2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review

　　

2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI is the original and quintessential hot hatch. It's equal parts practical and fun thanks to a roomy interior and sporty performance. To make the GTI, VW takes the basic Golf hatchback and adds a 228-horsepower engine, a lower and stiffer suspension, stronger brakes and an available seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. You also get a range of sporty touches such as 18-inch wheels, sport seats and unique styling touches.

　　VW plans to come out with an all-new GTI next year but that doesn't make the 2020 model any less enticing. It's been a consistent favorite among the zzdcar testing team since the seventh-generation model debuted in 2015.

　　

What's it like to live with?

We spent a year with the Volkswagen Golf GTI when the seventh-gen model debuted in 2015, racking up more than 20,000 miles during our road test. We found it to be a capable small hatchback that felt at home both commuting around Los Angeles or taking on a sweeping mountain road. The current 2020 Golf GTI has some updates compared to that long-term test vehicle, but you can still benefit from reading our yearlong GTI road test.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the Golf GTI drive? Few cars on the road today are as easy and as fun as the GTI. Raw acceleration isn't anything special, but the turbocharged inline-four feels much stronger than the 7.1-second 0-60 mph time would suggest. There's lots of smooth low-end torque, so you don't need to downshift more than one gear to pass on the highway or power out of a corner. When you do need to shift, the clutch is light and precise, as is the shifter. This is one of the easiest manual transmissions we've ever operated.

　　Braking performance was excellent in our performance-tire equipped test car, with short stops from 60 of 110 feet on our test track and a generally firm and responsive brake pedal. Those tires helped with steering feedback too. The effort is light, but it's responsive and quick to turn in. The GTI feels light and athletic and, while not as sharp as some other hot hatches, it still impresses on a winding back road.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Golf GTI? The GTI does a wonderful job of splitting the difference between sporty and comfortable. The front seats are firm and supportive, with bolstering that doesn't feel overly snug. There's a decent amount of adjustment, though we wish the power-adjustable seats could go slightly lower. The ride quality is excellent. It leans toward the comfortable side of sporty, but that doesn't mean it feels overly soft or floaty. Our test car was fitted with adaptive dampers, helping the GTI get the best of both worlds.

　　The GTI's climate control system works well, blowing cold and cooling the GTI down quickly. Vents for rear-seat passengers are a bonus. It's relatively quiet too, with only a mild amount of wind and road noise. Some might find the exhaust note a bit tiring, but you do get a nice growl and a bit of turbo wooshing from under the hood.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The GTI's front seats are spacious, with excellent head-, legroom and shoulder room, even with our tester's sunroof. Rear occupants don't have as much legroom, and a tunnel running down the center of the car makes the center seat just about useless. Getting in and out is easy since the short doors and wide openings provide plenty of space to move, even with the front seat's bolsters.

　　Most of the controls, from the clutch and shifter to the climate control and media settings — are well placed and easy to reach. There are dedicated buttons for most of the major settings and controls. The thin-rimmed steering wheel means the instrument cluster isn't blocked, but the wheel-mounted controls aren't easy to identify and are cumbersome to use at first. Visibility is excellent thanks to wide, upright windows and relatively narrow pillars.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Volkswagen's infotainment system features one of the most user-friendly interfaces around. The controls are logical and easy to use, and the motion-activated on-screen buttons keep the system from feeling cluttered. The Fender audio system in our test vehicle was excellent, with clear highs and warm, well-rounded lows. The biggest issue is smartphone connection. It's great having Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, but there's only a single USB port inside.

　　The driver aids work fairly seamlessly too. Adaptive cruise control is available with a manual transmission and maintains a good gap without constantly applying the gas or brakes. Only the parking sensors are a little sensitive.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The GTI is one of the few remaining hatchbacks on the market, a boon for those looking for performance and fun in a practical package. The cargo area packs 22.8 cubic feet of storage, more than just about every other compact hatchback around. With the rear seats folded flat, the space opens up to 52.7 cubic feet. The cargo area itself is wide, flat and upright, so there's usable space in all directions. Storage up front isn't quite as good. We like the large front and rear door pockets that have space for water bottles, but the small center console and storage bin aren't good for much more than a smartphone.

　　It's relatively easy to install a car seat thanks to easy-to-access anchors on the outboard seats. The rear door opening could be a bit tight for some seats, and connecting to the anchor point on the seatback requires removing the cargo cover.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The GTI has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 27 mpg combined (24 city/32 highway). That's with either the six-speed manual or the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. That's a hair off the Honda Civic Si and the Volkswagen Jetta GLI. On our mixed-driving 115-mile evaluation loop, the GTI returned an impressive 31.5 mpg, even with a bit of spirited canyon driving thrown in.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Golf GTI a good value? There's no getting around it: If you're interested in a GTI, expect to pay a bit more than you would for most of its rivals. It's one of the most expensive vehicles in its class, and the GTI's performance-per-dollar isn't all that great. Our loaded tester was right on par pricewise with a Honda Civic Type R without the performance. That said, you do see where the money went. Build quality is excellent, with solid fit and finish and nice use of higher-grade knobs and switchgear.

　　The warranty and ownership experience is good too. The four-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranty is about average for the class, but Volkswagen also includes three years/36,000 miles of roadside assistance. Scheduled maintenance is also included for two years or 24,000 miles.

　　

Wildcard

8.5/10

　　The GTI isn't likely to turn as many heads as some of its rivals, but that's part of the point. It's cool and conservative while being a ton of fun to drive. There's enough power from the turbocharged engine to feel peppy all the time, but not so much that you have to hold back on the street. Some rivals are a bit more lively, but they're far more likely to attract unwanted attention.

　　And it's not like the GTI is all cold and bland. The plaid seats, golf ball shifter, and red accents inside and out give it just a bit of flair without seeming overdone. It might be too dull for some, but at the same time it feels more grown-up.

　　

Which Golf GTI does zzdcar recommend?

We think the base S trim is the way to go. While the SE and Autobahn trims offer more features such as LED lighting and an adaptive suspension, they don't improve the GTI's performance or fun. Plus you can only get the excellent plaid seats in the base model. You can also use the money you save by getting a set of aftermarket performance tires. We've found in our testing that the factory all-season tires just don't have enough grip to do the GTI justice.

　　

2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI models

The 2020 Golf GTI is available in three trim levels: S, SE and Autobahn. All GTIs come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (228 hp, 258 lb-ft) and front-wheel drive. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is optional. Highlight features include:

　　S

　　The base S trim starts you off with:

　　18-inch wheels with all-season tires Limited-slip differential for better acceleration Performance brakes Heated front seats with plaid upholstery 6.5-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)SE

　　The SE steps things up a bit offering all the same standard features as the S with a few upgrades such as:

　　LED headlights Leather upholstery Panoramic sunroof Keyless entry with push-button start 8-inch touchscreen infotainment systemAutobahn

　　The top-level Autobahn adds features such as:

　　Power-adjustable driver's seat Standard dual-zone automatic climate control Fender audio system Adaptive suspension Traffic-adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between vehicle and the car in front) Optional summer-rated performance tires

　　

2020 Golf GTI Highlights

Trim: SSEAutobahnS

　　

Base MSRP	$28,595
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$171/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	22.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles