It is hard to believe that the car you see here is the latest of a bloodline that stretches back 30 years. It's over three decades since a small dedicated team of enthusiasts created an out of hours skunk works to slot what was then an oversized engine into a humble small hatchback with a few other choice tweaks to create not only a one off special model that became a huge sales success, but a niche in its own right.

Several generations later and, despite some notable blips along the way (read Mk3 and Mk4), we're currently enjoying a new Golf GTI that sets the pace in the class it invented once more. The standard GTI is the hatch of the moment in our opinions, the car we'd sink our own money into if push came to shove. This is the car that has in turn sired this, a 30th anniversary special named simply Edition 30.

To pick up the differences between this and the standard GTI you need to be something of an anorak. Sure the small badge on the rump tells you instantly, as do the special BBS alloys, but the extra body-coloured trim and slightly different body coloured spoilers are not so easy to spot in isolation. In fact you need to look at pictures of the two side-by-side to make a clear differentiation. The same can be said for the interior, with a spotter's badge going to the first person to notice the retro golf ball gear knob but, again, not so much kudos for those who notice the subtle badge on the dash. The part-leather trimmed seats are a nice touch, as are little bits of trim around the cabin that are subtle, but appreciable.

The most significant change for many is the increase in power from 197 to 227bhp. On the move, the Edition 30 feels slightly different to the standard GTI, as the power band has shifted upwards slightly. It's just as urgent low-down, but there's a discernible increase in pull at higher revs as the boost builds to a higher peak. Against the clock there is very little in it, literally the odd tenth in terms of in-gear pace and a few miles an hour flat out.

And that's the Edition 30 in a nutshell - small, but worthwhile differences that set it apart. Golf GTI fans will love these subtleties and the limited run ensures exclusivity and solidity of residuals in the longer term. The chances are that many of these cars will go to collectors or fans that perhaps will never part with them, but for most the comfort of better, and already solid, retention of value is most welcome.

The driving experience is marginally enhanced over the standard car courtesy of that extra power, but there is probably enough about the Edition 30 to justify the increased list price. If you're a Golf GTI fan then it's a worthy expenditure; if not then the standard GTI won't leave you feeling short changed at all.

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2007 VW Golf hatchback range overview

S level: VW Golf S 3-door 1.4-litre 5-speed manual at £12,115 to VW Golf S FSI 5-door 1.6-litre 6-speed auto at £15,865.

Match level: VW Golf Match FSI 5-door 1.6-litre 6-speed manual at £15,150 to VW Golf Match TDI 5-door 1.9-litre 6-speed auto DSG at £17,540.

Sport level: VW Golf Sport TSI 3-door 1.4-litre 6-speed manual at £16,190 to VW Golf Sport TDI 5-door 2-litre 6-speed auto DSG at £19,335.

GT level: VW Golf GT TDI 3-door 2-litre 6-speed manual at £18,175 to VW Golf GT TDI DPF 5-door 2-litre 6-speed auto DSG at £21,140.

- VW Golf GTI 3-door 6-speed manual: £20,595
- VW Golf GTI 5-door 6-speed manual: £21,095
- VW Golf GTI 3-door 6-speed DSG: £21,925
- VW Golf GTI 5-door 6-speed DSG: £22,425
- VW Golf GTI Edition 30 3-door 6-speed manual: £22,310
- VW Golf GTI Edition 30 5-door 6-speed manual: £22,810
- VW Golf GTI Edition 30 3-door 6-speed DSG: £23,640
- VW Golf GTI Edition 30 5-door 6-speed DSG: £24,140
- VW Golf R32 3-door 6-speed manual: £24,585
- VW Golf R32 5-door 6-speed manual: £25,085
- VW Golf R32 3-door 6-speed DSG: £25,5915
- VW Golf R32 5-door 6-speed DSG: £26,415