Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE
Specs
Class: Sporty/Efficiency Automotive
Nation of Manufacture: Germany
Miles pushed: 143
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | B |
| Energy and Efficiency | B+ |
| Match and End | B |
| Gasoline 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 degree evaluated, and will not replicate Client 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” ranking primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 241-horsepower, 2.0-liter |
| Engine Sort | Turbocharged 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | Computerized |
| Drive Wheels | Entrance-wheel drive |
Noticed gasoline economic system: 23.7 mpg
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gasoline economic system: 24/32/27 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)
Gasoline sort: Common fuel
Base worth: $37,420 (not together with $1225 vacation spot cost)
Choices on check car: Mats ($190)
Value as examined: $38,835
Audio-System Model
N/A
Audio-System High quality
Poor Honest Good Very-Good Wonderful
Execs and Cons
The good: A pleasure to drive
The nice: Roomy front-row, composed and comfy trip, makes use of regular-grade fuel
The not so good: Just a little expensive, no manual-transmission possibility
Assessment
Don’t blame Volkswagen, however the Golf GTI has placed on a bit 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 just isn’t the case.
Weight Acquire
And in equity, each car 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 automobiles is available in at 3600 kilos.
Blame security gear corresponding to side-impact safety and rollover safety for the burden acquire, in addition to consumer-demand options together with commonplace air-con and automated transmission. Wait, you didn’t know in regards to the automated? Right here’s the deal…
2025 Replace
Freshened for the 2025 Mannequin 12 months, the Golf GTI, together with its steroid-abusing huge brother the Golf R, the Golf’s have been handled to numerous design tweaks, in addition to one main mechanical replace.
Among the many styling adjustments are a revised entrance finish together with a brand new bumper and grille design together with a light-up VW brand, and grille-wide LED gentle bar. Cabin revisions included a bigger touchscreen, and fewer haptic controls.
Computerized Solely
However the huge information for critical driving fans 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 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 assessment of the 2025 Golf R, click on right here.
Autobahn fashions characteristic bigger wheels and tires and adaptive suspension amongst numerous different options, most of that are beauty.
Engines
All GTIs come geared up 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.
Be aware that the GTI goes largely unchanged for the 2026 mannequin 12 months.
Take a look at Automotive
Client Information just lately spent every week behind the wheel of a 2025 Golf GTI SE in Kings Crimson Metallic. All instructed, our check automotive got here to $38,835, together with the vacation spot cost.
Cabin Appointments
Beginning inside, the GTI cabins is tidy, businesslike, and seemingly properly screwed collectively. There’s a bit extra arduous plastic lining the GTI inside than we’d wish to see in any car at this worth, however general, we just like the business-like look.
Room and Consolation
The 4-door GTI provides loads of front-row seating house, and quick access 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 house is nice, supplied the individual in entrance of you doesn’t regulate their seat too far again.
Controls
The up to date controls work fairly properly, 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 great 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 out there energy, the GTI is a tossable blast to drive with unbelievable steering, nice physique management, and agency, responsive brakes.
And, about that transmission…
Energy and Efficiency
Frankly, it’s wonderful. The DSG automated intuitively picks appropriate gears, and the shifts are agency, decisive, however by no means harsh. Coupled with the prepared 241-horse engine, the automated makes absolutely the most of just about each state of affairs, and sounds and feels good doing it.
Gasoline 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 check, together with some spirited on- and off-ramp workouts. We’d anticipate even higher gasoline economic 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 a bit extra, properly, critical. 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 an extended historical past of pleased prospects to appease, the Golf GTI is a big success. It’s enjoyable to drive, fully sensible, and solely a bit costly. And whereas the R is empirically the higher performing Golf, we’re undecided 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 number of kilos over time, but it surely’s largely lean muscle. And for those who’re searching for a day by day driver that’s pretty much as good on your soul as it’s on your commute, it’s essential to add the GTI to your test-drive listing.
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2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE Footage
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