The "cubist" design of the GTI is highly effective at accommodating occupants as well as cargo. Leg and headroom abound up front.

The "cubist" design of the GTI is highly effective at accommodating occupants as well as cargo. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

Rear seat passengers are also in for a treat compared to passengers stuffed into the claustrophobic rear quarters of the typical fastback-style coupes and hatchbacks. My 10-year old rear seat adviser was quite impressed with the panoramic visibility granted by the huge sheets of side glass. And accessing the rear perches doesn't require a background in gymnastics. The two front seats unlatch from the floor and pivot forward creating a very wide path to the back. This unique engineering, called the Easy Entry System by Volkswagen, made me smile every time I grabbed the lever and popped a front seat forward.

Further inspection of the GTI's inner offerings reveal a solidly assembled cabin, full of soft leather and high quality materials and switchgear. The gauge cluster is dominated by a large analogue tachometer and matching speedometer, both of which are easily visible day or night. The centre stack houses VW's Monsoon audio unit and the three dials controlling heat, ventilation and air conditioning settings - sometimes simplicity is better. The GTI's leather wrapped steering wheel fits the hands perfectly

The GTI's inner offerings reveal a solidly assembled cabin, full of soft leather and high quality materials and switchgear. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

and can be adjusted for rake and distance. The centre console armrest and front seats are also height adjustable, the sum of which enables a driver to acquire a driving position that matches his or her preference and body shape.

The front seats in my tester were heated and wonderfully comfortable and supportive thanks to extensive side bolstering on the seat pad and seat back. Unintended lateral movement in these buckets is pretty much non-existent, especially when one's left foot is pressed firmly against the GTI's sizeable dead pedal. And that's good because the GTI VR6 likes to tease the laws of physics.