2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI review (video)

For nearly half a century, the Volkswagen Golf GTI has been the quintessential hot hatch. It’s the benchmark by which others have been measured – the car that somehow manages to combine practical daily usability with serious driver enjoyment. But as the industry pivots towards electrification, this new Mk8.5 generation will sadly be the last purely petrol-powered GTI we’ll see. In many ways, it feels like a final salute to a formula that Volkswagen has perfected over decades.

The 2025 update might not look drastically different from its predecessor, but it’s more refined, sharper, and packed with tech. It also happens to deliver more power, more refinement, and is arguably the most balanced iteration yet. For enthusiasts, this could very well be your last chance to own a piece of petrol motoring history.

2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI: Specifications

Engine: 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder
Output: 195kW@6500rpm / 370Nm@1600-4590rpm
Gearbox: Seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Drive type: Front-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 19×8.0, 235/35
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 1448kg
Power-to-weight: 7.42:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 7.2L/100km
Our consumption: 8.4L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 50L/95 RON

Power efficiency: 27.08kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 3.17 seconds*
0-100km/h: 5.79 seconds*
60-110km/h: 3.48 seconds*
1/4 mile: 13.93 seconds at 170.3km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.801g*
100-0km/h braking: 36.27m in 2.82 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.303g*
Decibel at idle (/sport mode): 44/49*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 84*
Starting price: $59,890

*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different

2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI: How much does it cost?

In Australia, the 2025 Golf GTI now starts from $59,890 before on-road costs. That’s about a $1500 bump over the previous model, but it comes with meaningful upgrades that help to justify the modest increase. The price places it in close contention with rivals like the Hyundai i30 N Premium auto ($53,500) and cheaper than the more powerful and four-wheel drive Toyota GR Corolla GTS ($70,490). While remaining significantly cheaper than the more premium Mercedes-AMG A 35 (from $86,200) and the BMW M135i (from $84,100).

While the GTI may no longer be the ‘cheap thrill’ it once was, its performance-to-price ratio still represents solid value considering the level of sophistication, tech, and daily usability on offer. The GTI’s build quality and overall driving refinement remain in a different league to many of its rivals.

Optional extras are limited and straightforward, reflecting VW’s effort to simplify its range. The Vienna leather package ($3900) adds leather, power-adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats, while the Sound & Vision package ($2000) throws in Harman/Kardon premium audio, a head-up display, and for the first time in a GTI a 360-degree camera. The panoramic sunroof ($1900) remains a standalone option, allowing buyers to mix and match without being forced into bundled luxury packs.

Servicing costs remain above industry average under Volkswagen’s assured service pricing program. The first five services cost $572, $1028, $572, $1426, and $572. That equates to $4170. You can save some dollars by pre-purchasing a 3- or 5-year care plan. The five-year service plan costs $3570, translating to a $600 saving. The 3-year plan costs $1945, saving $227. Services are required every 12 months or 15,000km, and the GTI continues to be backed by VW’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and one year of roadside assistance, renewable annually if serviced through an authorised dealer.

2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI: Interior & packaging

Open the door to the 2025 Golf GTI and you’re greeted by a cabin that blends everyday usability with genuine sporting intent. Volkswagen has long understood that a hot hatch should be as comfortable in traffic as it is on a backroad, and this interior exemplifies that duality beautifully. Everything feels solidly engineered, from the reassuring weight of the doors to the precision of the switchgear.

The overall layout feels driver-focussed, with a high-quality 12.9-inch infotainment display and a 10.3-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster dominating the dash. The interface is brilliantly easy to use – fast, and logically structured with a quick learning curve. Even though the air-conditioning controls are now integrated into the display, the shortcut tiles are large, responsive, and positioned where you’d expect them to be.

Interestingly, there are no capacitive touch-sensitive buttons with haptic feedback on the steering wheel to be seen. After criticism from the Mk8, Volkswagen listened to the people and the more tactile feel of real buttons are back.

Practicality also remains a strong point for what is still, fundamentally, a small hatch. There’s ample rear legroom, rear air vents with their own climate controls, and plenty of clever storage touches throughout. One standout feature is the flip-up storage shelf in the front centre console. It lets you place items neatly on top of your phone while it charges wirelessly below. It’s a small but ingenious detail that demonstrates thought has gone into everyday usability.

The driving position is spot on, with heavily bolstered sport seats that hug you through corners without becoming uncomfortable on longer drives. Materials throughout the cabin feel solid and premium, from the soft-touch dash to the elegant glow of ambient lighting that gently illuminates the door panels and footwells; and that flows to the second row, which is rare.

Other design details give the GTI a subtle sense of theatre; the ‘Golf’ embossing on the centre console illuminated by LED backlighting, and the soft red accents that run through the cabin, paying homage to the GTI’s heritage. Visibility is excellent for a hatch, and noise suppression is decent for a performance hatch. There’s also carpet-lined door pockets and a height-adjustable centre armrest.

