The new Volkswagen Golf GTI is now cheaper than before, yours from £38,900

The new Volkswagen Golf GTI is going on sale for less than the cost of a new Golf GTE plug-in hybrid, and less than the cost of itself in the current form. That’s £38,900, down from £40,050. Happy days.

We already knew the Mk8.5 Golf GTI was going to be more powerful. The 261bhp 2.0-litre four-cyl turbo is up 20bhp over the Mk8.0, and achieves the 0-62mph sprint in a punchy 5.9 seconds.

There’s a seven-speed DSG ‘box coupled with flappy paddles on the steering column, and all the hallmarks of the Mk8.5 Golf revamp, meaning there are mild styling tweaks, matrix headlights, an illuminated logo, and LED tail lights. Though the GTI does get the fancier 18in Richmond alloys (sorry, Coventry, your 17-inchers didn’t make the cut).

Inside, there’s a nostalgic nod to the GTI’s history, with the obligatory check upholstery and red stitching. The improved infotainment – VW is breaking out the party packet of iced gems by mentioning reintroduction of real buttons on the steering wheel yet again – is seen in all its glory on the standard 12.9in touchscreen with VW’s ChatGPT-driven digital assistant.

The tech kit includes keyless entry, heated front seats, three-zone climate control, a rear parking camera, adaptive cruise control and driver assist features, notably lane assist, traffic jam assist and emergency braking.

Elsewhere, the £39,750 plug-in hybrid GTE features an impressive 82 miles of all-electric range. That’s a 1.5-litre TSI doling out 268bhp, coupled with a six-speed automatic gearbox.

If you want to pay three grand less, you’ll trade 67bhp of power for an extra seven miles of pure electric driving and get the more frugal 201bhp Style hybrid from £36,750. That’ll include the climate control, lane assist, traffic jam assist and emergency braking, but you’ll have to do without the keyless entry, heated front seats, rear privacy glass and cornering lights that come with the GTE.

Both hybrids have a 19.7kWh battery capable of supporting a faster charge rate (max 11kW, up from 3.6kW) and both go on sale on 27 June. The books for the GTI open on 20 June. Which is your preferred choice of Golf then?