0:00
These are two of the most exciting hot hatchbacks you can buy
0:18
We've got the Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50, the most hardcore golf in years
0:23
and officially the fastest front-wheel-drive production car to lap the Nürburgring. but it's got to go up against this, the Honda Civic Type R
0:32
the benchmark, probably the best hot hatch we've ever driven. Now, this is only three-tenths behind the Golf's front-wheel drive record
0:38
and today we're going to find out which is fastest at Anglesey and if the Golf can finally be a match for the mighty Civic
0:49
So, two of the fastest front-wheel drive cars ever, settling the score on the same day on the same track
0:56
Both of these are on another level to other front-drive hatches, and even really fast four-wheel-drive ones
1:03
To demonstrate, we brought the new Toyota GR Yaris aero performance along
1:07
to set a reference lap, not just for the Golf and the Civic to beat
1:11
but to show just how far they've moved the game on. The time? 119.28. Remember that one
1:19
So the Civic Type R, I'm going to come right out and say it, regardless of the lap times
1:30
this is the sweeter car to drive. In fact, I think it's my favourite hot hatch, at least of the modern ones I've driven
1:37
It is so sweet, so keyed in. It's been home to such a high level in every respect, the gear shift, the steering, the
1:45
brake feel, the pedals. Everything just feels so precise. It gives you exactly what you need
1:53
on a circuit. I love the way this car drives. And the strange thing is about the Civic is
2:04
that compared to the Yaris and the Golf actually, it feels low, it feels wide. It's got amazing
2:12
stability in the high speed. This is not a car that you kind of get up on its tiptoes, get it on three wheels and tip it in
2:20
It feels more like a little touring car And the engine yes it doesn sound good In fact it sounds a bit rubbish actually with that synthesized noise coming through the speakers But the response is so natural and linear so sharp
2:37
I think the lap time is all going to be in the front end
2:43
These long corners and the traction zones, that's going to be the difference
2:48
Which one can hook up? Which one can take the throttle earlier and take tighter lines
2:54
We'll wait and see. But right now, this is a sensational car to drive
2:58
I can't tell you how beautifully set up and precise. And just plain exciting it is
3:06
I think it's quite a favourable hatch, but is it the fastest? Let's find out
3:14
Before we set the lap times, a quick word on the tyres. The Civic that set the Nürburgring time was a special lightweight version
3:22
not available in the UK and fitted with Michelin Cup 2s. But this ultimate edition is as it comes from the factory
3:29
with Pilot Sport 4Ss. The Golf comes with stickier Bridgestone Batenza race tyres
3:35
if you spec the optional performance pack, which this car has. Come on. so
4:52
I going to go Okay so that just done A 118 So that about a second quicker than the Yaris I thought
5:13
this might get a bit quicker than that. I think it feels so good and so hooked up when you're
5:19
driving at like eight tenths, but on these tyres, if you go for that last little bit
5:25
you're just limited by the front, and the front skates wide under power when the diff locks up
5:29
and you're just waiting and waiting and waiting to get it hooked up. I think the Nürburgring
5:34
time was obviously set on Cup 2s. That would transform the car, but I think it leaves it
5:39
wide open for the Golf to do something. Now you might think that this Edition 50 GTI is just a bit of a trim level with fancy seats and stickers but it really isn't
5:57
As standard this car is basically a more powerful GTI club sport so it's got 321 horsepower but if you go for a performance pack which does cost I think about three grand more
6:09
you get some really trick suspension bits with it as well. So the setup is actually based on that of the Mark 7 Club Sport S
6:19
And that was a brilliant car. Two seats, hardcore, probably the best GT-R there's ever been
6:24
So we've got a lower chassis, we've got a stiffer chassis, we've got more camber at the front
6:30
and Volkswagen makes no secret of it, they were always going to go for the front drive record at the ring
6:36
and this has taken it by about three tenths of a second so we know it's a quick car and it's going
6:43
to set a quick time of course but you can drive this thing in a typical hot hatch way
6:48
just lifting off or on the brakes getting it moving and it hops and it skips and it wheel spins it's a really really fun thing
7:01
This is definitely by far the best Mark 8 Golf I've driven
7:06
Probably the best Golf full stop since that Mark 7. I'd say if you're driving these cars on the road or on the track at, say, 8 tenths, the Civic is the better car
7:16
It's the more satisfying car. It feels like a sports car whereas this it doesn feel quite as hooked up quite as keyed in in normal driving But then when you get it on a track it feels like it got another level to me I think this could do a number on the Civic But let wait and see Let get the lid on and set a lap time
8:54
So there we are. Around the ring and around Anglesey, the Edition 50 is the king of front
9:11
wheel drive cars. It's also really fast full stop, going quicker than a 991 Porsche 911 Carrera S
9:18
with power kit on our leaderboard and just half a second off the 2014 Nissan GT-R
9:25
That's pretty incredible for a hatchback. The Civic is rapid too. It had no answer for the Golf's lap time
9:33
but it still matched a V6 Lotus Amira and comfortably beat a 981 Porsche Cayman
9:39
And in terms of how it feels and how involving it is when you're not just pushing for a lap time
9:44
it's still the benchmark and a cut above the Golf. Slap a set of Cup 2s on it and it might just be as quick as well
9:51
But that's a question for another day
