automatic transmission and the Performances package’s 10 extra horsepower, dynamic chassis control, big touchscreen, and driver assist features, then you can get into an Autobahn trim five-door for a more family-friendly $33,995. At that price it’s still not the least expensive hatchback out there, but it’s certainly one of the most entertaining and well-rounded.

Pricing: 2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI 5-Door
Base price (Performance trim): $38,095
Options: $1,400 (DSG automatic)
Freight: $1,605
A/C tax: $100
Price as tested: $41,200

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