2020 Volkswagen Golf GTi MK8 Real World First Drive // Jonny Smith
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- A few videos ago Jonny drove the VW ID.3 electric car during a whistle stop visit to Wolfsburg in Germany. On the same day he also got to taste the forthcoming Golf GTi, now in its eighth mark. Although he didn't have much time behind the wheel (hence the DIY Vlog style), it was clear this is another highly accomplished and well rounded hot hatch masterpiece to drive.
The recipe appears to be have been soured by overly complex interior tech (haptic button overload, digital menus that aren't easy to navigate), cost cutting in some obvious cabin areas and - according to Jonny at least - a front end that looks like an apologetic Sloth.
The mk8 is no more powerful than the mk 7.5 it replaces (so long as you ordered it with the 242bhp Performance Pack option), but where the real engineering wizardry and development hours have been put in is on the suspension. Although optional, the infinitely adjustable magnetic damping is phenomenal. In stock form the mk8 GTi still uses multilink rear and strut front suspension, but is 15 percent stiffer at the back and 5 percent stiffer up front. It also now has alloy subframes, saving 3kg.
It has a smaller boot than a Civic Type R and far less power than Hyundai's i30N, RenaultSport's Megane RS and the Focus ST, so what will the CarPervert make of it? Jonny has, after all, owned several marks of GTi over the years.
GOLF GTI MK8
Price: from £33,000
On sale in the UK: Autumn 2020
Engine: EA888 TSI 1984cc turbocharged four-cylinder, 242bhp (245PS) @ 5000rpm, 273lb ft @ 1600rpm (370nm)
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch paddle auto or 6 speed manual, XDS elec diff lock + locking diff, front-wheel drive
Performance: 6.3 secs (DSG) or 6.5sec 0-62mph (manual, est), 155mph, 40mpg (est), 155g/km (est)
Weight / material: 1390kg(est), steel
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Edited by:
Filmed by: Jonny Smith
Edited by: Matty Graham @ Pixel Click pixel-click.com
Thumbnail by: Matt Tarrant Design matttarrantdesign.com
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Jonny Smith
Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98
Website: www.carpervert.com
Instagram: / jonnycarpervert
Twitter: / carpervert
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:25 What is the Mk8 GTi?
1:40 mk1 Golf GTi
2:40 revised suspension
3:08 Engine power
3:54 EA888 TSI engine revisions
5:20 Steering wheel
5:45 Locking Diff
7:45 Exterior walk around
9:46 Too helpful?
10:20 Boot space
11:15 Full tech spec
12:05 Haptic cockpit
15:20 Faster driving
16:05 Mk8 Clubsport coming?
18:18 Verdict
19:08 Subscribe yeah?
19:25 Patreon thanks!
#newgolfgti #volkswagengolfgti #mk8golfgtireview #jonnysmithreviews #newgolfgtifirstdrive - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Jonny is like the Louis Theroux of the automotive world.
How?? I've got nothing against Jonny, but he is not like Louis, they have nothing in common, no way. Louis Theroux risked his life, limb and reputation for some of his documentaries, they open eyes and provoke thought. While Jonny just drives around in a car, perfectly safe and comfortable, and then gives us his opinion about it. Sure, these videos are professionally done and are pleasant to watch, but that's all. Your statement is ridiculous.
Also the fact that Jonny pinned your comment makes me think that he could use a big slice of humble pie.
Your username instantly gives you zero credibility. Lighten up Mr Magnet.
@@dg2911 My username is a joke and a reference and has nothing to do with you talking shit. Nice try to deflect and change subject though.
CZcams comments are much like magnets, theres positive and negative.
You sir clearly favour the latter.
Interesting that Citroen were one of the first to go with touch screen climate control and they’re now reverting to physical controls in new cars due to customer feedback.
I reverted to a physical controls on my cooking hob, instead of touch based shite that doesn't even work if I have gloves on! Nothing wrong with knobs and switches! Touch feels cheap.
My wife drives a C4 Grand Picasso - almost the entire car is touch screen based. It is basically impossible to change climate or other settings without using the screen - it is so dangerous and frustrating.
Even Elon Musk put buttons for important functions on Crew Dragon.
