BADGE OF HONOUR

The Golf GTI may cost a king's ransom, but what you get in return is hot-hatch royalty.

- SHIVANK BHATT

It's been a long, long time coming, but the Volkswagen Golf GTI - arguably the greatest hot hatch in history - has finally landed on our shores. However, what should have been a landmark moment for enthusiasts has, sadly, turned into something of a damp squib, thanks to its astronomical sticker price - an eye-watering ₹53 lakh (ex-showroom).

For a car that looks like a Polo on steroids and carries a badge that literally translates to 'People's Car', that price tag is - for lack of a better word - ridiculous.

And the woes don't end there. The GTI isn't just out of reach for your average petrolhead Joe - it's also priced a full ₹8 lakh higher than the Mini Cooper S in India. If the Mini seems too impractical for your needs, there's always the far more accomplished BMW M340i, which - for not a whole lot more than what the GTI demands - offers greater performance, more space, better equipment, and the badge prestige that comes with a BMW.

As it stands, Volkswagen seems to have landed the GTI in no man's land with this absurd pricing. It's a serious misstep... but only if your experience of the GTI is limited to the internet. Because once you get behind the wheel of the GTI - holy hell - it redeems itself... and how!

JUST LIKE THE WIND...

To give us our first taste of the GTI in India, Volkswagen chose the high-speed and handling tracks at NATRAX, Madhya Pradesh. I kicked things off with a top-speed run on the 11.3km high-speed oval. Let's cut straight to the chase - the Golf GTI clocked a top speed of 267km/h. Remember, this isn't some sports car - it's a four-door family hatchback!