The Golf GTI has always distinguished itself with promising performance upgrades and much sharper handling compared to the more pedestrian Golf models. Yet, the GTI always preserved the civility that has long made Volkswagen’s sporty hatchback a polished daily driver. Unfortunately, the car's infotainment system is a usability nightmare, making it complicated for the driver to perform even common audio and climate tasks.
The GTI’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine now produces 241 horsepower, a 13-hp increase over the previous model. It pulls strongly no matter what gear you’re in, accompanied by a baritone engine note. Much to the dismay of enthusiasts, the GTI is no longer offered with a manual transmission for 2025. That said, we found that the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission barely dilutes the driving thrills. The GTI is plenty quick, needing only 6.4 seconds to scoot from 0 to 60 mph with our previously tested manual model. Fuel economy is decent, too, managing 28 mpg overall on regular fuel.
With its quick, communicative steering and tied-down suspension, the front-wheel-drive GTI gobbles up corners with enthusiasm and poise—it feels like the driver is connected to the pavement. It also proved capable and enjoyable when pushed to its limits around our test track, exhibiting tenacious grip and a balanced, forgiving behavior. Some ride quality was sacrificed in the name of handling, but it doesn’t beat you up like in the much-stiffer Honda Civic Si, a direct competitor.
The cabin is nicely finished, and most versions come with plaid upholstery—an ode to the original Rabbit GTI from the early 1980s. The comfortable front seats have large side bolsters with grippy suede material that give fantastic lateral support. The hatchback body style makes for extra versatility, and rear-seat headroom is plentiful, though foot space underneath the front seats is tight.
But there’s a huge gulf between the GTI’s lusty driving experience and its frustrating infotainment system. Common tasks are packed into a confusing touch screen, and touch-capacitive bars require sliding back and forth or tapping to adjust the climate temperature and audio volume.
Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, lane centering assistance, and adaptive cruise control all come standard.
Those seeking even more power and cornering capability should consider the all-wheel-drive Golf R.