Volkswagen Golf GTI E35 5 Door Review: More than just skin deep

What we like:

Improved top end performance

enhanced looks inside and out

legendary GTI handling

it’s a GTI

What we dislike:

Slightly firm ride

The E35 offers more bespoke enhancements on the inside, the most obvious being the new upholstery in ‘Flavo’/’San Remo’ pattern for the seats. The centre seat panels feature styling that matches the legendary honeycomb pattern of the GTI grille while the seams are coloured in contrasting ‘Flash red’ and the ‘35’ logo appears on the seatbacks. The seats’ honeycomb pattern is matched by the same patterns on the gloss black inlays on the doors and dashboard. Decorative red seams can also be found on the seat belts, gear shift boot, handbrake, steering wheel and so on. There are also unique side sills with the ‘35’ logo and last but not least, the DSG gear knob features golf ball like dimples, the latter is a traditional GTI design feature that dates back to the Mk I.

The rest of the cabin is standard GTI fare which means a high quality and well made cabin assembled together with tactile switchgear and soft surfaces as well as offering enough room and practicality for a small family.

With more performance, the E35 is not just any special anniversary model adorned with enhancements to its styling inside and out. Moreover, the E35 won’t cost you more to buy than a standard Mk IV and it has the bragging rights to being the fastest and most powerful GTI ever. The E35 is quite possibly one of the best birthday present the GTI has given to itself.

Credits: Story and photos by Raymond Lai