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 Economic 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 degree evaluated, and will not mirror Shopper Information’s impressions of all the mannequin lineup. | |
| Large & Tall Consolation | |
| Large Man | A |
| Tall Man | B+ |
| Large & Tall consolation scores 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 gasoline financial system: 23.7 mpg
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gasoline financial system: 24/32/27 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)
Gas sort: Common gasoline
Base value: $37,420 (not together with $1225 vacation spot cost)
Choices on take a look at automobile: Mats ($190)
Value as examined: $38,835
Audio-System Model
N/A
Audio-System High quality
Poor Honest Good Very-Good Wonderful
Professionals and Cons
The good: A pleasure to drive
The great: Roomy front-row, composed and comfy experience, makes use of regular-grade gasoline
The not so good: A little bit expensive, no manual-transmission choice
Evaluate
Don’t blame Volkswagen, however the Golf GTI has placed on slightly 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 automotive would essentially diminish its efficiency, however we’re pleased to report that merely is just not the case.
Weight Achieve
And in equity, each automobile in the marketplace right now, 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 now the lightest of Ford’s legendary pony vehicles is available in at 3600 kilos.
Blame security tools akin to side-impact safety and rollover safety for the load acquire, in addition to consumer-demand options together with normal air-con and automated transmission. Wait, you didn’t know concerning the automated? Right here’s the deal…
2025 Replace
Freshened for the 2025 Mannequin yr, the Golf GTI, together with its steroid-abusing massive brother the Golf R, the Golf’s had been handled to a variety of 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 mild bar. Cabin revisions included a bigger touchscreen, and fewer haptic controls.
Computerized Solely
However the massive information for severe driving fans is the disappearance of the 6-speed handbook 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 complete 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 overview of the 2025 Golf R, click on right here.
Autobahn fashions characteristic bigger wheels and tires and adaptive suspension amongst a variety of 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 automated transmission. All GTIs are front-wheel drive and run on regular-grade gasoline.
Observe that the GTI goes largely unchanged for the 2026 mannequin yr.
Check Automobile
Shopper Information just lately spent every week behind the wheel of a 2025 Golf GTI SE in Kings Purple Metallic. All advised, our take a look at automotive 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 slightly extra laborious plastic lining the GTI inside than we’d prefer to see in any automobile at this value, however general, we just like the business-like look.
Room and Consolation
The 4-door GTI affords loads of front-row seating area, and easy accessibility to the cabin by way of massive, wide-opening, entrance doorways. Visibility from the driving force’s seat is superb in all instructions. Rear seat area is nice, supplied the particular person in entrance of you doesn’t modify 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, nevertheless.
However, let’s get to the good things…
Trip 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 accessible 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 glorious. The DSG automated 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 virtually each state of affairs, and sounds and feels good doing it.
Gas Economic system
And, not together with the month-to-month funds, all of the enjoyable comes largely guilt free. We noticed slightly below 24 mpg in routine take a look at, together with some spirited on- and off-ramp workouts. We’d anticipate even higher gasoline financial system in day by day driving or on an extended freeway journey.
Enjoyable to Drive
Possibly due to the ability, and the much-larger wheels and tires, the fashionable GTI feels rather less frisky than GTIs of yore, and maybe slightly extra, nicely, severe. That mentioned 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 an extended historical past of pleased clients to appease, the Golf GTI is a large success. It’s enjoyable to drive, fully sensible, and solely slightly costly. And whereas the R is empirically the higher performing Golf, we’re undecided we prefer it extra. The Golf R is a good and rewarding-to-drive efficiency machine, but it surely isn’t frisky, and the GTI is.
So certain, the GTI has packed on a number of kilos over time, but it surely’s principally lean muscle. And when you’re looking for a day by day driver that’s pretty much as good in your soul as it’s in your commute, you might want to add the GTI to your test-drive checklist.
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2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE Footage
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