This year, Cars.com teamed up with USA Today and MotorWeek to determine which cars are the best contenders for what they call the “Cheap Speed Challenge.” In this challenge, the focus was on sedans, hatchbacks, and compact coupes that are under $30,000, and have valuable performance features that are relevant to consumers. Eight cars were chosen as the best contenders, and the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI was chosen as the best among the contenders.
This competition lasted over five days, in which different testing was held by Cars.com, MotorWeek, and USA Today. A car shopper in the market for an affordable car that has great performance was also used in the testing. The testing focused on the following: performance of different speed ranges from zero to 60 miles per hour, quarter mile times, and different speed levels; the braking distance from 60 miles per hour to zero; road course testing done professionally on a closed track; fuel economy based on 200 miles driven on various roads; and round-robin driving in which each expert performed evaluation of each car on the same route. This test was done back-to-back for overall impressions of driving, comfort, and features.
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI won this whole challenge. With all of its plethora of features and qualities, it surpasses the rest. This car passed in just about every area of the rigorous testing; therefore, this car is hands down considered the cream of the crop in the “Cheap Speed Challenge”. This outstanding car is fully packed with a superior and sophisticated EA888 2.0 liter direct-injection and turbocharged TSI engine, which in turn, makes 258lb.-ft. of torque and 210 horsepower. The new 2015 Golf GTI is 51lb.-ft. of torque and 10 horsepower higher than the previous model.
Also, this car is very fun to drive. Being practical and affordable doesn’t mean that this car has to be boring, as many tend to think about practical and affordable cars. This car is also equipped with a Driver Assistance Package that is optional which includes the forward collision warning. With these extraordinary additions, the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI also earned the 2014 Top Safety pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in which the ratings are based on moderate overlapping side, front, roof strength; front crash prevention; and great head restraint and other overlapping front tests.
With all of these features and more, it’s no wonder why the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI
won the “Cheap Speed Challenge” held by Cars.com, USA Today, and MotorWeek this year. This extraordinary car is one of a kind, as it was among seven other competitors who were ranked the best in the category of cars under $30,000 that have valuable performance features relevant to consumers. With extremely rigorous testing and top of the line features, this car surpasses the rest.
