Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 2020 review | Chasing Cars
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- Опубліковано 7 лип 2024
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Tom reviews the new 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR hot hatch and provides an expert opinion.
Is the Golf GTI TCR the ultimate hot hatch? Is this final Mk 7 TCR the best VW GTI ever made? Should you buy the last-of-the-line Volkswagen Golf GTI before the Mk 8 GTI comes out in Australia next year? These are the questions we’re answering in today’s video, where Tom takes the new-for-Oz GTI TCR in Pure Grey out on road and track to see whether this hot hatch is where it’s at.
In today’s view, Tom Baker from Chasing Cars conducts a review of this new version of the Volkswagen Golf GTI five door, finished in Pure Grey over tartan fabric and microfleece seats.
What do you think of the last Mk 7 GTI? Do you like the TCR sticker pack and other alterations? Would you go for a GTI over an i30 N or Focus ST? Or is it a Golf R with AWD for you? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments box below.
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I’ve owned a TCR for over a year (UK) and I’m still watching videos about the car. It’s definitely the best Golf GTI ever, possibly the best Golf ever!
I've always said the Golf GTI is the Swiss Army knife for cars can do everything fantastic review mate
Great analogy for the GTI.
Hi from Germany! Nice video about the TCR in Australia! Got my TCR with serial AKRAPOVIC exhaust in January, and I reallly love it.
Great great review, I’m a big fan of gti’s. I Currently own MK7 GTi in Florida. Just did the cross country 9000 mile roadtrip in 3 and 1\2 weeks finishing with 50k miles on the clock and the car has never let me down, not even once. Fantastic cars, a truly “porsches for folks”. In hot climate countries TCR is definitely worth the upgrade (we just dont get them in the us) and for four season countries I would definitely look for the R all wheel driveness. I will never trade off my GTi unless I need more space for family. There is nothing better and daily livable in this class and for the money and never will be for real drivers that want to have some joy behind the helm! Toyota Camry is the most selling car in the US and has been for the past 20years, I would die from boredom by having that car and driving it daily; ahhhh! This is Tom from Florida and saying hello to overseas. Keep making this kind of car video awesomeness! Thank you 🙏🏻
Agreed -- no boring cars!
Great review Tom. Format of the race/road/interior really worked for this one. Tempo was spot on for the ride. Keep the stickler pack though. :)
Thanks, Sam. Glad you enjoyed the format. We're playing with it a little to see what works best for certain categories of car.
Loved it, as always Tom! 👌
I did too! No worries.
Loving this channel and reviewer's communication is on point.
That said I have such a soft spot for the TCR !
Thanks for your kind words, Jacques!
Looks awesome! Great review mate.
Thanks Joe! Agree, it looks the business.
I've just bought one of these so excited to pick it up
Best car reviewer in Australia. It would be great to see you review more cars on the track, Tom. Your style is well suited to it. Well done ol' son. Quick question. How's the tire roar at 100/110 on coarse chip?
Thanks for those kind words. Unfortunately road roar on ContiSports is always pretty poor on the highway, though it is definitely quieter in the TCR than, say, the Civic Type R with similar tyres
Love it Tom,great review and totally awesome car,VW fanatic here love my Golf.
I love this car, this why im buy it 😍
Good day, as it 3pm here, there all the way from South Africa. VWSA managed to secure us 300 units of TCR. on track this car felt like it is not pushed hard as you did with I20N that I also watched. Furthermore, I could here tires squeaking more often than I expected. . . .otherwise as always great video enjoyed all the way from South Africa.
Interesting car, I do love the seats! It does seem a little expensive, however...
$51k is an expensive GTI but it’s a very accomplished all-rounder and more fun than an R
Agree. Too pricey for a front wheel drive, and considering the Golf 8th generation is already out.
Great review with so much emphatic conviction - leads us, the subscribers, to absolutely need to know what is your favourite real world car. Don't worry - we won't tell anyone. You will remain completely impartial as a motoring journalist.
I do have a favourite real world car, but I can tell you it isn’t a Volkswagen Golf GTI. It is entirely possible for an impartial journalist to accurately report when they drive an extremely well rounded vehicle, however. Doesn’t have to be doom and gloom to be telling the truth.
@@chasingcars This is precisely why we enjoy your reviews - thank you!
