The Volkswagen Golf GTI is 45 years old, prompting this special Clubsport 45 model. Is it the GTI to buy in 2021?

PROS:

+ Strong engine

+ Fit and finish inside

+ Space and practicality

CONS:

- Infotainment system

- Uninspiring exhaust note

- Full-fat Golf R is cheaper

Verdict: The Clubsport 45 is a heart-rather-than-head purchase. It's difficult to make a case for buying one before the cheaper, faster (and brilliant) Golf R, but if you love Volkswagen and the GTI brand, paying slightly more for this special edition will make sense. You'll be getting a very capable hot hatchback either way.

2021 VW Golf GTI Clubsport 45 review: the five-minute read

Not many cars enjoy an iconic status like the Volkswagen Golf GTI. It's been around since 1976, evolving through eight generations and selling by the bucket-load around the globe.

There have been multiple special editions over the years to celebrate its continued success, but here we have the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 45 – celebrating (you guessed it) 45 years of the GTI.

It's based on the Golf GTI Clubsport, but gets some extra kit and a unique look to mark it out. It's also more expensive than the regular Clubsport, yet no more powerful. Even more poignant: it's more expensive than VW's more powerful, and superb, Golf R.

So, is it worth it? And does the 45 treatment elevate this GTI beyond the Honda Civic Type R to become the best hot hatch there is?

The Clubsport is a good looking thing on the outside, doing a good job of disguising the standard Mk8 Golf's frowning face. You get a new front bumper design, '45' stickers, unique black 19-inch alloy wheels, a black rear spoiler and mirror caps plus a chunkier Akrapovic sports exhaust system.

Inside there's less to distinguish it, with the only real difference a '45' badge on the same sports steering wheel you get in the regular Clubsport. You get the same figure-hugging sports seats too, although none of this is an issue, because it's all very nice indeed.

So is the usual high-quality Golf interior fit and finish, but what isn't is VW's latest infotainment system for the Golf. Oh, it's bright and responsive, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard, but VW's complicated menu structure and decision to fit touch-sensitive surfaces rather than physical buttons does frustrate.

Still, the Clubsport is as spacious and practical as any other Golf, so nails the essentially hot hatch brief of blending space with pace. Four adults sit comfortable inside, or five at a squeeze, while the 45's boot is large enough to handle a family week away. Lovely.

The Clubsport 45 gets the same 300hp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine as the regular Clubsport, it rides the same 10mm lower than the standard GTI, has the same front-wheel drive, the same differential between those front wheels, plus the same seven-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox. What it adds is an Akrapovic sports exhaust – something you can only usually add as an option to the R. Oh, and it increases the top speed to 166mph.

To be frank, we couldn't really hear much from that exhaust, which is a shame, but VW's petrol engine is a hugely impressive companion nonetheless. In its spiciest driving modes, throttle response is great and the effectiveness with which it puts its power to the road makes it feel faster than its 5.6-second sprint to 62mph suggests.

A Honda Civic Type R's steering still feels more natural, but the Clubsport 45 corners with real conviction, its Nurburgring driving mode proving the best combination of the sharpest steering and throttle yet relaxed suspension for fast, flowing UK country roads. Of course, dial it all back and the 45 will wander around town like lesser Golfs, or glide along the motorway quietly and comfortably.

You're getting one of the best hot hatches on sale in the Clubsport 45, then. That said, unless you really want the 45's look, you'll save money buying the regular Clubsport and enjoy greater all-weather performance from the all-wheel-drive R.

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Extended read…

2021 VW Golf GTI Clubsport 45 interior and infotainment

The Volkswagen Golf has long been a symbol of understated quality and the same rings true today in the Mk8.

Of course, the 45 comes with various trinkets to mark it out as one of the more aggressive Golfs you can buy, including red ambient lighting, figure-hugging sports seats, a sports steering wheel with '45' badging, sports pedals and dark dash trim.

Every Golf comes with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard, plus a 10-inch set of digital dials for the driver. However, it seems a bit stingy that even on this, the most expensive Golf you can currently buy, you still need to pay a large chunk to upgrade the system to VW's most advanced.

That said, the upgrade brings a built-in sat-nav and various connectivity functions that most can live without. Given Apple Carplay and Android Auto come as standard, we'd say give it a miss unless you really need it.

No matter which system you go for, despite both being bright and responsive to touch, VW's insistence on touch-sensitive surfaces and a fairly complicated menu system mean they're not the easiest systems to get your head around and can be tricky to use while driving.

The same can't be said of the digital dials, which are easy to configure and look superb, although more touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel make moving through their menus harder than it needs to be.

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2021 VW Golf GTI Clubsport 45 practicality and boot space

The GTI Clubsport 45 is the same as any other Golf inside when it comes to dimensions, meaning a couple of tall adults will stretch out in the front no problem and another couple will slot in behind without fuss too. Three adults will be fine on short journeys.

The driver gets a nice driving position with plenty of manual seat and wheel movement as standard, plus the pedals line up nicely with the driver's seat.

Like the regular Golf, the 45 gets generous door bins front and back, a decent glovebox and useful cubbies at the base of the dash and beneath the armrest between the front seats.

And behind all this sits a 381-litre boot that'll handle a family week away without issue, although one that is a good bit smaller than a Honda Civic Type R's.

2021 VW Golf GTI Clubsport 45 engine and gearbox

The Clubsport 45 gets the same 300hp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine as the regular Clubsport, it rides the same 10mm lower than the standard GTI, has the same front-wheel drive, the same differential between those front wheels, plus the same seven-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox.

What it adds is an Akrapovic sports exhaust – something you can only usually add as an option to the R. Oh, and the 45 increases the normal limited 155mpg top speed to 166mph. Handy. Or something.

To be frank, we couldn't really hear much from that exhaust, which is a shame, but VW's petrol engine is a hugely impressive companion nonetheless. In its spiciest driving modes, throttle response is great and the effectiveness with which it puts its power to the road makes it feel faster than its 5.6-second sprint to 62mph suggests.

Given all that performance, it's also impressive that if you take things easy, we also saw 36mpg.

2021 VW Golf GTI Clubsport 45 driving

We already know the Clubsport to be a genuine improvement on the standard GTI, so given that there are no changes to the 45 aside from that exhaust, it continues to impress on the right road.

As with so many cars these days, performance-orientated or not, there are driving modes. In fact, if you add the optional adaptive dampers (as our test car did) there are some 15 different settings for the suspension alone on the GTI Clubsport 45.

All you need to know is that for UK country roads, the 45's Nurburgring driving mode is best, which brings the meatiest steering, sharpest throttle response but also slackens the suspension to better deal with demanding road surfaces.

Set so, the 45 is a very capable hot hatch that'll entertain no end. It's eager to turn in, it's impressively flat through bends and its electronically controlled differential gets power to the road effectively on the way out the other side. It's big fun, even if a Civic Type R still steers with a little more precision and the four-wheel-drive Golf R will prove the more assured wet-weather hot hatch.

However, like the R, dial the 45 back to its Comfort driving mode and it will happily play the easy-to-live-with town car or quiet and comfy motorway cruiser too.

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