Copyright 1995 – . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested… Continue reading Renault taps new leaders to replace jailed Ghosn
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Baidu tests driverless cars on expressway in Shanxi
Copyright 1995 – . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested… Continue reading Baidu tests driverless cars on expressway in Shanxi
Nissan receives SEC inquiry amid questions over executive pay
Inquiry comes after ex-chairman Ghosn charged with understating pay Go to Source
At the risk of annoying Tokyo, Emmanuel Macron pleads for Carlos Ghosn and Jean-Dominique Senard
Rather discrete in recent weeks, on the case of Carlos Ghosn, Emmanuel Macron has left his reserve this weekend to reveal that he had directly discussed the fate of the Franco-Brazilian boss, as well as the future of the partnership between Renault and Nissan with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The two leaders spoke on… Continue reading At the risk of annoying Tokyo, Emmanuel Macron pleads for Carlos Ghosn and Jean-Dominique Senard
Driving The Tesla Model 3 On Slippery Roads — Why It Rocks!
In this article, I will discuss handling of the Tesla 3 (and other cars) in slippery conditions. I'm not going to cover frozen door handles or reduced range in the winter. Those could be issues that you might want to research and I encourage you to do that. They're just not part of this article
China-made electric pickup could be yours for $5K
Original Article
Didi Chuxing, Beijing Electric form JV for new energy vehicle, AI projects
January 28, 2019 China’s Didi Chuxing said on Monday it had set up a joint venture (JV) with Beijing Electric Vehicle Co., a unit of Chinese carmaker BAIC, which will work on new energy vehicle and artificial intelligence projects. The JV, BAIC-Xiaoju New Energy Auto Technology Co. Ltd, aims to develop “next-generation connected-car systems”, Didi,… Continue reading Didi Chuxing, Beijing Electric form JV for new energy vehicle, AI projects
Most popular cars at risk of ‘keyless theft’
Media playback is unsupported on your device Hundreds of popular cars – including four of the five best-selling models in the UK – are susceptible to “keyless theft”, new research claims. Consumer group Which? found the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Golf, Nissan Qashqai and Ford Focus were all at risk. Thieves are increasingly thought to be… Continue reading Most popular cars at risk of ‘keyless theft’
BMW, Porsche, Jaguar Land Rover invest in roadside assistance startup Urgently
Urgently, the roadside assistance startup that connects car owners who need help with tow truck and other services, has raised $21 million in a Series B round that includes the venture arms of BMW, Porsche and Jaguar Land Rover. BMW has also signed Urgently as a vendor partner for its own roadside assistance platform (known… Continue reading BMW, Porsche, Jaguar Land Rover invest in roadside assistance startup Urgently
The VW GTI fast, fun and comes with a 72,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty for under $30,000
Mack Hogan/CNBC
The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI
The Volkswagen GTI is arguably the most important hot hatchback on the market. The first generation of the souped-up Golf inspired an entire new segment of quick, practical cars at affordable prices. Decades later, it has to fight harder than ever to win buyers.
Despite being the perennial sales leader in its class, it's taking a large share of an increasingly small market. As crossovers take the lead in practicality, VW has to bet that some consumers will prioritize fun and driving excitement. We hope they do, as the GTI is a phenomenal car with a lot of personality at a reasonable price.
The Good
The $32,380 VW expects for a GTI SE optioned like our tester isn't a small sum. But considering what you're getting, it's hard to deny that this hatch represents something of a bargain.
While still sliding in at a few grand below the average new car sold last year, the GTI offers room for four adults, a quality interior, an attractive design, an 8-inch infotainment system, a slick six-speed manual and 228 horsepower from the four-cylinder engine. All of that is backed by the automaker's new comprehensive six-year warranty, a play to get Americans to trust the product of a company not always heralded for reliability.
Mack Hogan/CNBC
The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Quality, too, is a definite strong suit. The VW does a passable impersonation of a luxury car with sturdy interior materials and a rigid chassis. The cabin is whisper-quiet with little indication that you're driving a performance-oriented car.
Throw it into some turns on a test drive and you'll be quickly reminded of its intended purpose. The GTI is composed and agile, with the front end darting into corners on command. Steering is communicative, though not as transparent as the best drivers cars. And despite the turbocharger, VW's 2.0-liter engine delivers its payload without the hesitation of more primitive forced induction motors.
Make no mistake, this isn't a neck-breaking performer. But 228 horsepower is more than enough to make it feel lively and get the adrenaline pumping when the time is right. When you're done, slot the shifter into sixth gear on the highway and relax. The peppy VW is just as happy to be a chill long hauler.
Mack Hogan/CNBC
The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI
The Bad
To provide such a well-rounded experience at this price point, VW had to cut some costs. Look closely in the cabin of the GTI and you'll certainly see the evidence of this, as there are weird omissions. The display in the gauge cluster, for instance, is the same mono-color unit that's graced VW cabins since the dawn of time itself. Automatic climate control is strangely absent. The dash design, in general, is largely unchanged from the design of the last generation GTI.
In fact, while the interior is high quality and completely functional, it's not exactly exciting. Almost everything in the cabin is a shade of black and probably made of plastic. That's not something to be ashamed of at this price point, but we've seen more adventurous interior designs that don't cost more.
Finally, we can't ignore that the GTI doesn't ride as smoothly as your standard-issue family car. It isn't uncomfortable, but the firm ride can lead to harsh experiences on pothole-infested city streets. Not a dealbreaker, but something to consider if you spend a lot of time on bumpy roads in low-speed environments.
Mack Hogan/CNBC
The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI
How We'd Option It
At $32,380, our tester was a good deal. A base model — at only $27,595 — is a serious steal. We recommend sticking with the manual transmission option to maximize fun, but a dual-clutch automatic transmission is available for an extra $1,100.
We'd also suggest you spend $450 on the driver assistance package, which will pay for itself if it prevents one collision over the life of the car. With destination charge, that brings our total to $28,940.
Final Thoughts
For under $30,000, it's hard to fault a car that drives this well, looks this handsome, feels this high quality and comes with bumper-to-bumper coverage for six years or 72,000 miles. The GTI was already a class leader, but the industry's best comprehensive warranty helps push it over the top for us.
It might not have the most exciting cabin or the softest ride, but the GTI offers so much fun and practicality that it's impossible to ignore. We highly recommend it for anyone who wants a fun car but needs something that works for everyday life.
Rating:
Exterior: 4
Interior: 3.5
Driving Experience: 4.5
Value: 5
Overall: 4
Price as tested: $32,380