The Volkswagen GTI is the quintessential hot hatch. It's fun and engaging to drive yet still practical and comfortable day to day. You'll find more performance for less money elsewhere, but no one else does as many things as well as the GTI. Outside of performance, the GTI has a spacious and roomy cabin that features a generous cargo area, though storage in the front seats is a bit lacking. We like the tech and driver aids too — they're refined and simple to use.
The 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI is the original and quintessential hot hatch. It's equal parts practical and fun thanks to a roomy interior and sporty performance. To make the GTI, VW takes the basic Golf hatchback and adds a 228-horsepower engine, a lower and stiffer suspension, stronger brakes and an available seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. You also get a range of sporty touches such as 18-inch wheels, sport seats and unique styling touches.
*** CLEAN CARFAX REPORT w/CONSISTENT SERVICE RECORDS REPORTED *** ABS Brakes Air Conditioning Alloy Wheels AM/FM Stereo Android Auto Apple CarPlay Aut...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
27 Combined MPG (24 City/32 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3VW6T7AU1LM010708 Stock: A5834 Certified Pre-Owned: No
VW plans to come out with an all-new GTI next year but that doesn't make the 2020 model any less enticing. It's been a consistent favorite among the Edmunds testing team since the seventh-generation model debuted in 2015.
What's it like to live with?
We spent a year with the Volkswagen Golf GTI when the seventh-gen model debuted in 2015, racking up more than 20,000 miles during our road test. We found it to be a capable small hatchback that felt at home both commuting around Los Angeles or taking on a sweeping mountain road. The current 2020 Golf GTI has some updates compared to that long-term test vehicle, but you can still benefit from reading our yearlong GTI road test.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Great
8.2
out of 10
We drove the 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
8.5/10
How does the Golf GTI drive? Few cars on the road today are as easy and as fun as the GTI. Raw acceleration isn't anything special, but the turbocharged inline-four feels much stronger than the 7.1-second 0-60 mph time would suggest. There's lots of smooth low-end torque, so you don't need to downshift more than one gear to pass on the highway or power out of a corner. When you do need to shift, the clutch is light and precise, as is the shifter. This is one of the easiest manual transmissions we've ever operated.
Braking performance was excellent in our performance-tire equipped test car, with short stops from 60 of 110 feet on our test track and a generally firm and responsive brake pedal. Those tires helped with steering feedback too. The effort is light, but it's responsive and quick to turn in. The GTI feels light and athletic and, while not as sharp as some other hot hatches, it still impresses on a winding back road.
Comfort
8.5/10
How comfortable is the Golf GTI? The GTI does a wonderful job of splitting the difference between sporty and comfortable. The front seats are firm and supportive, with bolstering that doesn't feel overly snug. There's a decent amount of adjustment, though we wish the power-adjustable seats could go slightly lower. The ride quality is excellent. It leans toward the comfortable side of sporty, but that doesn't mean it feels overly soft or floaty. Our test car was fitted with adaptive dampers, helping the GTI get the best of both worlds.
The GTI's climate control system works well, blowing cold and cooling the GTI down quickly. Vents for rear-seat passengers are a bonus. It's relatively quiet too, with only a mild amount of wind and road noise. Some might find the exhaust note a bit tiring, but you do get a nice growl and a bit of turbo wooshing from under the hood.
Interior
8.5/10
How’s the interior? The GTI's front seats are spacious, with excellent head-, legroom and shoulder room, even with our tester's sunroof. Rear occupants don't have as much legroom, and a tunnel running down the center of the car makes the center seat just about useless. Getting in and out is easy since the short doors and wide openings provide plenty of space to move, even with the front seat's bolsters.
Most of the controls, from the clutch and shifter to the climate control and media settings — are well placed and easy to reach. There are dedicated buttons for most of the major settings and controls. The thin-rimmed steering wheel means the instrument cluster isn't blocked, but the wheel-mounted controls aren't easy to identify and are cumbersome to use at first. Visibility is excellent thanks to wide, upright windows and relatively narrow pillars.
Technology
8/10
How’s the tech? Volkswagen's infotainment system features one of the most user-friendly interfaces around. The controls are logical and easy to use, and the motion-activated on-screen buttons keep the system from feeling cluttered. The Fender audio system in our test vehicle was excellent, with clear highs and warm, well-rounded lows. The biggest issue is smartphone connection. It's great having Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, but there's only a single USB port inside.
The driver aids work fairly seamlessly too. Adaptive cruise control is available with a manual transmission and maintains a good gap without constantly applying the gas or brakes. Only the parking sensors are a little sensitive.
Storage
8/10
How’s the storage? The GTI is one of the few remaining hatchbacks on the market, a boon for those looking for performance and fun in a practical package. The cargo area packs 22.8 cubic feet of storage, more than just about every other compact hatchback around. With the rear seats folded flat, the space opens up to 52.7 cubic feet. The cargo area itself is wide, flat and upright, so there's usable space in all directions. Storage up front isn't quite as good. We like the large front and rear door pockets that have space for water bottles, but the small center console and storage bin aren't good for much more than a smartphone.
