VW Golf GTI 2021 review - is the MK8 the best yet?

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The all-new Golf GTI is HERE!

Volkswagen’s mid-level sporty edition of the Mk8 Golf rolls up with all the classic hot hatch styling cues you’d expect, from the classic red striping across the bonnet (and throughout the cabin!) along with a more aggressive, honeycomb-style grille.

As for performance, well it’s certainly not too bad, as you’ll find a 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that will deliver 245hp and 370Nm.

Sure, so it all sounds pretty good! The question is, does it really offer enough to sway you away from the competition? And more importantly, with the new Golf R already announced and just around the corner, are you better off just waiting for the GTI’s big brother?

There’s only one way to find out… Sit back, relax, and join Mat for his latest in-depth review!

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:38 Price
01:06 Exterior Design
02:39 Interior & Infotainment
04:20 Back Seats
04:58 Boot
05:21 Five Annoying Things
06:59 Five Cool Things
08:15 0 - 60mph
09:37 Twisty Road Driving
10:35 Town Driving
11:24 Motorway Driving
12:45 Verdict
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[carwow]

07:30 - Oops! We obviously didn't mean it's 0.3 Cd more aerodynamic. The new Golf GTI has improved over its predecessor from 0.3 to 0.275! That's still pretty slippery...

[arkiepoo]

This trend of touch sensitive buttons and digital driver's screens amidst seas of black shiny plastic needs to stop!

[prod.idzi]

Mobile phones while driving - no no no
Touchscreen displays - *ah* _yes_

[willt.]

All those touch-sensitive buttons would literally keep me from getting the car.

[timholmes]

Just recently taken delivery of GTi, so far so good. More fun to drive than my previous Mark 7 Golf R ( I wasn’t prepared to pay near 40k for the new R).
The display and ambient lighting changes depending on driving mode therefore not sure if the car Mat drove had a glitch. As for the touch sensitive ‘buttons’ .... jury is kinda out, try before you buy would be my motto. That said I have no regrets in my purchase.

[Stewiedude]

I know we joke about cars sounding like vacuum cleaners now but this actually does 06:00

[carwow]

Let's face it, we're spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a new hot hatch in 2020! But is the new Golf GTI the best of the bunch? Or would you rather go for something like the new Audi S3? Let us know in the COMMENTS!

[MrWindfucker]

Bought new Gti in november, so far no issues. Touch sensitive controls work seamlessly, you need to figure it out at first, everything works perfect. I had 7.5 GTD, mark 8 gti is better in every way. Sound isolation is at higher level, car has more confidence at bends, with no speed limiter it goes 268kph. Fuel consumption avg 10L+- per 100km. U need to fill it with 100 oct fuel to get most of it performance vise. All in all, you need to drive the car for a few months to have full experience how everything works, one experience is on media, other in real life. I ordered car without seeing it in person, so i didnt expect such a big step up from 2018 gtd seeing all those reviewers talking how bad multimedia stuff was, what i realised was that they dont know how to use this commands, which are really intuitive, attention to detail is on another level.

[mq]

no-one:
mat: launches car on bendy road

[sanzthescorpion]

Matts told us to shortlist so many cars at this point we now should consider it a long list 😂

[jasonh]

Given how universally panned the Mk8’s interior layout has been, I hope VW brings back actual buttons for the facelift in a few years...

[sanjaykrishna]

Literally touches the phone while driving:death or life in prison
Fiddles with infotainment system on the autobahn to open ur glove box:

[Deuteross]

The new dashboard with all those touch-sensitive buttons is terrible.

[Michael]

The buttonless dash really bothers me, like a lot so it’s a no from me. Prefer the MK7 & MK6.

[shanto]

Don't have money to buy a car but watching bless you to buy cars!!

[Omar-kwui]

This might have been the most awkward intro ive seen you do Matt lol. Hands in pocket, no hands out lol was quite funny.

[staceylane]

I have a MK 7.5 and I really love the way the car looks, I still don’t like the shape on this new one but I love my golf so nice to drive especially dsg. I was looking into maybe getting this one but errgh I just don’t know how I feel about this new one. Older ones just look nicer to me x

[CrashedCarChannel]

The best wheels for a GTI were the ones for the Mk5

[OkeyUnadike]

I just took delivery of the Mk 8 GTI, absolutely brilliant car. I had the MK 7.5, but I must say this is the best GTI ever. Some people that leave comments on here don’t even own the MK 8. I have no issues with the infotainment system. Got used to it in seconds. The moment you sit in it and drive it you won’t want to go back to the old one. And please matt do your research properly before complaining that you can’t change the background light. Just swipe down on the infotainment system and tap on background, and you have an array of colours to choose from. I’m loving the car everyday. No regrets at all.

[AMN_]

Mk7.5 Golf/GTI lineup forever the goat