Volkswagen Golf GTI (2013 – 2020) Review

If you're looking for the newer version, you need our Volkswagen Golf GTI review. 

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is a constant of the hot hatch sector. Where others have waxed and waned with their offerings, Volkswagen has consistently offered drivers a hot version of its hatch and they have, generally, repaid this by choosing the GTI in large numbers. That has been the case with the seventh generation GTI, which grew in power from an initial 220PS to an end of the line 245PS, with the 265PS Clubsport thrown in for good measure.

While some manufacturers may have pinched the GTI badge for sporty versions of their hatchbacks, the fact is that there is only one true claimant to the name and that’s the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

The seventh generation Golf GTI follows the now familiar formula with a turbocharged 2.0 TSI petrol engine, with power steadily increased during its lifetime, a front-wheel drive layout and, we're pleased to say, those much loved checker cloth seats.

Of course, it's a very different car from the original 1976 Golf GTI, but it's great to see this hot hatch survived the doldrums of the Mk4 from the late 1990s when there were some frankly terrible versions, the worst of which used a 2.0-litre engine with just 115PS. Not what you'd call fast.

Fortunately, those days are long gone. The fightback started with the fifth-generation model that set the template for what we have now and the Golf GTI is once again a bona fide performance machine. It looks the part too. The sharp lines of the new Golf lend themselves perfectly to the GTI and it sits lower with those lovely gloss 18-inch alloys now a GTI trademark bit of design.

There are plenty of nods to the past with the red stripe across the grille that now continues across the headlights which are xenon as standard. At the back there's a tailgate spoiler and dual exhausts giving it a purposeful but understated look. It's the antithesis of the brash Honda Civic Type R.

Under the bonnet, the Golf GTI in its seventh outing has had its power output steadily improved from launch in 2013. Back then, it was offered with 220PS as standard or you could upgrade to the Performance model with 230PS. A limited edition Clubsport model arrived in 2016 with up to 265PS on tap, while the standard GTI grew to 245PS.

The final fling for this Golf GTI was the TCR, which stand for Touring Car Racing, and has 290PS. That bridges the gap between the GTI and Golf R, so it tells you where the TCR’s performance lies with 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds but still with front-wheel drive rather than the R’s all-wheel drive set-up.

The interior of the GTI combines the high quality of the rest of Golf range with some nice touches including the checked cloth seats, red stitching on the lovely flat-bottomed steering wheel and of course the golf-ball style gear lever. It feels special from behind the wheel with superb fit and finish and a perfect driving position. Those sports seats provide excellent side and under thigh support too.

As an all-round hot hatch, the Golf GTI is easily the best on the market. Sure, rival cars may have more power or be quicker accelerating in a straight line, but nothing can match the superb ability and combination of power and finesse that the GTI offers. It's a car that's going to tick a lot of hot hatch buyers’ boxes.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is unbelievably smooth and forgiving for any car, let alone a performance hatch like this. It means you can comfortably live with the GTI day to day and happily take the family out in it.

Don't think the GTI has gone soft though. It's still sharp in corners with minimal body roll and even when pushed it responds predictably and safely. It certainly inspires confidence from behind the wheel. Elements like the short gear change and precise clutch help, while throttle response is instant. The Driving Mode Selection also helps here with a choice of Normal, Sport, Eco and Individual set-ups for the throttle and steering feel. 

Volkswagen introduced a Performance Pack for the GTI early on, which boosts power over the standard version and also comes with uprated brakes and a limited slip front differential.

Every Golf GTI uses a turbocharged 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine. At launch in 2013, it had 220PS and the Performance version offered 230PS.

Volkswagen later uprated the standard hatch to 230PS and gave the Performance a boost to 245PS. For the end of production, the Performance was the only base GTI on offer with a DSG seven-speed automatic gearbox. Prior to that, there was also the standard and precise six-speed manual gearbox.

There have been two other seventh gen Golf GTIs, starting with the limited run Clubsport Edition 40 with 265PS to see off 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds. The other is the short run TCR, or Touring Car Racing, model with 290PS that covers 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds.

When it was tested in 2012, the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf scored a full five-stars for safety overall. The GTI enjoys the same rating and comes with twin front, side and curtain airbags, as well as a driver’s knee ’bag.

Later models gained Front Assist that comes with radar-controlled distance monitoring and City Emergency Braking to spot hazards and use the brakes if the driver doesn’t react to warnings.

The GTI also has Hill Hold, Adaptive Cruise Control, parking sensors and Lane Assist, as well as Dynamic Light Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition. This is in addition to automatic headlights and wipers also being included in the GTI’s specification.

The GTI takes the standard Volkswagen Golf interior, which is already pretty much spot on, and adds some neat styling extras. It helps lift the interior of the GTI above the ordinary as does the red stitching on the steering wheel and leather gear lever surround.

