The 2012 Volkswagen GTI

2012 VW GTI. Photo courtesy of Volkswagen.

The 2012 Volkswagen GTI is the German automaker’s hot hatchback vehicle, providing aggressive looks and sound along with performance thrills. Based on the Golf platform, the GTI comes with large 18-inch alloy wheels and either two or four doors. The car provides a smooth and quiet ride, with road noise levels matching those found in some luxury vehicles. Volkswagen provides a fun car that is still practical to drive on a daily basis, commuting in comfort down both highways and city streets.

Making the 2012 GTI a fun-to-drive car is a turbocharged 2.0 liter inline four cylinder engine that produces a peak 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission comes as standard equipment on the car, but buyers can option for a six-speed automatic transmission with a dual clutch and manual mode that allows the driver to select the gears. A VW GTI with an automatic transmission achieves an estimated 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, according to the EPA. Buyers can opt for a partial-zero-emissions-vehicle or PZEV version of the GTI.

Since it is built for driving fun, Volkswagen loaded the GTI with several performance-oriented features. A launch control system helps rocket the car forward when it is sitting still. The GTI also comes with a sport-tuned suspension, shifter paddles mounted to the steering wheel and four-wheel antilock disc brakes. The car’s front seats come with large side bolsters to keep the driver and front passenger firmly in place during hard cornering

Standard interior features in the GTI include power door locks and windows, an eight-speaker sound system, cruise control and heated front seats. The GTI also has the ability to connect to cell phones via a Bluetooth connection, allowing for hands-free talking while driving. The sound system comes with a jack that allows passengers to plug in an MP3 player. The top-of-the-line models come with a keyless entry and ignition system that works when the driver simply has the key in his pocket.