@@pbyfr Elon Musk uses touchscreen to flush his toilet at his home. fact!
abz 7183 I’m glad they’re listening
I don't think touch screens are safe to use while moving, surely it's as bad as trying to text while driving. How long do your eyes leave the road while trying to find ventilation controls on a touch screen compared to feeling for a rotary control. How will technophobe OAPs be able to deal with that. My Dad couldn't operate an iPad because his hands used to shake yet he had no problem driving and operating a Toyota Prius or his old Jaguar. All this touch screen stuff is great but it just will not work for all people and I believe it's as dangerous as using a mobile phone while driving!
Ken Edwards, I totally agree. If I was a law maker I would ban the use of touchscreens in cars, and I’m quite serious on that.
In Australia it is illegal to use a mobile phone in a vehicle except hands free ( some states even have cameras, both fixed and mobile, to catch you using your phone whilst driving). And yet just about every new car allows you to connect your phone thru Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and then use the vehicle’s touch screen to use the phone. How is doing that not just as bad as using the mobile directly? And all this touchscreen crap is down to bloody Elon Musk and damn Tesla’s. The world is going to Hell in a hand basket abetted by corporations that will do anything for money, even when it’s totally stupid and dangerous.
It’s an awkward phase until voice AI commands make its way into cars. Lots of regulations to still hurdle to get it in a car package, and not too much profit to incentivize tech companies to get over those hurdles faster compared to their other ventures.
@Antonio Zamudio Yes this is true, we did set up accessibility options but my point about the car is it doesn't have these options.
Yeah I love my Tesla, but I REALLY don't feel comfortable using the touchscreen on the move. For most functions that's fine - I don't need to use them on the move - but for "driving" controls, I want a damn button
Let me get that straight: The MK8 is basically a MK7 with a worse looking exterior, worse controls interior and cheaper materials?
It’s probably way cheaper to produce than the mk 7
Sadly it looks like it
I think you summed it up. It looks awful.
Yep 👍
The new Seat Leon is basically the same - worse than the Mk3.5 in just about everyway. I'm just glad I got the current Cupra 290 and not the Mk4 crap that's coming down the line.
Jonny didn't smile once. In the Autogefühl review, Tomas didn't smile once. This tells me exactly what I need to know.
It's a nice daily
Cheers Jonny. You do a good job. I like the combo of good info and relaxed presentation style.
I wish you well.
V kind. Cheers Chris.
Hey Jonny, I like that you put the time into the little time stamp description things at the bottom of the video, nobody else seems to bother with them. It's the little things that show you're not like the others jonny, you really care about us, don't go and leave us for topgear now :) hahah
Great review! In the CZcams landscape it's quite rare to have a normal calm speaking person who knows his stuff to do video's. Its so much nicer to listen to. Great relief from the standard: HelloOOW CZcams!!! WHAT'S UP?!
Savagegeese is quite chilled as well.
Finally Mk8 GTi content, even better that it's Jonny to bring it to us!
You mean a mk8 GOLF GTi? Stop pronouncing it as a mk8 GTi.
Front end still looks stupid. Still has the stupid dash. I don't see how this is an improvement on the 7.5.
It's bloody awful.
Even the back end looks a little too overwrought, and somehow from that rear angle the wheels look too small. The 7 looks taught and more purposeful by comparison.
Agreed!!
Antonio Zamudio it’s not archaic if a digital dash is less ergonomic than an analogue one, it’s devolution
Antonio Zamudio well they’re all the same because you can’t use while driving.
Has the GTI lost its touch this generation? Quite possibly
With all generations I would imagine
It's more the competition have moved ahead, like in terms of the horsepower you get with a hot hatch. Vw played it safe imo
It's the new MK4
Hi Johnny...great review on the GTI. Love all your work!. Thank you. Richard
The angry jack-o-lantern face is getting really tiring. Can't we have an optimistic and eager face like the old GTIs of the past? Agro is just not endearing.
Ugliest new hatchback in my opinion on par with BMW 1 series. EVERY new hatchback looks better... Focus, Megane, i30, Fiat Tipo, and yes even Astra and Corolla.
@@mastermaltese8731 At least the Golf stays the same underneath. The BMW 1 series, oh boy. Front wheel drive and a design like its an mini suv? Jeez. That upsets many people.
