Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 Review and Prices

Normally it has 265hp, but every time you floor the accelerator the turbocharger pressure is increased for 10 seconds to 290hp – 10 less than in the Golf R. Acceleration is impressive but a more important figure is the pulling power – the 280lb ft of torque is exactly the same as in the Golf R. Most of it is also available from just 1,700rpm and – combined with the lower weight of the Clubsport compared to the Golf R – makes for some dizzying in-gear acceleration.

When power is not needed, the engine is quiet and decently frugal, being able to return fuel economy of 42.1mpg combined and CO2 emissions of 155g/km. We would suggest going for the DSG gearbox option as it offers faster changes and also gives better fuel economy, or so Volkswagen says anyway.

The Clubsport does to the GTI what the GTI does to the regular Golf – it improves the handling without any noticeable drawbacks. The Clubsport is incredibly easy to drive fast and goes around corners with impressive composure, yet it’s more forgiving in terms of ride comfort than rivals from Honda and Renault. The XDS+electronic differential improves grip to the point that the Clubsport might be faster around a racetrack than the more-powerful Golf R. The confidence-inspiring handling is further helped by the optional Michelin Pilot Sport semi-slick tyres that seemingly claw into the tarmac.

A £800 optional extra that is highly recommended is the adaptive dampers. There are three driving modes including Sport and Comfort and they not only alter the suspension setup but also the throttle response and the speed of the DSG gearbox’s shifts.