The driving position is ideal thanks to lots of adjustment in the seat, particularly for height, and in the steering wheel that moves for depth and angle.

Volkswagen’s Golf GTI is one of the most accommodating when it comes to people and luggage. You can the GTI in three- and five-door forms and both offer the same commodious interior dimensions. With the three-door, there is the drawback of access to the rear seats. For some, this is a sacrifice worth having for a car that is more sporting in its owner’s eyes.

Volkswagen knows how to make interiors feel more substantial than their oppositions and this GTI is no exception. There is the sense it has been carved from a single piece of GTI-anium such is the feeling of strength to the way the doors shut and all of the materials feel.

This impression is furthered by the simple layout of the Golf GTI’s dash and the consistent, accurate panel gaps. It means there are not rattles or buzzes from the cabin as you drive, which adds to the idea the Golf GTI is a car from the class above the usual hot hatch machinery that makes up its rivals.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI range comes with an 8-inch colour touchscreen. Its ease of use is reassuring and VW makes sure of this with shortcut buttons for all of the major functions. There are also clear rotary dials to adjust the stereo volume and another for scrolling through the onscreen menus.

The screen itself has good resolution and, while not placed as high in the dash as some more recent arrivals in the hot hatch sector, it’s easy to see and read. With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto supplied as standard, it’s easy to hook up your smartphone.

Even as the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI arrived at the end of its lifespan, it was hugely popular. As a result, pre-registered examples of the 245PS Performance model were on offer with only a £500 discount from the original list price.

The GTI TCR was harder to find buyers dedicated enough for its more extreme performance, so discounts of £5000 were on offer for this model, so you’d pay £33,000 for one with only 500 miles on the clock.

Look for a three-year old Golf GTI with the 230PS engine and six-speed manual and there are plenty to choose from at the £18,000 mark with 30,000 miles to their credit.

Change that to a seven-year old and you’ll pay around £11,000 for a three- or five-door model with 70,000 miles under its wheels. This will get you a manual or DSG version.

Clubsport models start from £32,000 due to their rarity, while the more prevalent TCR will demand £27,500 for a one-year old model.

If you’d rather go down the approved used route and get a car from a Volkswagen dealer, there are plenty of Golf GTIs to choose from. You can fund these with a Solutions personal contract plan that works in the same as it does for a new car. You pay a deposit and monthly instalment and, at the end of the deal, you have the option to walk away or pay the balance to own the car.

All VW approved used cars come with a 12-month used car warranty and a year’s roadside breakdown assistance. You also get a guaranteed mileage and history check, 30-day exchange policy, and five days’ free drive away insurance.

The most economical Volkswagen Golf GTI according to official figures is the early 220PS that claimed 47.1mpg. Real MPG figures show you are likely to realise 36.4mpg.

Best of the bunch in Real MPG tests is the 245PS Performance model with manual gearbox that comes in at 37.5mpg compared to a claimed 42.8mpg. On the other hand, the Clubsport is the least frugal with a claimed 40.4mpg and Real MPG number of 29.0mpg.

Most Volkswagen Golf GTIs find themselves in group 29 for insurance. The limited edition Clubsport model sits in group 33, while the later GTI TCR is all the way up in group 37, which is only a couple of brackets below the Golf R.

The last of the line Golf GTI Performance model will pay first-year Vehicle Excise Duty of £540 courtesy of its 170g/km carbon dioxide emissions. That’s cheaper than the TCR version which, with CO2 emissions of 175g/km, means the initial 12 months of road tax comes in at £870.

After that, every GTI model registered from 1 April 2017 will pay road tax at £150. Car prior to that will pay the levy at £165 for those in Band F, while the others that fall into Band G will shell out £205 every year.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI’s equipment includes tartan-checked cloth upholstery as standard. There are heated sports front seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, air conditioning, electric windows all-round, 8-inch infotainment screen with sat-nav, and cruise control.

Outside, the GTI has 18-inch alloy wheels, twin exhaust pipes, deeper bumpers and body skirts, plus a rear tailgate spoiler. You also get parking sensors, front foglights and a space saver spare wheel.

The Performance gained more power, plus bigger front brake discs and an electronic limited slip differential. From mid-2016, it also had an optional 12.3-inch Active Info Display in place of the usual analogue main dials.

For the Clubsport version, Volkswagen gave it 265PS along with Launch Control, and a black-painted roof. Inside were race-style front bucket seats and less trim to save weight. The GTI TCR has lowered suspension, microsuede cloth upholstery and sports front seats, as well as red edging for the seats and belts. It sits on unique 18-inch alloy wheels and has a bespoke front splitter, rear spoiler and diffuser.