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Used 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI Consumer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
27 reviews

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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Golf GTI, so we've included reviews for other years of the Golf GTI since its last redesign.

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Pros
Cons
5 out of 5 stars

My 8 GTI rocks!

Rich, 08/08/2023
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI 40th Anniversary Edition 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

The VW MK8 GTI is the best yet and only continues to impress. I have a MK6 GTI that I have owned since new and the MK8 is in a whole different class. Fit and finish is excellent, the power delivery is spot on and the electronics are easy to navigate once you get used to them. I would buy another MK8 to replace my MK6 if my son would let it go.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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* Starting MSRP of $31,965 for a 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI S 2.0L TSI® with 7-speed DSG® transmission. Prices exclude transportation, taxes, title, other options, and dealer charges. Dealer sets actual price.

4 out of 5 stars

Love hate relationship

Thark, 01/22/2023
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful

Infotainment system with no knobs is difficult to use an detracts from otherwise enjoyable car

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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3 out of 5 stars

Good Car but!!!

Salah Balboul, 01/01/2022
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
19 of 32 people found this review helpful

This is for a 2022 Golf GTI Autobahn review. I'll start by saying I am not a pro car reviewer or paid to review the car. I purchased this car on Dec 24, 2021. Depending on your expectation, you could be very happy or somewhat disappointed with this MK8 generation car from VW. The Good: Nice overall design, a bit longer than prior MK7 generation, car is reliable, packed with nice features, plenty of leg room. You can fit 4 adults somewhat comfortably, although the back seats are not designed for those 5.9 plus. For passenger in front seat, plenty of room. The ride is comfortable, nice safety features (e.g. lane departure warning, proximity warning). Good gas mileage. Automatic transmission is very responsive, car hugs the road, in all honesty overall the car is fun to drive but with conditions. The bad: If you are expecting strong acceleration from a car with 241 HP and 273 ft/lb turbo powered 4 CYL engines, I'd say you will need to adjust your expectation. There is a noticeable turbo lag. The car simply lacks power for its class. You will need to floor the gas pedal for some 2 seconds before the engine comes fully responsive. The Information/Entertainment system is like dealing with a mini tablet. Way too many menus, sub-menus. It is a learning curve for sure. For some reason or another VW engineers elected to over design this interface, for whatever reason. Personally I think simpler and less complicated is much better for a sporty hatchback. Is the car worth $40K price tag? Not based on what I have seen so far. If VW Golf is your thing and want better performance, then wait for the 2022 Golf R or consider other Honda Type R or the Volester.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
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* Starting MSRP of $31,965 for a 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI S 2.0L TSI® with 7-speed DSG® transmission. Prices exclude transportation, taxes, title, other options, and dealer charges. Dealer sets actual price.

5 out of 5 stars

Amazing vehicle. Definitely the best daily driver

Tommytom, 04/03/2022
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
9 of 15 people found this review helpful

First daily driver under 50 K. I love everything about this vehicle the way it feels just sitting at a stoplight. For the thrill you get when cornering. The golf in my opinion has always been a touch under powered but hey how much power can you expect from a four-cylinder engine and a car that’s the size of a large go kart. Infotainment system took a little bit to master but once you figure it out it’s awesome having all those options within reach. Everything that needs to be turned while driving is right there on your steering wheel. Any tweaking you need to do outside of that you will probably want to pull over anyway. Connectivity is super fast. Not sure why everyone is hating on the infotainment system I think it’s way better than most of them out there. And the fact you don’t have buttons and knobs makes you feel like you definitely bought an upscale vehicle. Every time you put it into drive you’re definitely satisfied with the money you spent. Overall I give it a nine out of 10. Because there’s always one little thing you wish the car dealer could anticipate the consumer wishing for but at the same time nothings ever perfect. In my mind this is as close to perfect as you will get in a gas powered vehicle. Great job by Volkswagen. Also I currently own a jeep wrangler a Dodge Caravan and a Toyota Corolla. Previous vehicles include Hyundai Alantra, a civic SI, and a Volkswagen rabbit. One exploring other car manufacturers post Volkswagen rabbit I regretted each purchase and was excited to return to Volkswagen