@@Gentleman...Driver the 1 series looks and probably drives like they shrunk their minivan.
No physical buttons is a total deal breaker 👎 not messing around with that crap while driving
That was my first thought when I saw the Model 3
@@thesneakinmonkey yeah but the Tesla is quick and clean.
I've literally never been less excited for a car review.
Yet you still watched it?
@@Birmingham_racing I had hope...
@@Birmingham_racing and ?
So you have to be excited to watch it ? Maybe he was hoping to be surprised or have his mind changed.
I couldnt agree more, proper anticlimactic yuck
Wonderful as always, this among my top 3-4 YT sites. As a bonus, today, it forced me to look up what is to this old man a new word- haptic. Thank you for that. Oops you gave the definition later on.
I love the car but, piano black on the key fob? Oh, my, OCD! Car designers, can you please leave off the cheap, shiny black, easily scratched plastic on our frequently touched surfaces and switch gear?
You think that's bad? The GTI typeface used inside doesn't match the one on the boot. Nightmare!
Zat's ze Germans though innit? They go from over engineering to tacky to unnecessary all within a few inches of interior trim.
Agreed. Gloss black is such a cliche now, scratches and looks awful in no time.
It's easier to set the Self-destruct mode on the starship Enterprise than to work the ventilation system on a mk8. Utter madness.
Crash Box “the more you bypass the plumbing, the easier it is to block up the drains”.
Copyright Montgomery Scott, Chief Engineer U.S.S. Enterprise NC-1701
Is it really that bad?
Does the Second Officer concur?
Push voice control button: say "it is to warm"
Just use voice control. Didn't take me 15 minutes.
But activating active cruise control and predicative speed assist and automatic speed limit recognition took me a little bit longer. Awesome.
It gets slower at the corner you need to turn and you don't even have to push brake or accelerator if you use GPS.
Awesome on the autobahn. Did 1200km last week, mostly 190kph at the unrestricted sections, ended up with 5.9L/100km Diesel. Awesome.
Construction sites it gets slower and accelerates with the changing speed signs.
Just awesome.
I was gonna wait a bit get a mk 8 but just got a full spec mk7.5 barely used around the same price as the mk8 mid spec would be. I made the choice when I learned that even the air-conditioning was going to be through a screen and I prefer buttons even though it looks less modern don't necessarily dislike.mk8 looks more then 7 kinda the same for me I think mk7 with the daylight led's looks modern enough though mk8 interior is more modern the exterior looks uglier upfront yet better at the back don't see what things I can get on the mk8 and not on the 7
That dash and cluster with all that shiny black plastic is truly horrible, a lot of distracting reflections and looks very cheap and nasty. Bad design VW.
so true, worst design on a massmarket car in ages. So surprised VW did so bad, usually they get it right or at least mostly right.
We got the 7.5 GTI-P Love it... still every day. Perfect everyday, fun, practical and way faster than I ever need...
Killing it with the content lately Jonny👍
I surely can´t be the only one who wants knobs and gauges in my car, am I?
No, you aren't!
The only thing that needs physical buttons is the climate controls for me
@@KevBoy3D And the radio? Much easier to press a channel button than scroll through a menu.
@@KevBoy3D Windows? Lights? Cruise Control? Radio? Wipers?!
Those one piece seats remind me of something. Oh yeah, the ones in my dad’s top of the range 😀 Lada Riva SLX around 1987. I’d rather have adjustable head rests thanks.
Good review, really clear, balanced and informative. I really like this car, even the front end styling!
I agree with you, Jonny, Mk5 is still my favourite and it still drives so well, even compared to its modern equivalents
I know the Golf has long been an "evolution, not revolution" type of car, but honestly this just looks like the Mk7 and Scirocco had a baby. I'll always love the GTI, but I can't say this update has filled me with excitement.
Can't see the car, that massive watch covers the whole screen...
I don’t really see any improvements on the mk7.5 gti ?
And it's uglier
It's for people who think the 7.5 isn't ugly enough.
You know what? I can see only downgrades.
thanks Mr Smith, as per usual an excellent review of a new car.
Fast becoming one of the reliable youtube channels!
