Yet for some, that price will make the Edition 50 a tough pill to swallow, especially given that production is limited by time rather than numbers. Volkswagen will assemble as many as it has demand for, throughout the GTI’s 50th year. For comparison, only 400 Mk7 Clubsport S cars were built – many of which still command strong money even today.
At least the Edition 50’s cabin feels special, with those tartan seats and other trinkets complementing the car’s solid fit and finish. The infotainment system is still a little clunky, but vastly improved since its introduction with the Mk8 Golf in 2020; the touch-sensitive climate-control sliders are now illuminated for example, meaning it’s no longer a challenge to change the temperature after dark.
Being a five-door hatchback, practicality is as strong here as it is in any modern Golf, with room for adults to sit comfortably in the back. Without the R’s driveshafts and four-wheel drive system to contend with, there’s a usable 374-litre boot – and the seats fold in a 60:40-split formation should you need a bit of extra space.
It’d be remiss of us not to at least touch on the GTI’s running costs given its remit as a do-it-all family car. But while time on track means our data is skewed, six months in the heavier, thirstier Golf R has seen us regularly exceed 35mpg; the Edition 50 should therefore, come pretty close to its publicised fuel economy figures in normal use.
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Model:Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 Performance PackagePrice:£51,670Powertrain:2.0-litre 4cyl turbo petrolPower/torque:321bhp/420NmTransmission:Seven-speed auto, front-wheel drive0-62mph:5.3 secondsTop speed:168mphEconomy/CO2:35.8mpg/179g/kmSize (L/W/H):4,292/1,789/1,463mmOn sale:Now
