Volkswagen Golf GTI review

Is the Volkswagen Golf GTI a good car?

Following a little blip in its forties, the Volkswagen Golf GTI has undergone a little self-improvement to become a more rounded overall prospect. The key appeal of the GTI throughout its near five-decade history is that it delivers excitement when you want it, but remains incredibly easy to live with every day. The latest Golf GTI delivers on that first front, while its mid-life refresh has ironed out some of the ergonomic irritations. The Volkswagen Golf R has even more pace, but the GTI is the driver’s choice in the Golf family.

How much does the Volkswagen Golf GTI cost?

What can you say about the Volkswagen Golf GTI that hasn’t already been said before? After eight generations, the GTI remains the default choice if you’re after something quick and classy that can still take care of most families' everyday motoring needs. After all, few other hot hatches haven’t come close to reaching even a fraction of the 2.3 million GTIs sold worldwide since the model was introduced in 1976. 

But popularity isn’t the same as ability, and the latest Golf came under criticism when it was launched. Following on from the incredibly high standards set by the 2013-2019 Volkswagen Golf Mk7, it couldn’t quite live up to the same level, but frustratingly, it was for many reasons other than the driving experience.

Like the rest of the Mk8 Golf family, the GTI was hobbled with a string of ergonomic foibles which managed to irritate enough to detract from the entire package. Fortunately, Volkswagen has responded to the feedback, and a lot of our previous misgivings have been addressed this time around.

Despite Volkswagen heading towards an electrified future, the Mk8 Golf GTI continues to use the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as its predecessor. That’s no bad thing, though, because it proved to be a pretty complete performer, but power for the latest GTI has been increased from 242bhp to 261bhp, helping to keep the Golf competitive with a slew of talented hot hatch rivals waiting in the wings.

That increase in power means that the 0-62mph time has now dipped below the six-second mark, plus there’s a more potent GTI Clubsport version above the standard car with 296bhp and 400Nm. 

But it’s the cabin where the last car was subjected to the most stick, so this is where many of the improvements have been made. The first change is right before your eyes: the return of physical buttons on the steering wheel. They take the place of the fiddly touch-sensitive controls from before, and it’s a small, but very welcome change. 

There’s also a much larger 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with faster processing speeds and revised software to hopefully solve the buggy system of the pre-facelift model. 

The latest Golf GTI is still five-door only, but it has ditched the standard manual for a seven-speed, DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. Pricing starts from just under £39,500 for the regular GTI, with the hotter GTI Clubsport coming in at just over £42,000. The latter puts it within reach of the Volkswagen Golf R, which starts at a little under £44,000.

As ever, the Golf GTI isn’t the cheapest hot hatch around, but you get a generous amount of standard equipment which means it doesn’t feel too spartan. Keyless entry, heated front seats, three-zone climate control, a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control and lane assist are all standard.

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Just as it always has, the Golf GTI is a well-rounded hot hatch that balances being as easy to drive during the daily grind as its regular Golf sibling, while having just the right amount of dynamic flair should the mood take you to enjoy a twisty country lane. It’s a shame there’s no longer a manual to please enthusiasts, but that does fit in with making the Golf GTI easy to drive. Read more about the Volkswagen Golf GTI's engine, performance and drive...

Another area where the Golf GTI lends itself to being an everyday performance car is with its running costs. Fuel economy is respectable as far as hot hatches go and insurance shouldn’t be as costly as rivals like the Honda Civic Type R. You may need to be careful with the options on the regular GTI in order to avoid paying a surcharge for cars costing over £40,000. Read more about the Volkswagen Golf GTI’s MPG, emissions and running costs...

It’s a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” with regards to the exterior styling of the latest Golf GTI. Subtle tweaks have been made, with the biggest being the matrix LED headlights that provide better illumination at night and a larger GTI badge on the front doors. More has been done to address early criticisms of its interior, with physical buttons returning to the steering wheel, and a much-improved infotainment system. Read more about the Volkswagen Golf GTI’s interior, design and technology...

The revised Golf GTI doesn’t gain any more interior space over its direct predecessor, but it continues to be a comfortable hot hatch in which to tackle both a Sunday morning B road blast, and the daily grind of motorways and commuting. As is expected of a practical family car, there’s plenty of space for four adults, although if you want the ultimate in hot hatch practicality, you need to look towards the Skoda Octavia vRS. Read more about the Volkswagen Golf GTI’s boot space, comfort and practicality...

The latest Golf isn’t a favourite amongst owners according to the latest Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, coming in last place in the best cars to own category and the brand finishing near the bottom of the manufacturer table. On a more positive note, the Golf and its GTI variant still has a top-notch safety rating according to Euro NCAP, and there’s plenty of standard safety technology to help keep you out of trouble. Read more about the Volkswagen Golf GTI’s reliability and safety...

Volkswagen Golf GTI alternatives

Despite a number of hot hatches disappearing from price lists, you can still find a respectable representation of fast metal that doesn’t compromise on practicality. There’s the closely related Cupra Leon, the well-priced Ford Focus ST, or the riotous Toyota GR Yaris - although that latter rival isn’t anywhere near as practical as the Golf GTI.

The more potent GTI Clubsport fits more in line with quicker hot hatches like the Audi S3 Quattro, BMW M135i xDrive, and Mercedes AMG A 35 4Matic. The Clubsport is cheaper than the Honda Civic Type R, although perhaps not quite as exciting. For those wanting even more power, there’s also the 328bhp, four-wheel-drive Volkswagen Golf R, although it comes at a premium over the GTI Clubsport.