FYI your patreon link is pointing to the old URL.
Love my mk5 gti, great performance and practicality for the money
1:43 Love that sketch
Thanks Jonny. Car Pervert is the Golf GTi of CZcams channels. Every other channel wants be this good.
1979....cars, Gary Neuman, I remember that song playing in my head while going 2 soccer practice. Our record was 0-8....but had so much fun.
Thanks for the great vid! In South Africa the Gti isn’t a car, it’s an institution. Will be interesting to see how it is received here.
Truth only! It should be loved as they always are.
Are they already selling the mk2 there? :D
Juho Jalonen if they still sold the mk2 we would probably buy more than the 13000 golf 7 gtis we bought. China still sells a variant of the mk2 I think.
Bro it'll still be crazy popular here
It looks like a Chinese car that's had VW badges glued onto it. It looks really quite dull.
Lol - knock off badges at that
This was another massively informative review. I swear, Jonny Smith could read the phone book and make it interesting.
Agreed, I’m not interested in any cars other than EV but this video was entertaining, JS knowledge and relaxed style make it. Mark I looks best to me but that’s probably nostalgia
Not sure about that John, but the comment is really appreciated. Thank you.
Personally the mk5 golf is the best looking modern golf. Great content as always. 👍
Great video as always. Have a 7.5 GTI and it doesn’t make me want it enough to change later this year. Would of liked it to be more powerful but love the 7.5 and is pretty much the perfect all rounder. If I had to have one car for 10 years, it would be the 7.5 GTI. Cheers Jonny 👍🏻
Non physical buttons don't seem like a good idea. I hate saying that though because it seems like such a grandaddy thing to say. Mark 8 looks like they melted a mark 7.
Buttons give feedback without taking eyes off the road. How simple is that?
A nice and honest review! Love it. That seat is a mishmash of styles and materials. Give me a nice manual recaro with lumbar any day.
Great video. Best I have seen on the new GTI.
2020 is a cursed year.
No it isn’t.
It’s the culmination of a hundred years of mass industrialisation, mass production, air travel, mass farming..
It’s humans fault. If humans weren’t here 2020 would be another mostly peaceful year on the planet.
With humans it’s burning, flooding, collapsing and generally suffering.
It’s humans fault NOT the chronological measurement of an abstract human concept.
Agreed. Also so many sheeple buying into the Covid-1984 Plan-demic.
It went from feeling like brethren to the Audi to a second cousin of a civic. I am sooooo glad I got the 7.5, it still feels like a drivers car and not a video game cockpit.
Brilliant review I appreciated the graphics on the previous models which were excellent.
Relaxed presentation, not like other stressful youtuber, good to have time to assimilate the information.
Save the clocks!
Save Three peddles!
Save Key Start ignition!
Don't forget the hand brake!
Me: _why car pervert ?!_
Johnny: *0:35*
Me: OK
Thanks for this great review. The more I see the MK8 the more I like it and I think this GTI will be a good seller for VW. The GTI does everything brilliantly tv so why would you want another car.
A stick!!! Glad to see you can still drive this car
Johnny Smith driving a non-electric car, and a HOT HATCH?
Am I dreaming?
Great to hear your views on the new GTI Jonny. Thanks
I'd never heard the word 'haptic' and now I've heard it more in this video than any other word :D
Still, I would prefer a Mk1 with a few upgrades. To me it just looks so much cooler and is most likely much easier to maintain.
MK2 is the one that appeals to me the most, although if I'd have to choose a modern era golf GTI I'd say MK7 (pre facelift) 3dr manual with the performance package
Totally agree with you you too mate after the Mark 1 and as you said maybe the Mark to they all got fat and boring and actually started to lose their reputation as being reliable most estate agents and double glazing salesman drive them ip people's rears on the motorway. Will realise just because the door closes nice thing on a car doesn't mean it's reliable or well built it can just mean they have a nice door catch🤣
get one then they're not going anywhere
Good review!
