Used 2012 Volkswagen GTI PZEV Hatchback Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2012 Volkswagen GTI PZEV Hatchback.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Great real car
dingol, Windsor Mill, MD, 05/27/2012
2012 Volkswagen GTI PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
I drive sports cars.
I frequently end up selling them due to not being able to use all their power and features on the road.
The GTI Gives real world performance.
You can utilize all the gears without committing a felony.
Well balanced. Powerful but not too much.
Power comes on smoothly from about 2000 rpm (when boost is entered) all the way up.
No need to keep it up at redline all … day.
I finally have a car that is comfortable enough to commute in yet still sporty enough to take the twisty way home.
If you're a number racer, buy a Ferrari.
If you love to drive pick up the gti.
Easy real 4 passenger commuter near mini s performance.
Corners near red territory.
Wow! What a blast!
gti12, Hayward, CA, 03/29/2014
2012 Volkswagen GTI PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
Great car... fun to drive, well made, roomy and comfortable. Great MPG and performance too!
Recently returned from a trip from Eureka, CA to Palm Springs. Returned via Santa Barbara, then up the coast on Hwy 1. Great drive. 29MPG average for whole trip... was better until the leg up Hwy 1.
Overall brilliance
Patrick, New York, NY, 12/02/2016
2012 Volkswagen GTI PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
I've owned my 2-door since Sept 2014, and love it. Great balance between performance and practicality, especially on the performance side of the equation. I find no greater joy than hucking it into a corner at a slightly irresponsible speed, and coming out the other side going even faster. Seats are super comfortable for my 6 foot frame. Took my car from New Hampshire to California and … back, and at no point did any part of me hurt in a 600-700 mile day. My average mileage sits around 28.7 MPG on mostly 93 octane fuel. There have only been three weak points I've found so far: The car has an appetite for summer tires (expect a new set every 25-30k miles or so), the reliability hasn't been perfect (so far I've had to do the water pump and fuel pump, which are common failure points on the 2.0 TSI motor, in addition to new ignition coils), and the insurance has been on the pricey side. Other than those minor things, this is my favorite car I've ever owned.
Update 6/2017: Still good, although maintenance continues to be an expense (as one might expect at this age I suppose.) Recently had to do the timing chain tensioner, and the brake wear sensor is broken. Other than that, car continues to be great!
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2012 Volkswagen GTI PZEV Hatchback
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Hatchback versatility
- Pro:interior sophistication
- Pro:supple ride
- Pro:good fuel economy.
- Con:Competitors are quicker and handle better
- Con:lack of interior storage.
Full Edmunds Review: 2012 Volkswagen GTI Hatchback
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2012 Volkswagen GTI in South Dakota is:
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