Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE
Specs
Class: Sporty/Efficiency Automobile
Nation of Manufacture: Germany
Miles pushed: 143
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | B |
| Energy and Efficiency | B+ |
| Match and End | B |
| Gas Financial system | B |
| Worth | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and will not replicate Shopper Information’s impressions of the whole mannequin lineup. | |
| Large & Tall Consolation | |
| Large Man | A |
| Tall Man | B+ |
| Large & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Large” score primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 241-horsepower, 2.0-liter |
| Engine Kind | Turbocharged 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | Computerized |
| Drive Wheels | Entrance-wheel drive |
Noticed gas financial system: 23.7 mpg
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gas financial system: 24/32/27 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)
Gas sort: Common fuel
Base worth: $37,420 (not together with $1225 vacation spot cost)
Choices on take a look at car: Mats ($190)
Value as examined: $38,835
Audio-System Model
N/A
Audio-System High quality
Poor Truthful Good Very-Good Wonderful
Professionals and Cons
The good: A pleasure to drive
The great: Roomy front-row, composed and cozy experience, makes use of regular-grade fuel
The not so good: A bit of dear, no manual-transmission choice
Assessment
Don’t blame Volkswagen, however the Golf GTI has placed on a bit of weight. Since its U.S. introduction in 1983, the GTI has gained greater than 1000 kilos. One would assume that packing an additional half ton of mass onto a automobile would essentially diminish its efficiency, however we’re completely satisfied to report that merely isn’t the case.
Weight Achieve
And in equity, each car available on the market right this moment, if its lineage goes again that far, taxes the scales with extra mass. The Ford Mustang, for instance, weighed in at about 2700 kilos in 1983, right this moment the lightest of Ford’s legendary pony vehicles is available in at 3600 kilos.
Blame security gear comparable to side-impact safety and rollover safety for the burden acquire, in addition to consumer-demand options together with commonplace air con and computerized transmission. Wait, you didn’t know concerning the computerized? Right here’s the deal…
2025 Replace
Freshened for the 2025 Mannequin yr, the Golf GTI, together with its steroid-abusing large brother the Golf R, the Golf’s have been handled to quite a few design tweaks, in addition to one main mechanical replace.
Among the many styling modifications are a revised entrance finish together with a brand new bumper and grille design together with a light-up VW emblem, and grille-wide LED gentle bar. Cabin revisions included a bigger touchscreen, and fewer haptic controls.
Computerized Solely
However the large information for severe driving lovers is the disappearance of the 6-speed guide transmission. Volkswagen representatives cite the complexities of emissions-certifying manual-transmission autos together with falling demand for the self-shifters.
There’s a silver lining to this entire automatic-transmission-only drama, and that’s that VW’s 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) is an absolute honey of a transmission.
Costs and Trim Ranges
For 2025, the Golf GTI is obtainable in three trim ranges:
- S ($33,670)
- SE ($38,645)
- Autobahn ($42,105)
For a whole evaluate of the 2025 Golf R, click on right here.
Autobahn fashions characteristic bigger wheels and tires and adaptive suspension amongst quite a few different options, most of that are beauty.
Engines
All GTIs come outfitted with a 241-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4 mated to the aforementioned 7-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission. All GTIs are front-wheel drive and run on regular-grade gasoline.
Notice that the GTI goes largely unchanged for the 2026 mannequin yr.
Take a look at Automobile
Shopper Information not too long ago spent every week behind the wheel of a 2025 Golf GTI SE in Kings Purple Metallic. All informed, our take a look at automobile got here to $38,835, together with the vacation spot cost.
Cabin Appointments
Beginning inside, the GTI cabins is tidy, businesslike, and seemingly nicely screwed collectively. There’s a bit of extra exhausting plastic lining the GTI inside than we’d wish to see in any car at this worth, however total, we just like the business-like look.
Room and Consolation
The 4-door GTI gives loads of front-row seating house, and quick access to the cabin by way of giant, wide-opening, entrance doorways. Visibility from the driving force’s seat is superb in all instructions. Rear seat house is nice, offered the particular person in entrance of you doesn’t regulate their seat too far again.
Controls
The up to date controls work fairly nicely, and we admire the transfer from haptic (non-moving) controls for many features, particularly the local weather system. Steering-wheel controls stay haptic, nonetheless.
However, let’s get to the great things…
Journey and Dealing with
And that great things, excellent news actually, comes when the GTI is in movement. And at its core, regardless of all of the out there energy, the GTI is a tossable blast to drive with incredible steering, nice physique management, and agency, responsive brakes.
And, about that transmission…
Energy and Efficiency
Frankly, it’s wonderful. The DSG computerized intuitively picks appropriate gears, and the shifts are agency, decisive, however by no means harsh. Coupled with the keen 241-horse engine, the automated makes absolutely the most of just about each state of affairs, and sounds and feels good doing it.
Gas Financial system
And, not together with the month-to-month funds, all of the enjoyable comes largely guilt free. We noticed just below 24 mpg in routine take a look at, together with some spirited on- and off-ramp workout routines. We’d anticipate even higher gas financial system in day by day driving or on a protracted freeway journey.
Enjoyable to Drive
Possibly due to the facility, and the much-larger wheels and tires, the trendy GTI feels rather less frisky than GTIs of yore, and maybe a bit of extra, nicely, severe. That stated the brand new Golf GTI nonetheless honors model custom with a chassis tuned to make drivers giggle, and sufficient energy to use that athleticism.
Worth
As a legacy mannequin with a protracted historical past of completely satisfied clients to appease, the Golf GTI is a big success. It’s enjoyable to drive, fully sensible, and solely a bit of costly. And whereas the R is empirically the higher performing Golf, we’re unsure we prefer it extra. The Golf R is a superb and rewarding-to-drive efficiency machine, but it surely isn’t frisky, and the GTI is.
So positive, the GTI has packed on a couple of kilos over time, but it surely’s principally lean muscle. And for those who’re looking for a day by day driver that’s nearly as good to your soul as it’s to your commute, it’s worthwhile to add the GTI to your test-drive checklist.
Hearken to the Automobile Stuff Podcast
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE Footage
Click on beneath for enlarged photos
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