VolkswagenGolf GTI

　　

2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　, rating written byMichael CantuVehicle 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 Golf GTI is the performance version of the regular Golf hatchback. The regular Golf isn't sold in the U.S. anymore, but the more powerful Golf R still is. The GTI is a classic example of a fun-to-drive, performance-tuned small hatchback. And unlike similar sporty sedans or coupes, the GTI's hatchback body style adds a large dose of practicality because it can seat five passengers and has a sizable cargo area.

　　

zzdcar spotlight: The GTI 380

To commemorate the final year of the manual-transmission GTI, VW has introduced the 380 package. It comes standard with manual-equipped GTIs regardless of the trim level. The package now makes six-speed manual GTIs slightly more expensive than dual-clutch automatic models, but the small premium is worth the upgrades. The 380 package includes adaptive suspension dampers, 19-inch gloss black wheels with summer performance tires, and a black roof and black side mirror caps. If you want a new GTI with a manual transmission, act soon because 2025 GTIs will be automatic-only.

　　

Competitors to consider

The Golf GTI has a few sporty rivals to consider. The Mini Hardtop Cooper S is the GTI's only sporty hatchback rival. As for sedans, the Honda Civic Si, Hyundai Elantra N and Subaru WRX are compelling alternatives. If you don't mind less practical coupes, consider the highly rated Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ. The Honda Civic Type R and Toyota GR Corolla are hot hatches, but with 300 horsepower and a higher price, they are more comparable to the Golf R. For a thorough review of the Golf GTI, check out our test team's zzdcar Expert Rating below.

　　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? With the available dual-clutch automatic transmission, our test GTI covered 0-60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. That's about half a second slower the more powerful Hyundai Elantra N with its dual-clutch. We also tested a manual-equipped GTI, and it accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. Ultimately, both transmissions are excellent. The dual-clutch is better for traffic, while the manual transmission is more engaging to use on a twisty road.

　　Our summer-tire-shod GTI stopped from 60 mph in just 103 feet, which is impressively short for an affordably priced performance car like this. Overall, this one of the best-handling front-wheel-drive cars on the road.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Golf GTI? The GTI has always excelled at balancing performance with comfort, and that's true for the latest version. Our loaded test vehicle was equipped with an adaptive suspension that can be set to a compliant Comfort mode or a firm Sport setting. There's a noticeable difference, but the GTI never feels too soft or overly harsh.

　　While we appreciate the available three-zone climate control, the capacitive touch controls for the temperature are cumbersome and occasionally infuriating to use. Rather than buttons or knobs, the GTI uses touch points on the dash. They're difficult to see and use without taking your eyes off the road.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below