Golf GTI Clubsport S Earns 5 Star Rating

We already know that the new Golf GTI Clubsport S, released to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the most famous hot hatch of them all, is the fastest front-wheel-drive production car to ever lap the Nurburgring, but that doesn’t tell us much about the way it drives. Fortunately, England’s Autocar was around to test the ultimate hot hatch, and they gave it their highest possible rating, five stars.

The first interesting piece of information is that Autocar’s Matt Prior calls the Clubsport S “very different from the regular Clubsport.” The car is more responsive and urgent, says Prior. Lower weight, more power, and stickier tires give the S speed and driveability that little else can come close to.

The suspension, too, is sweet, says Prior. It handles bumps and kerbs gracefully, giving you the confidence to attack the track and get the best possible time. It also makes the steering feel more precise and responsive.

Unfortunately, Prior didn’t get a chance to drive the Clubsport S in the real world, so no conclusions can be drawn about its livability, but the ontrack performance is enough to forgive a lot of potential offtrack harshness—which VW says doesn’t even exist.

The only problem with the car, says Prior, is the Golf R, which is less expensive. That said, though, the S is more fun on the track, so it’s well worth the extra cash.

Read the full review here.

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