Used 2012 Volkswagen GTI Consumer Reviews
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Great car.
jdfoster, 11/04/2011
2012 Volkswagen GTI 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
2 weeks into ownership. Simply put, great car! Performance is fantastic. The DSG transmission must be experienced. Ultra smooth, instant shifts. Average MPG 31 city/hwy 70/30 combined. Front seats are extremely comfortable. In this price range, nothing comes close to matching the GTI.
My first VW
stlpilot, 05/13/2017
updated 06/14/2021
2012 Volkswagen GTI Autobahn 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I am writing this review after driving this GTI for a full two years. I purchased this car slightly used with 20k miles on it after driving a Camry for over ten years. After two years of owning it, it still puts a smile on my face while I drive it. It is a lot of fun to drive and surprisingly it has a lot of utility for such a small car. The GTI is a fast and nimble car, performing better at highway speeds and on twisty roads, than at low speeds. It is a great all around car, balancing the fun factor, with the ability to load it up with four or five people, and the ability to put down the seats and load it up at the Home Depot. I occasionally find new features on it and I'm constantly surprised how much I can put inside of it. The best features I like about it are: the sound system on my fully loaded GTI is amazing along with comfortable seats. Only few negatives, but keep in mind I owned a Toyota for ten years. As with any German car, this GTI is a little overengineered so simple car maintenance may be overcomplicated. The spark plugs and the DSG need to be maintained every 40k miles or so. Lastly, I'm not overly happy about putting premium fuel in my everyday car. Overall, this is neat car, which is super easy to park, with lots of power. I understand why there aren't too many GTIs on the road though - most Camry/Accord drivers would never appreciate a car engineered for the car enthusiasts. This is an update to my original review. I'm currently at about 60k miles. I'm still extremely happy with the car. No mechanical issues. I highly recommend this car. At this point, my VW has been more reliable than the Toyota Camry I drove before. The fit and finish is excellent. Another update on my 2012 GTI. The car has 63,000 miles and it still puts a smile on my face. I thought of trading the car in for something else but I just can't find anything wrong with this car. It continues to be a very solid car. Apparently, VWs made in Germany are much better than those made in Mexico. Another update at 80k miles. The car is great. I recently had the carbon cleaned from the intake valves. No big deal but I do notice a much better mpg. The carbon build up is something normal on the GDI engines and the 2.0T is no exception even with me using premium fuel.
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2012 Volkswagen GTI for sale near you
Showing 3 of 112 listings
- PZEV 4dr Hatchback w/Convenience, SunroofMSRP: $9,999189 mi away
- PZEV 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $12,966230 mi away
- PZEV 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $9,794264 mi away
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Amazed
ryanzno, 11/14/2011
2012 Volkswagen GTI 4dr Hatchback w/Convenience, Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I absolutely love this car. As my daily driver, it's fun, convenient, and unique. It's extremely versatile, and surprisingly roomy. I can't get over how well this car is made either. The materials and fit and finish feel like it belongs inside a far more expensive vehicle. Normally a car has weak points, and I find them quickly. This is the first car I've EVER owned that I haven't found at least 1 thing I don't like. If you're on the fence, hop off and buy it! In summary, it's well made, handles and performs excellently and is very affordable. Can't beat it
A ride above the rest!
cjcanada, 01/09/2013
2012 Volkswagen GTI PZEV 2dr Hatchback w/Sunroof, Navigation (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is my first VW and it's been great! I bought my fully loaded 2012 gti in July 2012 and now have almost 12K on it (7400 Miles) and have had no issues. I have even taken it on a road trip from Alberta Canada to California and back (5600 km) and no issues whatsoever. This is a great car and fun to drive. I have no rattles or issues with this car so far. Love this car! Very few dislikes. I would recommend this car as a daily fun commuter car. I have the DSG and love it! Sport mode revs too high though. The car is a little light on the front end. Spin the tires often.
sensible, and sensational.
Nate93460, 05/18/2016
2012 Volkswagen GTI PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Best "bang for your buck" to be had. Surprisingly spacious and comfortable, exceedingly practical and thoughtfully designed. Want the car because it's fun to drive, buy the car because it's fun to drive every single day. My 45lb dog is perfectly comfortable in the hatch, even with the rear seats up, so she never again has to be left behind when my partner and I go out with friends. Simple controls and unassuming performance under light throttle make it a car you could lend to your grandmother, but selecting "S" on the DSG transmission yields remarkably aggressive shift points and an eagerness to brake the front tires loose. The small "poof" sound you get from the exhaust thanks to the near instant shifts made by the DSG are extremely satisfying, encouraging you to time your up-shifts just around the 3,500 rpm mark. It may not be as outright fast and sharp as its key rivals, but it is far more comfortable and refined. completely sensible when you're stuck in suburban traffic, totally sensational when you're not.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value