TECH SPECS
BMW 128ti VW Golf GTI
Engine: 2.0l petrol turbo 2.0l petrol turbo
Power/torque: 180kW/380Nm 180kW/370Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Steptronic 7-speed dual DSG
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive Front-wheel drive
Weight: 1,520kg 1,463kg
Top speed: 243km/h 250km/h
0-100km/h: 6.2 secs 6.1 secs
Quarter mile: 14.4 secs 14.3 secs
60-120km/h: 5.0 secs 4.8 secs
Fuel consumption: 9.6l /100km 10l /100km
Emissions: 156g/km 159g/km
OWNERSHIP BMW 128ti VW Golf GTI
Warranty: 2yrs/unlimited km 3yrs/120,000km
Service plan: 5yrs/100,000km 5yrs/120,000km
Price: R707,918 R669,300
Lease*: R15,135 pm R14,315 pm
* at 10% interest over 60 months no deposit
MOTOR NEWS STAR RATING
BMW 128ti VW Golf GTI
Design: **** ****
Performance: **** *****
Economy: ***** ****
Ride: **** ****
Handling: **** *****
Safety: ***** *****
Value for money: **** *****
BMW 128ti VW Golf GTI
WE LIKE: Premium interior, Handling, performance, sound performance, price
WE DISLIKE: Price, tyre squeal Digital infotainment controls
* Performance tests conducted at Gerotek with Racelogic Vbox.
SECOND OPINION – Brenwin Naidu
Shared nationalities, evenly-matched in configuration, ambition and, to an extent, pedigree: this is a close one.
Volkswagen touts its contender as the most digitised expression of the breed yet.
And when you fumble your way through its unfriendly infotainment system, you wonder if that priority may have eclipsed the sporting essence of the car.
It dispels those reservations with an excellent launch control system, an electronic differential that quells any inkling of waywardness and a well-damped suspension that is never flummoxed. By contrast, the interior of the BMW is festooned with buttons.
While employing a mechanical differential, the 128ti shows a propensity for torque-steer. It is the livelier car, goading driver into exploring the limits more so than the anodyne Wolfsburg rival.
A decidedly firmer ride, with buzzier engine acoustics, gives the Bavarian contender a real immersive streak. For those reasons it would be my pick of the duo.