Fantastic review Tom.
It’s great to see you with the helmet, are so so at home with this Golf GTI TCR at the track.
Wonder how it compares with the BMW M135i xDrive.
Thanks, Michael. I do enjoy some track time here and there. In answer to your question … the GTI TCR is on another level compared to the new 1 Series, including the M135i. Hopefully BMW learns a lot about doing FWD hot hatches and the mid-cycle upgrade is good. Fingers crossed for the 128ti - looks like some of those lessons are being learned quickly.
Chasing Cars Thanks Tom, for your feedback.
I think the 195KW BMW 128ti would be a good fit and a worthy rival to Golf GTI and the Hyundai 130N.
Look forward to your review of the BMW 128ti, when it lands in QZ in 2021.
Great review Tom. I've got one question, are VW giving the option of the Dynaudio 400W sound system? I'm tossing up between this and the R Final Edition. This review has sold me on the TCR I think.
Harley, the only option on the Australia-spec TCR is a pano roof. No Dynaudio, but if I am really honest, I don't love the Dynaudio system in the Mk 7.5 Golf. It doesn't sound great to my ears. I lived with a GTI 7.5 for six months and never attuned to the Dynaudio. To me, the 'base' speakers in the TCR (and other Golfs) sound better! No bias, just speaking from personal experience.
The pinnacle of GTI
Agreed, Dennis!
Great review, as always. I own a red TCR for 1.5 years now, I am in Europe and here it was released some time ago. I pretty much agree with everything you said about it. Between the R and the TCR the price difference is quite big if you don't spec it to the max. There is only one problem though, the build quality is going worse with VW. I have only 15k km and the rattles and squeaks are impossible to describe. They come from everywhere, service just ignores you when you complain about them. I am surprised not many have complained about it so far as I do not believe I had so much bad luck with it. It comes from dashboard, doors, trunk. I don't know if the R has the same issue as I haven't driven any 7.5R. Something to keep in mind as a the high trim TCR and R goes already in the S3 price range.
I had a door rattle for years in my Mk 6 Golf -- unlucky, I guess.
Got a 2020 TCR in January and drove almost 12.000km so far (50%city, 30% autobahn, 19% landstrasse & 1% nuerburgring race track). No rattles so far except rear seat, but this was very easy to fix with some tape around the iron lock. Heard about many problems (rattles and even broken frames) with the panoramic roof here in Germany, so I'm quite happy that I ordered my TCR with a standard closed roof :-)
Great review! Is the perfect hot hatch, light on it’s feet and nimble. It will make a great drive in the Victorian High Country
Would love to have a fang in the Victorian high country in this - maybe after borders are eased.
I have always enjoyed your videos, but is it possible to film future videos in higher frame rate so that there is less motion blur when the cars are moving?
We'll look at it.
Another excellent review Tom, well done. Have been waiting to hear your opinion - how does this compare to the 180KW MK7.5 GTI?
Thanks, Trevor. Love the stock Mk 7.5 GTI, but the TCR is on another level. Hard-charging and more tenacious in the corners, plus it sounds better. And those seats are unique and cool!
Chasing Cars Thanks Tom. I’m really intrigued. Because the OZ car is de-tuned compared to the rest of the world, how would you compare it to a CIVIC Type R (looks aside)?
Awesome review (as always)! Would you take this or an R?
I'd take this as I prefer the involvement of a 2WD hot hatch -- but the R is an incredibly accomplished and liveable vehicle. I'd happily drive an R wagon.
Very desirable car. Great review once again.
Thanks, Tony. Agree, the TCR has a lot going for it.
Great review!
Whats your thoughts about the sound from the TCR?
Sounds good - but they could have gone louder on the exhaust.
Nice, but isnt it already out in europe for awhile now? I never knew theyre going to bring it in australia to be honest. But if you can get ahold on one of those renault megane rs throphy r with the carbon pack. That would be amazing as ive seen other review but most of it are not including the carbon pack.
Been out in Europe for ages, John, but Australia receives VW product pretty slowly. Went on sale this week here.
Hi Tom, great review of the TCR. With a question on power outputs, my old MY15 Audi S3 had 210kw and 380nm with the 6 speed DSG. I think they could have given it the 380nm as the overseas version? Keep it up the with best car reviews!!
