| To keep up in the global auto market, manufacturers | | | | high performance without calling too much attention to |
| must win some accolades to differentiate themselves | | | | itself, a fact that a lot of Downers Grove Volkswagen |
| from the competition. There are plenty of awards and | | | | Passat drivers noticed when they gave the car a |
| honors that manufacturers can win for themselves | | | | test-drive. The GTI drives light as air, caressing the |
| and their models, and only the best of the best end up | | | | pavement with the grace and agility of a ballet dancer. |
| garnering enough media attention to take home the | | | | Between midrange torque and very simple handling, |
| awards. One of the most prestigious honors a | | | | Pugi VW drivers are thrilled to take this vehicle around |
| manufacturer can win these days is a pick to the | | | | corners and breakneck speeds with the safety and |
| 10Best Cars as named annually by Car and Driver. | | | | performance you would expect from a Volkswagen. |
| This year's awards saw some seriously innovative | | | | In fact, some would even go so far as to say that the |
| cars gaining recognition in the market, with Pugi | | | | GTI handles like a sports car, with smooth shifting |
| Volkswagen drivers garnering some top honors. | | | | whether the owner chooses the standard six-speed |
| One of the 10Best Cars this year, the Volkswagen | | | | manual or the dual-clutch transmission. Regardless, |
| GTI received praise for the sixth iteration of this now | | | | many Downers Grove Volkswagen Passat owners |
| well-known and popular line of cars. At this point in its | | | | are looking into the GTI for their next car. While |
| 34-year career, the GTI has grown into a much bigger | | | | unconventional, the exterior proves to be pretty easy |
| and more powerful vehicle, leveraging | | | | on the eyes, resembling a boxy crossover vehicle with |
| cost-effectiveness and practicality to add some | | | | sharp contours and big wheels. But the interior design |
| common sense to an already entertaining drive. Pugi | | | | and execution is where the GTI really excels, with |
| VW drivers have already seen what the GTI can do | | | | enough roominess to keep passengers and drivers |
| on the street, and it plays well for a boxy car, both in | | | | comfortable. Surely the $24,189 base price seems |
| the mall parking lot and out on the back roads. Part of | | | | very inexpensive for a car that looks and feels like it |
| the reason for the car's high performance is the | | | | should be much more expensive. These days, |
| turbocharged inline four-cylinder that puts out 200 | | | | consumers are looking for cost-effectiveness, and |
| horsepower and is both smooth and responsive, | | | | Volkswagen certainly has it. |
| features that have kept the GTI as a best seller at | | | | If you are like the millions of drivers who are switching |
| Pugi Volkswagen dealers. | | | | to smaller cars, then the GTI is for you. While it isn't the |
| While the acceleration isn't exactly top notch, the car | | | | smallest offering on Volkswagen's table, it certainly is |
| still zips pretty well, especially in city traffic. Somehow, | | | | small enough to offer a zippy ride while allowing for |
| the GTI accomplishes everything from practicality to | | | | ample interior space and handling like a pro. |