But I must admit that this GTI doesn't get me excited - at all. I 've previously owned a MK6 GTI and currently own a MK7 GTI Clubsport (which I like a lot!). This new GTI somehow looks a bit cheap and sad. :(
Awesome pick with the Clubsport! Yeah, as a 20 year GTI fan, the Mk8 looks like it misses a lot of key things...still probably a good chassis, but GTIs always win by doing almost everything well. This exterior design and interior interface do not look like they would foster that long-term appeal like previous GTIs have, though...
Damn it looks good from the side, especially with those wheels.
Loved the review. Very easy to watch.
Black gloss is a terrible material for interiors especially touch surfaces like the gear knob in a manual car?
Bring back the golf ball.
It has an electric parking brake too which sucks
One piece seats of that style just seem cheap to me. If they're proper bucket seats sure, but my friends Citreon C1 has them and it's horrible in the back with those massive hulking ugly seats.
Yeah mate - totally spot on - they do look utterly CHEAP!
Thank you sir, Great video ! I am new here ! Very good and well rounded !
makes me love my mk6 even more
I don't like it, especially the touch screen in cars for important controls, just lame
this is the first GTI ive got no interest in
I love it
Always informative and interesting 👍🏻
At 00:04 I nearly got taken out by that huge watch! Great vid/nice watch.
I think the golf will have about 11 years before a full redesign.
This is really just the Golf 7.6 with a lot of cost cutting and worse styling.
Despite the bells & whistles this car reminds me of magnolia paint.
And exactly what you want from a hatchback.
@@TDS981 I want a hot hatch the reignites the excitement the cars of the 90's. They weren't big bhp but they were light and flick able and the driver made the car not the on board computers.
Amazing review. Best I have read or seen in English or German.
Have been waiting for a mk8 gti review for aaaaaages!
Excellent real world review but please use a different font for your tool tips! These ones weren’t very easy to read quickly.
I am a Golf Gti owner, and have owned every Gti since the Mk5, my honest opinion is that the Mk 6 was my favourite 'full package' to own & drive. This Golf 8 Gti is truly underwhelming to look at in the video & picture reviews. I will reserve my full judgement until I see in the metal & drive it, but so far, it's very obvious that some serious budget cuts took place here, and VW is serving us a hot dish on a very, very cold plate. They are in deep trouble about "dieselgate" and suffered tremendously during lockdowns, so it is not surprising that they need to cut corners but still make it seem they are giving us value for money. Let's see when it releases in early 2021 here in South Africa.
I have an mk7 performance pack. But will be looking at mk8 manual of course. Driver engaging. Johny great review thank you. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Many thanks Musti
Your very informative and down to earth. Your welcome
That new front facial is really cool and like it a lot
I thought they would try to change the styling to at least try to make it look aggressive... MK8 for me is a complete write off. MK7.5... even MK7 nailed it in the styling department.
Mk7 > Mk 7.5. The original was much cleaner.....and was available in 3 doors.
Flitzer roughly translates as "zoomer". Zoom in the sense of moving quickly rather than increasing magnification. So someone zooming about is a flitzer...
@@kenankoca3567 oh yeah i forgot that fkk
Where can I grab those artist images of all GTI versions? Great review. Mk7 owner that hasn't felt the need to upgrade (manual of course)
I like the fog lights the light bar across the front the colour the dials and the one piece seats and that’s about it
Front end looks cheapened rear looks good, but those seats and the dash alone make me want to look elsewhere. Golfs are supposed to be simple and elegant this is too busy with buttons all over the wheel and digital dash with no coherence. They should of just made a larger infotainment screen and went back to analog main gauge dials/climate controls and give an option like the seats from the mk5 R32 at a premium.
Not a very exciting car at all. I got bored of the video ( not Johnny the car ).
All the above ,plus the current virus,until the next one comes along.
In 2011 I had an Smax , physical climate controls , or touch screen or voice. All worked well. Currently in Cupra Ateca , less than a second to change temp using the rotary control. This is an economic step back.
18:40 Front seat in one piece, so headrest cannot be adjusted. May be not thw best for shorter person?
@5:45 Jesus Jonny, slow down bud.
😆
Great review! Personally I like the Mk7.5 GTI much more. The all touch screen interior is horrible to operate on the move and the material quality on the MK8 is a step backwards for the brand. The shiney plastic surrounds on the screens look cheap and blinding. Add to that, VW still wants you to pay extra for the adaptive suspension (like prior gen) that they love to talk about. I would be much happier with an I30N and it's more playful character. Seems like now VW wants you to pay even more money on the Clubsport just to get a competitive car. The Mk8 GTI looks depressed and uninspirings up front.