Hmm, didn't know about that Paul. I thought the six-speed was limited to 350Nm, but there you go! I'd say it would be a hot climate thing.
@@chasingcars Thanks Tom for your reply, My old S3 Audi is Oz spec though! Just seem odd to hobble the top GTI's torque against its lower brethren..
I use to own a Mk7 Golf R, a great all rounder.I have to say the 350nm does seem low compared to other hot hatches. It is only when a car is compared to others in the same segment that you see its measure.A few examples: the upcoming i30N with a dsg box with more power and torque, the superseded Renault Megane RS with more power and 70nm more than TCR.The Ford Focus more power and torque than the TCR.I believe the exclusivity of the TCR and that it is an accomplished all rounder seem to be its biggest selling points. If I was in the market, I would have a hell of a time trying to make up my mind on which hot hatch to buy.
Mmm, torque is a bit low. But because they've scaled it back to 350Nm they've been able to stick the old six-speed wet DSG (limited to 350Nm from factory) back in - which is way more drivable than the seven-speed in my experience.
@@chasingcars When I test drove the MKR 7.5, I don't know whether I was imagining it, but I felt that the 6 speed DSG in my MK7 Golf felt slightly better in the power delivery.
Add 4000 AUD and you can get a 4WD Golf R~But this TCR looks really cool, I love these matte painting
Just a very different vibe behind the wheel. The Golf R can be fun but most of the time it’s straight-laced. The TCR is a lot lighter and you can induce fun dynamics more easily.
I saw one in person the other day same colour and sticker pack. I had my GTI cap on, and the owner was happy to talk to me.I still have my 2008 Mkv with 78,000k on the clock. I don't think the change over price would work for me. Very expensive. Did we miss out on Akrapovic exhaust? Europe got them. More cost.
The Akrapovic exhaust has appeared in Australia, but only on the Golf R Performance Parts Special Edition. TCR misses it.
What do you think the new bmw 128ti will be like with the new gti? Overseas there saying that the 128ti is more fun than the m135i! I want a quick point to point car
Andrew, my fingers are seriously crossed for the 128ti. There is no doubt that BMW would have been horrified by the lukewarm reviews of the M135i (I mean, it lost our comparo to the eight year old S3 - not ideal). Looks like the 128ti has potential. For me, I prefer FWD+LSD than AWD in this segment for a bit more feel. I'll wait until I drive it, but the signs are good.
I'm so indecisive about my next car. I'm leaning towards 3 cars that are small, fun, sporty and can be used as a daily driver. If you were to choose from one of these, which one would you get? VW GTI TCR w/sunroof, BMW M2 Competition or Porsche 718 Boxster S.
I'd go with BMW M2 Competition, it's a dying breed of M car that's still offered with a manual and RWD. And its closest rival is the Cayman, not that the Boxster is a lesser car to the M2. I just think owning a Boxster would be too much of a tease of what Porsche really wants you to drive. If practicality is a must then the Golf is an easy choice, with plenty of spare change to spend on mods if that's your thing.
@@Alby911 appreciate your help and ideas. Wish I had the ability to pick all 3 but I believe you're right about the M2. I'll try to line up a couple of test drives and see which one works best for me and enjoy my midlife crisis :)
Hey Tom, what's the watch that you are wearing?
JJ, it's an Omega Seamaster Professional.
Not a fan of mk 8 but the 7.5 is 🔥
It's been a great Golf and for me, the TCR is the best of all the Mk 7s / 7.5s.
You've driven one?
Best looking modern Golf. (not this colour though)
Can't wait for mk8 golf gen
It’ll be interesting. But will it be better than the Mk 7? We will see...
@@chasingcars it's not all new it's got same wheel base as mk7 golf and boot space is the same
That interior though … no buttons!
@@chasingcars true
I want! Will they swap a '13 VII 90tsi?
Always worth a try! Maybe they'll take a swap and $40K cash...
Hi Tom, the review was to your usual high standards. I’m seriously torn between this and the MK8 GTI. I’m on a run that started way back in 2001 with a Mk4. How was traction off the line? My last 7.5 manual would produce serious axle tramp off the line in the wet. I enjoy a traffic light Grand Prix or two on occasion so this is important. Obviously not an issue in the R but it left me cold in other respects.