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars

Fatal Distraction

Liz , 01/04/2025
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

As a long-time VW owner, my 2023 GTI is everything I expected…except for one thing. The infotainment system is junk!! Not sure where VW was going with this…looks? I find my eyes are off the road continually finding a radio station or controlling heat and air. …and don’t even get me started as to how many times the entire system has crashed in spite of it being supposedly repaired. System failure warning bells will drive you crazy. You can try to reset it by holding down the power button and re-booting, but the thing has its own mind, so this may take ten to twelve tries over days. I spend a lot of time on the road and really enjoy my music, but I take my external Bose speaker with me on long trips because there’s a good chance my stereo will not work at some point. Here’s what else doesn’t work when the system crashes…the climate control!! I was in Fargo with a -10 temp outside and no way to turn the heat on in my car. After pulling over and working on it for ten minutes, I finally got the screen to come up for a few seconds. I quickly turned the heat up and heated seats on and it crashed again. The seats got very hot but I couldn’t turn them off. I had to pull over again and re-boot the system 5-6 times to finally turn them off before it crashed again. This happens all.the.time. So disappointing as the rest of the car is over-the-top! Hopefully VW will recall the entire system and put in something more reliable… or farm out the electronics to someone who can do a better job. Seriously, a knob to control the fan speed or temperature is OK. Kinda wishing I’d have kept my 2017 GTI, which was flawless. That’s my big beef with the car. Good stuff? It has plenty of power and great styling. I especially like it because I’m a very small person and it fits me. Not a fan of SUV’s so a hatchback is my best option. With seats down, my mountain bike ( with front wheel detached) fits, as well as ski equipment or as much outdoor equipment I need for an outdoor adventure of any type. With snow tires on, it handles the roads as well as any all-wheel drive vehicle I’ve owned. So If you can get your hands on one, do it! Just be prepared for some challenges in the electronics department!! Happy Trails…

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
1 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
2 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Smiles for Miles

JMF, 06/21/2024
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

This is my first GTI! I have had Jetta's, Beetles, BMWs and this car is so much more fun to drive compared to them. The bad rap the for no knobs for the info center is a little over the top, come on I'm older and I figured it out. The handling and smooth drive is incredible, going to SC from PA got 38-40 MPG using Premium fuel. The sport seats fit like a glove and no fatigue on long drives so just be careful of your speed on Highways because she wants to get down the road. The Harmon Kardon stereo sounds as good as my Fender Stereo in the Beetle especially with Zeppelin playing. The GTI is just fun and functional and awesome looking inside and out, the interior lighting is so cool at night love it. I can't say enough to explain how much fun this car is. I do have one Con and that is my wife keeps leaving her 535 and taking the GTI.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

I get one before they go extinct

Dr_Nano, 10/31/2023
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

When I was a poor college student, I desperately wanted a GTI. But tuition came first and now I am secure enough in my career to go back in time and get one. I am glad that I did. First, the boring bits. Yes, the infotainment system is a tad byzantine and the haptic controls don't help. But after a few months I seem to understand their idiosyncrasies. I even discovered the problem with the steering wheel lurching suddenly was due to the lane marker sensor reading the tar snakes on the roadway as lane markers (remedied by turning the sensor off). Yes, some of the interior plastics look a tad cheap. But in this car I am watching the road, not them. Finally, I dislike the shift pattern. Reverse is obtained by pressing the stalk down and then shifting into first. I've learned to watch the screen and if the backup camera comes on, then I know I am in reverse and not low gear forward. The great bits? It's fast and it holds the road. Merging onto a highway takes no effort and presses you back into a sculpted seat that can either be cooled or heated. I live in New England and it's perfect for the curvy back roads. It cruises effortlessly on Interstates and I often look down and see that I am going 20 mph over the limit. There are tons of interior features, including a lighting package that you can color tune to your liking. I typically get reasonable mpg, with 30 to 35 on the highway and the high 20s around town. This model likes premium though, so be prepared to pay more at the pump. VW is discontinuing the manual with this model year, so I am happy I managed to sneak in under the deadline and nab the car I always wanted. Also, my dealer sold these as fast at they came in, so good luck finding one that has exactly what you want.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
3 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars

4th GTI!

AnnieO, 07/06/2022
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful

This will come as no surprise to anyone who is researching this car: very fun sporty car, very difficult infotainment center.

Technology
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Great Hot Hatch at affordable pricing - S Trim

VWFan, 10/14/2022
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI S 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
6 of 10 people found this review helpful

I have owned 6 Golf GTIs since 1995. MKIII, MKIV, MKV, MKVII and MKVIII. I can tell all generations have excited me. The newest one is a great representation of the evolution over the last 30 years not changing the Golf DNA. Job well done VW. The S trim level at 32K price point does not let you down. For enthusiasts please go with the 6-speed manual. It will not disappoint you.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Let's be real, you'll love this car

EyeDocNich, 06/25/2022
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
9 of 16 people found this review helpful

I've read so many review of this car as I anticipated being a buyer. They all follow the party line about the infotainment. People--it's fine. I'm going from a 2017 Mercedes E Class with lots of infotainment awkwardness, and this is a huge convenience and lifestyle upgrade for me. I have no problems with the infotainment. Zero. Totally fine! Just get used to it for a couple weeks and it's the good life. The selectable suspension in the Autobahn is a dream for me, and of course it's a fun car to drive. I don't know what to do with all the reviews...maybe there is a comparable car in the WRX or others? Let's be real--this is a great car. I'm thrilled to have it vs. my 2017 Mercedes. I also had a 2017 Dodge Challenger V8 and the tech and convenience in the GTI are superior. Not sure if 2022 competitors are close or better, but let's be real: you'll like this car.

Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
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