It's relatively easy to install a car seat thanks to easy-to-access anchors on the outboard seats. The rear door opening could be a bit tight for some seats, and connecting to the anchor point on the seatback requires removing the cargo cover.
Fuel Economy
7.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? The GTI has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 27 mpg combined (24 city/32 highway). That's with either the six-speed manual or the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. That's a hair off the Honda Civic Si and the Volkswagen Jetta GLI. On our mixed-driving 115-mile evaluation loop, the GTI returned an impressive 31.5 mpg, even with a bit of spirited canyon driving thrown in.
Value
7.5/10
Is the Golf GTI a good value? There's no getting around it: If you're interested in a GTI, expect to pay a bit more than you would for most of its rivals. It's one of the most expensive vehicles in its class, and the GTI's performance-per-dollar isn't all that great. Our loaded tester was right on par pricewise with a Honda Civic Type R without the performance. That said, you do see where the money went. Build quality is excellent, with solid fit and finish and nice use of higher-grade knobs and switchgear.
The warranty and ownership experience is good too. The four-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranty is about average for the class, but Volkswagen also includes three years/36,000 miles of roadside assistance. Scheduled maintenance is also included for two years or 24,000 miles.
Wildcard
8.5/10
The GTI isn't likely to turn as many heads as some of its rivals, but that's part of the point. It's cool and conservative while being a ton of fun to drive. There's enough power from the turbocharged engine to feel peppy all the time, but not so much that you have to hold back on the street. Some rivals are a bit more lively, but they're far more likely to attract unwanted attention.
And it's not like the GTI is all cold and bland. The plaid seats, golf ball shifter, and red accents inside and out give it just a bit of flair without seeming overdone. It might be too dull for some, but at the same time it feels more grown-up.
2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI trim level differences
The 2020 Golf GTI is available in three trim levels: S, SE and Autobahn. All GTIs come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (228 hp, 258 lb-ft) and front-wheel drive. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is optional. Highlight features include:
Which Golf GTI trim does Edmunds recommend?
We think the base S trim is the way to go. While the SE and Autobahn trims offer more features such as LED lighting and an adaptive suspension, they don't improve the GTI's performance or fun. Plus you can only get the excellent plaid seats in the base model. You can also use the money you save by getting a set of aftermarket performance tires. We've found in our testing that the factory all-season tires just don't have enough grip to do the GTI justice.
Purchased a 2020 GTI-S. My other car is a BMW and after driving this little blaster, I gave the BMW to my wife! Excellent performance, visibility and braking. Love the interior and the fit and finish are way above average.
You feel confident and connected to the road as though the car can read your thoughts. The ride is comfortable and controls are easy to read and/or reach.
The car is a … blast to drive and you can park this baby anywhere.
Don’t know why others gave this vehicle a average rating...this is the quickest, best handling vehicle I have owned in years. If you have ever thought about buying a GTI...RUN..don’t walk to your dealer. You won’t be sorry.
See if the dealer can interrogate CPU and fix it this way:
I had this issue, they scanned my car and saw it was partially still in transport mode. They put it back into transport mode and then removed it. I have not stalled since and it happened 8 times in 6 days of taking delivery which was ~300 miles and I am just shy of 1200 now. I opened a ticket with VW so it was documented.
Purchased the SE trim with the Experience package in dark blue metallic and love it! The power is effortless. Not unlimited, effortless. What I mean is that no matter how much accelerator I give it, it doesn’t feel or sound like it’s straining. It just goes. Plenty of power to pass on the highway. Also, in sport mode, downshifting with the paddles to 2nd gear coming into a 90 degree … turn and stomping the acceleration out of the turn is downright addictive. But it is also docile and smooth in everyday driving. Wonderful combination. I couldn’t justify spending almost $10K more for an R for basically AWD and 60 more horsepower (I got a very nice Labor Day discount.) Besides, when the very good 6 year/72,000 mile warranty runs out, I’ll get APR to re-chip it and have R level performance for about $1,000. Until then, I’m completely satisfied with my purchase. And don’t buy everything you hear about VW reliability. I traded in a 2010 Golf that had never been in the shop for anything besides regular scheduled maintenance. Not. One. Single. Time.
Test drove against the Elantra GT Nline, Mazda3 Hatch, and Honda Civic Si. The VW GTI was by far my favorite to drive of the bunch.
Exterior - unassuming yet very functional hatch, love the led headlights
Interior - mine came with leather seats which are very comfortable for my average male build, quiet comfortable cabin for long drives
Engine - plenty of power for a sporty driving … experience, most powerful engine of the cars I was comparing against, really enjoy the turbo thrust
Trans - got the manual, clutch has good but not amazing feel, however not too light and not too heavy, shifter is fine for what it is given the fwd layout
Ride/handling - with the VAQ diff the car handles neutrally during spirited driving on public roads, can't speak to handling at the limit, ride is on the stiffer side but not punishing
Overall - a good mix of what one could want from a hot hatch. Felt the least comprised of the group. Good on gas given the power and smiles it puts out!
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI, so we've included reviews for other years of the Golf GTI since its last redesign.
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