Used 2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback Consumer Reviews
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Best daily driver under 30k money can buy
Tom, 08/07/2018
updated 02/01/2019
2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
This car is a home-run. Turns like it’s on rails, very well planted on the road. Ride is stiff at times, especially on bad pavement... But it's the price you pay for the sporty suspension. Brakes are great. Safety features are great: forward collision mitigation is on point, as is blind spot monitor. Led lights are slick. Interior is luxurious : 8" touchscreen with Apple Carplay, leather seats, soft touch materials. Cabin noise levels are very low. DSG is bliss. Overall it's a very well finished car... Iteration number 7.5 so they have figured out the value proposition really well. Speedwise : it's got enough power to keep you interested, but it's no wild beast like the Golf R or a WRX STI. I'm very happy with the car and look forward to driving it every day. Got the SE because the Autobahn was not worth it to me. Barebones S with the manual is a sweet value proposition you should absolutely consider too. I drove other cars like the Subaru WRX, but went with the GTI due to better incentives and more civilized ride, plus that DSG. The Mazda3 is a good option too, but the GTI is one level above. If you live in an area with very bad pavement, don't get this car, otherwise you'll enjoy every minute. Love this car, gosh. BRB I went for a drive.
16 days of ownership / 1,000 miles driven
Rashod B., 11/24/2018
2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
17 of 19 people found this review helpful
Rent this car before buying! Test drive the actual trim multiple times. Make sure you love it because it has a lot of perks but some major annoyances. Overall, I'm stoked about my purchase and I love my new GTI so far. I'm coming from an older Jetta so it feels intuitive and familiar but much nicer than my old VW. The GTI is everything you expect it to be...fast, fun, practical, affordable, and seemingly reliable. It truly is a lovely car. The reviews out there are fairly accurate. The tech package is modern and very nice. The car is sneaky fast and the exhaust notes are great when driving in sport mode. THIS CAR IS FUN!!! Here's what I learned in my 2 weeks of ownership. The leatherette seats are not the most comfortable, especially for long trips. Interestingly enough, I didn't experience the same problem when I rented the base model with cloth seats. I just assumed the leatherette would be nicer and more comfortable...they're not. They just *look* nicer. My biggest complaint is cabin noise. My brand new GTI has more creaks and rattles than my '08 Jetta with 157K miles on it. I took it to the local VW dealership where I purchased the car and the service advisor told me it's the norm with these cars. For a car that looks & drives amazing and costs $28K - $35K, the noises make it feel cheap and not well assembled. After Googling the issue, it is clear that my GTI is not unique. Lots of people out there reporting creaks and rattles with a lack of support from the VW dealerships. I absolutely love the car but would I make the purchase again...I'd probably lease because it doesn't feel like a keeper. On a positive note, the GTI ownership community is pretty amazing. Tons of tips, tricks, and DIY solutions for almost any problem. The aftermarket world is rabbit hole of goodies.
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2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI for sale near you
Showing 3 of 14 listings
- Autobahn 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $27,000124 mi away
- SE 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $25,998In-stock online
- Autobahn 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $14,99526 mi away
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Great car!
Rick, 08/10/2018
updated 02/15/2019
2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Love this car! So much fun! Many great things about it: acceleration, steering, cloth seats, gas mileage, small size, etc. I got the manual but would have been just as happy with the automatic. I own a 2009 & 2015 BMW 335, but I prefer to drive the GTI.
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This car is AWESOME!
Al Bert, 05/20/2018
2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I was skeptical about buying a VW - I had set on one of the following: Mazda 3, Honda Civic, or a Ford Focus. Since I was out shopping anyway, I decided to check out the GTI; it was love at first acceleration. This car is awesome - you can select Eco mode, drive it responsibly, and get 39mpg; or you can select Sport mode, let the turbo do its thing, and have a lot of fun. I like small cars; this one fits the bill while taking 4 adults around very comfortably. The interior is nice, instruments are well positioned, the seats are snug and firm (as you would expect from a sport car), and the driving position commanding. I got the standard speakers, and I'm happy with them. The dual clutch transmission is something out of this world - it switches gears quickly and seamlessly. All in all, this is a fine specimen of German engineering at its best.
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This car is so much fun to drive
Barbara in Houston, 12/03/2018
updated 06/10/2019
2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have owned probably 10 VWs, including numerous Jettas, a convertible Rabbit, and a Quantum. This is by far the most fun to drive. A couple of months ago, my sales guy sent me a text and told me he could upgrade my Jetta and lower my payment by $100 a month. I told him I did not want another Jetta, I wanted a Golf GTI. I have wanted one for a long time. I ended up with the 2.0T SE with beautiful titan black leather with red stitch. The exterior paint is deep black pearl metallic. I love it!!!!! The first time I really hit the gas to get on the freeway, my neck actually snapped back. It is so fast and small and zippy. I also have a 2004 Land Rover Discovery (which I really love), but I don't even want to drive it because the GTI is so much fun. I love the trim and the fact that it has 4 doors and the hatchback. The two things that I don't like as much as the Jetta - I like the temperature control system in the Jetta over the GTI and I really miss having an old fashioned navigation system not connected to a phone. Buy this car - you will be very happy!!!!!
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