Bryce -- unfortunately all four of my testing days with the TCR were bone dry, so I had no trouble with the traffic light grand prix! The LSD helps with axle tramp a bit (but not much). If the surface is slippery you just have to be really linear with any FWD car. One thing I will say is that the ContiSport tyres are superb, and they'll grip better than a stock Mk 7.5 GTI on Potenzas.
Thanks very much for your response Tom. I drove one on Wednesday. It was good but I am not sure I fell in love. The missing gear from the DSG meant it was revving at 2,250 rpms at an indicated 105 km/h. That felt a little high to me. Also no corporate pricing so it actually is lineball with or slightly more expensive than a standard R for me. Decisions decisions.
The 7 looks so much better than the 8 .....so disappointed with the design coming from them now. A break from the past it seems. A new path. And it is a huge downturn.
Love the crispness of the Mk 7. It has aged better than just about any car on the road.
I'm torn. Do I wait for MK8, get this or a R final edition (Viper Green)
The MK8 has fugly headlights.
This shape will age well.
Out of the two Mk 7 options there, the TCR is significantly more characterful!
@@chasingcars Does this come with the Dynaudio system? Can't see anything on VW site that says it does
I was in the exact same position as you are and I live in South Africa, where the TCR numbers are limited to 300 units. Long story short I bought the TCR because it will hold its value better than the Golf 8 since it it limited and after a few years everyone will hafe a Golf 8. In my opinion go for the TCR 😊
@@k03d8Now8Bleed unfortunately it does not come with the Dynaudio 😑.
Great review Tom! Will VW remove the stickers at no cost?
Probably! If it were me I’d keep the TCR decals but I’m not sure about the door hexagons.
Chasing Cars agreed on both counts 👍🏻
The Hexagon was in Germany an Option wich you have to pay 600€ to get it
Yes. I just picked mine up in Sydney. Took a little bit of convincing with VW Australia until they realised how easy the stickers come off.
@@richiejb5164 Awesome!
Tom, what track is that?
This is the short and sinewy Luddenham circuit outside Sydney. Good little track for FWD hot hatches.
What a terrific place. Hope you acquire a few more pocket rockets to throw around it!
Speaking of fast VW cars, are going to review the new V8 Touareg? 🤞🤞🤞
Absolutely, Cam.
Not a fan of the side stickers. Dealers offering to remove at no cost
In the motoring world, there are GTIs and Rs...and then everyone else fighting for a distant 2nd place.
I've two relatives for whom, the GTI is (or was) a bit of a 'love child'. This new one seems almost perfect for you, but putdowns on Hy's first try seem a bit much.
My next sentence was “the first generation (of i30 N) is great BUT...” - the thing is that Volkswagen have the weight issue nailed. Hyundai don’t. Weight is critical for engagement in this class. Thems the objective facts, I’m afraid. And Hyundai aren’t offended.
@@chasingcars Thank you Tom. Point taken, and I've learnt from your explanation. thanks again....
Sorry, might have come across a bit short. It wasn’t meant to be. Only that Hyundai honestly benefit from a bit of tough love when it comes to feedback, and really, knowing the engineers involved, they certainly aren’t phased by constructive criticism.
@@chasingcars Tom, NOT offended. Educated would be more like it. thanks again.
Your facial expressions spells FUN
That’s it!
I think the next big thing from VW would be the Tiguan R. May be even better than the Golf R.
Looking forward to driving Tig R but hard to beat the low centre of gravity of a hatchback.
I hope the side decals are removable Tom! 🤢
Its an option here in Germany. But if its Standard in Australien you can remove it.. only stickers
Yeah, you can get rid of them. While I think in future, collectors will look for TCRs with the distinctive sticker pack, personally I reckon it'd look great in Pure Grey just with the TCR sticker on the rear door, not the hexagons.
I wish I could get a 3 door here but just love it and can cope with the naff stickers - great review Tom - see volkswizard @andrewchapple for uk 3 door version :) I think I’d rather have this despite the new mk8 GTI looking very tempting
Love the three door. The choice would have been nice but I don’t mind the 5dr at the end of the day.
Pity about the colour.
Not a fan of primer, JJ? They do have white and red as alternatives.