79, what a great vintage ;)
The looks are growing on me tbh
MK7 pre-refresh is still the best looking. DSG is also far more tunable out of the box, which is a big draw of this car.
Mk5 all day
@KC Yep, The 7.5 has slightly better looking tail lights, by the DRLs on the Mk7 are way nicer ... subtle with a wink of mischief. I could stare into those eyes for days
This is the correct take. My 3 door , tornado red , dsg mk 7 also agrees.
I'm tired of every car trying to be "premium" in all aspects. I dont want technology, I want a lighter car.
I understand building to a price point, that's a reality of the capitalist framework in which we exist. but I don't need the inside of my gti to look nice and have g-sensors and lane-keep assist. that's missing the point.
legal requirements aside, could you not take that shit out and save money - in development and in production?
give me air conditioning (with physical buttons for fucks sake) and then take out all the unnecessary bullshit. get it to a state where its lighter and cheaper and still legal. I'll take that gti.
edit - also where's my golf ball?
Get the mk7.5 then. Fits all your requirements
@@dins.garage you're entirely missing the point. those cars are exactly what I'm talking about
Up Gti?
if you want a lighter car instead of quality of life features, you’re living in the wrong generation. the gti would lose its touch if it abided by your standards since it would have pretty shitty daily drivability
@@shijima_ending yer acting like there's never been a comfortable car made in the past?
Great day, helpful information we get it go ahead.. 👍
Afraid this one won't be remembered too well.
Dave Allen: I bought a fast car last week, it gets from 0 to 60 in 5seconds and i've saved 2minuets in 1 week. What did you do with the 2 minuets? I've been telling people.
What's a minuet?
@@johnmiller9953 A minuet is a social dance of French origin for two people, usually in 3/4 time.
Spent an extra 2min in the toilet.
@@johnmiller9953 My apology for the typo, I'm blind and as such, my typing speed sometimes gets the better of me. I meant to type "Minuet". I hope this helps.
Are you going to take a look at the new GTE? Would love that!
Jonny, your excitement for the MK8 GTI is exhilarating... ish... LOL
Brilliant review
On the nail as ever, MK5 the best (edition 30 the best of the best ?) ... GTi better than R ... that was my conclusion but I didn’t know why !
Sorry but the Mk2 16v was the best( or maybe the G60???)
@@grantta7450 that your opinion buddy
Got a mk7.5 with the performance pack, 2019. Happy I didn’t wait for this. Interior on this looks cheap, hate the word golf under the vw badge on the rear, front end looks daft.
They had to cut costs because if the costs of developing a new electric car platform and paying off fines.
Great job. There's almost zero chance I'll ever get another ICE car, but you made this interesting and enjoyable. Love this music, and that you're not playing it over your voice. Very chill, relaxing.
All that said, who will buy this when they could get an EV that will be faster off the line, and much cheaper to own?
Maybe they'll be discounting these, I think they'll have to.
Thank you Daniel
This is the the best GOLF VW has ever produced....it feels fast cos it is. Great handling and has 245 WHEEL HORSE POWER not crank like the other generations GTi and competitors are claiming.
Mark 7.5 is going to be a very difficult act to follow, both outside and interior
I think VW should go back to having the grille between the lights like the mk1 and 2, it could look really aggressive. This thing looks like a Kia at the front
You know....that could be because Kia has been trying to copy VW and Audi for a few years already...Just a thought.
@@kraenk12 my point is it is quite bland. But I suppose the Golf has always been conservatively styled.
12:03 what is that fuel gauge actually trying to tell me? I literally don't have a clue how to read it..
Nice review again Jonny. I guess you would call the MK8 a grower?? Personally not overly keen on all of it, a bit too techy for me, I like to see a proper analogue dash layout, always good to see the speedo needle on the other side of the dial!! The fact is there will be fans of every version of the Golf and it's all been said before when they launch a new one, people will get used to it and it will sell, that's what VW do. Keep them coming Jonny.