The boot offers 374 litres of space, expanding to 1230 litres with the rear seats folded. That’s ample for weekend luggage or the weekly grocery run. For a car capable of lighting up a racetrack, it offers good practicality.

In terms of safety, it gets driver front assistance (AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection), side assist (blind-spot monitoring), rear cross-traffic alert, travel assist (adaptive cruise and lane-centring), park assist plus with front and rear sensors and rear camera, side exit warning, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. But it misses out on speed sign detection and driver attention monitoring (which might be considered a good thing for those who don’t like to be nagged).

From the outside, the 2025 Golf GTI looks every bit the modern evolution of an icon. The familiar rounded silhouette remains, but it’s sharpened with slimmer LED headlights connected by a full-width light bar, a bolder honeycomb lower grille, and signature red highlights running through the front fascia. Its proportions are perfectly balanced; low, taut, and purposeful, with new 19-inch alloy wheels filling the arches nicely. It manages to look aggressive without being over-styled.

2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI: Powertrain & handling

At the heart of the 2025 Golf GTI is the familiar but highly tuned EA888 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, now producing 195kW and 370Nm. Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. While on-paper figures might seem modest next to some AWD hot hatches, the real-world performance tells a different story as the GTI continues to embody balance over brute force.

Acceleration from 0–100km/h officially takes 5.9 seconds, and we timed it in 5.79 seconds using a Vbox. But that barely hints at how immediate and satisfying it feels on the move. The turbo engine’s low-down torque means it doesn’t need to rev high to deliver punch. A squeeze of the throttle at 2000rpm is enough to surge past traffic effortlessly, with peak torque spread from just 1600rpm to 4590rpm. While digging deeper into the rev range rewards you with a wave of power, and a raspy exhaust note that’s both mature and thrilling, with some proper induction roar. It’s that perfect balance; loud enough to remind you you’re driving something special but never obnoxious.

The DSG gearbox remains one of the best in the business. Shifts are razor-sharp in Sport mode and smooth when cruising. It predicts your next move, downshifting crisply as you brake into corners, and upshifting instantly when you floor it out of one. There’s also a tactile satisfaction in flicking through the gears manually using the steering paddles. Sadly, there is no manual gearbox on offer.

Despite its lively performance, the Golf GTI remains impressively efficient for a hot hatch. Officially rated at 7.2L/100km, it’s capable of returning figures in the mid-sixes during relaxed highway driving thanks to its tall gearing and clever engine calibration. Though, our average consumption over 400km of driving was 8.4L/100km as it was hard to resist leaning into that turbo torque. And it does require a special diet of 95 RON fuel or above.

The GTI’s chassis tuning continues to be a standout feature. The adaptive dampers (DCC Pro) adjust seamlessly between comfort and sportiness, offering genuine duality. In its softer setting, the car remains composed and compliant, absorbing rough patches of road with confidence. Switch to Sport or Individual mode, and it hunkers down, sharpening responses and minimising body roll.

Steering feel has been further refined, offering an appropriately weighty and precise feel, and it’s communicative enough to make you feel part of the machine. Through corners, the GTI feels like it’s glued to the tarmac. Grip levels are immense, even under hard throttle thanks to the clever electronic differential lock (VAQ) that apportions power to the outside wheel. It almost feels like an AWD. Braking performance is also strong and confidence-inspiring, with a progressive pedal feel.

The trade-off to all of this is a slightly firmer ride, particularly at low speeds or over sharp but smaller bumps. The suspension can feel taut, occasionally crashing over imperfections. But for enthusiasts, it’s an acceptable price for the car’s dynamic precision.

2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI: Key attractions/reasons to buy

• End of an era: The final all-petrol powered Golf GTI marks the close of a legendary chapter in motoring – get it while you can.
• Updated infotainment: The new 12.9-inch system is intuitive, fast, and easier to use.
• Balanced performance: Strong low-end torque and precise handling make it equally rewarding on twisty roads and city commutes.
• Everyday usability: Spacious, cleverly designed interior with great storage, comfortable seating, and rear air vents.
• Premium look and feel: High-quality materials, ambient lighting that includes the rear, and refined ride quality make it feel genuinely upmarket to justify the price.

2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI: Key considerations before you buy

• Servicing costs: Typically, with Volkswagen, servicing costs are above average in the industry. Even when opting for a prepaid care plan.
• No speed sign or attention alerts: While some will appreciate the lack of driver nagging, others might see these omissions a slip below industry standards.
• No manual gearbox option: Traditionalists may weep at the absence of a manual transmission, as the 2025 Golf GTI is offered exclusively with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. While it shifts with speed and precision, it removes an element of driver involvement that long defined the GTI experience.

2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI: Key considerations before you buy