GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => General discussion => Topic started by: Exonian on 15 May 2026, 13:58
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https://www.vwpress.co.uk/releases/5457
I’d been looking forward to the Edition 50 Golf GTI ever since I had my Ed40 but it didn’t really hit the spot for me. I’ll keep my R BE thanks.
But, and as nobody much looks in this section I think I’m safe, this is the model that actually interests me more right now and the one I was actually looking forward to seeing be released on the GTI’s 50th anniversary year.
https://youtu.be/EGVSG1GUqfY?si=xJjA3AKcaEetbsp9
https://youtu.be/qQusLTq6tcc?si=S2rLOS0I8hbY1scr
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I was enjoying that until he said the price.
Mk1 dash mode. Why stop there though? Replicate each model in more than just graphics, match the performance too... and the brakes :laugh:
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With the traffic volumes, cameras everywhere and potholes maybe mk1 GTI performance levels would be adequate in the UK!
If you’ve ever driven an ID.3 you’d soon realise it has mk1 Golf brake performance. Scary stuff!!
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Looks great in red! I'm quite taken by the Cupra version, I think it's called the Raval. Something like these would be ideal for most journeys but I'm still not sure about long runs as I do quite a few trips ooop north a year so around 250 miles each way. Those quoted ranges of around 260 miles is good on paper but I'd guess in the winter and at 70ish mph, that could be more like 180-200 miles. Then when you do top up, it seems up to 80% is the cut off on a fast charger so that then becomes a 150ish mile range. Not impossible to deal with but I like the convenience of my car, not the inconvenience...
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Agree, it looks good and it’s pleasing to see that VW have upped their game with the quality of the interior compared to their efforts on the early EV’s, and the return of more user-friendly controls for often used functions such as HVAC. I’m not sure about the ID.Polo’s rear profile though, particularly the red light strip and the red illuminated VW roundel on the tailgate - a bit tacky IMHO, but then VW aren’t the only car manufacturer doing this.
If I was to choose between the ID.Polo GTI, the Raval VZ (or VZ Extreme) or the Alpine A290, I’d go for the Alpine for the following reasons;
- it qualifies for the Band 1 Govt. grant of £3,750. I think all VW’s EV’s have so far only qualified for the Band 2 grant of £1,500 so I’m assuming (maybe incorrectly) that the ID.Polo will also qualify for the lower Band 2 grant.
- the A290 has independent rear suspension and it gets a heat pump as standard (as does Renault’s R5 EV. The ID.Polo has a beam rear axle and no standard heat pump; very few if any VW EV’s get a heat pump as standard; it’s currently a circa £1,150 extra cost option.
On a practical note, the A290 has a smaller boot than both the ID.Polo & Cupra Raval and it looks as if the A290’s rear seat passenger accommodation is less spacious. However, I rarely carry masses of luggage and even more rarely carry rear seat passengers, so those factors wouldn’t be an issue for me.
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I saw a blue A290 out and about yesterday and it looked very smart. But, 220 mile range. And a youtuber, PetrolPed who has one on a long term loan, was finding initially that 180 miles was more realistic. In cold weather that is going to be more like 150 miles. Perfect for local driving but not a great prospect for long journeys.
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There’s a reasonable possibility I’d already be in an A290 but for the nearest dealer being 100 plus miles away. Would anyone trust a French car with a dealer that far away? Caveat emptor.
The comedy of it is the Alpine dealer would probably push the work onto their local Renault dealer owing to the amount it costs to have a suitably trained high voltage specialist techie on the books.
Anyway, a car of that size would suit my uses very well and as I rarely do dual carriageway driving never mind motorway driving the range wouldn’t be a huge issue for me. One just has to adapt to these things.
The size of the R5, Raval, ID.Polo etc puts them more in the small family class for commuting and more local use rather than the bigger ID range - the ID.3 GTX has a large battery and decent range and more room for suitcases and passengers.
Interestingly the Corsa GSE has 280 PS and will probably be priced similarly to the GTI and VZ (& A290 and Leccy JCW)
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Its now on the configurator
https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/en/configurator.html/__app/30206.app?---=%7B%22configuration-step-navigation-service%22%3A%22%2F%3FconfigStep%3D%257B%2522context%2522%253A%2522mofa-standalone%2522%252C%2522selectedStep%2522%253A%2522trim%2522%257D%22%7D
£31,500 ish for 52kW·h Style Launch inc £1500 grant
Finance is 2.9% I think this is good compared to other VW models?
I like the Polo-ish size but with more interior room and boot space
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With the traffic volumes, cameras everywhere and potholes maybe mk1 GTI performance levels would be adequate in the UK!
If you’ve ever driven an ID.3 you’d soon realise it has mk1 Golf brake performance. Scary stuff!!
The Polo has discs all round, so I hope its better!
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I think this will be a popular question, how to turn off lane assist
Watch from 17:00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8M4ZxwgI_c