2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review

　　

2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of our favorite hot hatchbacks thanks to its artfully executed blend of performance, comfort and utility. At its core, the GTI is a performance-oriented variant of the Golf compact hatchback, but the GTI also offers a more comprehensive set of features than the standard Golf.

　　Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque — a substantial increase over the Golf's 147 hp and 184 lb-ft. The GTI's cabin also receives upgraded materials, including supportive sport seats clad in plaid upholstery — a signature dating back to the first GTI.

　　Know that a fully redesigned GTI is on its way for the 2022 model year. It will have more power and a sleeker interior design with two large display screens. Still, this final-year GTI has enough positive attributes to make it worth a look. Read our Expert Rating to get our in-depth evaluation.

　　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; our manual-equipped GTI test car covered 0-60 mph in an unremarkable 7.1 seconds. But the turbocharged inline-four feels strong in everyday driving. 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 mph 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 whooshing 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. 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) with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and 26 mpg combined with the six-speed manual. 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 306-horsepower Honda Civic Type R with nowhere near 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 controls.

　　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?

In previous years, we've recommended the GTI's base trim, the S. This year, however, SE and Autobahn trims get Volkswagen's new infotainment system called MIB3. Since the topped-out Autobahn also adds creature comforts such as dual-zone automatic climate control and safety aids including adaptive cruise control, that's the one we'd go with.

　　

2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI models

The 2021 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 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 including:

　　Power-adjustable driver's seat Standard dual-zone automatic climate control Fender audio system Adaptive suspension Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the GTI and the car in front) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Optional summer-rated performance tires

　　

2021 Golf GTI Highlights

Trim: SSEAutobahnS

　　

Base MSRP	$28,695
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$181/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	17.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles