LOOKS

The 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI that I tested featured a sharp Kings Red Metallic paint scheme and the classic Golf GTI look, including red painted brake calipers. While its small size makes it look like a toy car in comparison to the larger SUVs and trucks most people drive today, what's under the hood is definitely no toy.

Being unique is rare these days, and the Golf GTI has an attractive look that's unique to Volkswagen. Exterior highlights include sharp 19-inch alloy wheels (base model comes with 18-inch wheels), LED lighting with dynamic cornering, rear roof spoiler and chrome-tipped dual exhaust. New for 2025 are minor design tweaks including an illuminated front grille logo and front grille with integrated light bar.

The GTI also features power folding, heated side mirrors with position memory, power tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof, plus rain-sensing front wipers. While it catches your eye with its design, the Golf GTI is less flashy than some of its hot hatch rivals — understated and clean in design.

Cargo space is limited due to the size of the vehicle, coming in at 35 cubic feet with rear seats down and 20 cubic feet with rear seats up. It’s also a very light vehicle at just 3,250 pounds.

The interior of the Golf GTI seats 5 people, but the back seat is tight. It’s not really a family vehicle unless you have small children for the back seats. Adults and even teens will be squished in pretty tight.

Leather seating surfaces were featured in both rows and were quite comfortable.  The design of the Golf GTI’s interior is premium in quality and futuristic, but using the tech inside can be frustrating.

Interior features include: 
— Three-zone automatic climate control
— Heated, leather-wrapped GTI sport steering wheel with shift paddles
— Heated and ventilated driver’s seat and front passenger seat
— Heated rear seats
— Red accents, carbon-gray and gloss black trim
— Stainless steel pedal caps
— Auto-dimming interior rear mirror
— Adjustable ambient lighting

HOW’S THE RIDE?

Only one engine option comes with the 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI — a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder offering that is paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission and pushes out 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque.

Fans of the six-speed manual transmission on past models will find that is no longer offered on the 2025 Golf GTI, which may disappoint some potential buyers.

All Golf GTI trims come in front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive is not an option.

The 0-to-60 speeds are solid for the hot-hatch segment, coming in in the low-to-mid 5-second range, meaning this little guy can get moving.

The Golf GTI features a limited-slip front differential lock and XDS cross differential system that enhance traction and handling, vented front and rear disc brakes, four-wheel independent sport suspension, and drivers can choose between Eco, Custom, Sport and Comfort drive modes — which adjust aspects of the vehicle's performance, including throttle response and steering weight.

I found the Golf GTI to be tremendously enjoyable to drive. It is one of the longest-running hot hatch favorites for a good reason, as it’s aimed at buyers who want a sporty, fun daily driver and not a boring A-to-B car.

The 2025 Golf GTI gets moving from a stop instantly, is responsive to driver input, handles brilliantly, and features strong braking. This is not a family ride due to its size, but it’s definitely a fun commuter ride and a good choice for city dwellers who want to avoid larger vehicles..

 
TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY 

One of the weaker points of the Golf GTI is the tech. While I liked the size of the large 12.9-inch touchscreen (a boost from previous model years), the system is entirely touchscreen based, without traditional dials for volume and changing the station.

Figuring out the touchscreen controls was a long learning curve and it often takes too many steps to make adjustments. There are too many things buried within menus, and many people will agree with my take that this all-touchscreen approach goes too far. Thankfully, voice commands worked effectively so you can avoid the screen for many functions.

You’ll get a three-month trial of satellite radio, plus a Harman Kardon premium audio system including a subwoofer, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless phone charging, and USB ports in both rows.

There are a good number of safety features for a smaller car. One highlight is the Travel Assist function, which provided a semi-autonomous driving setup that worked impressively.

Other safety features on the Golf GTI include:

— Forward collision warning with automatic braking, which warns of collisions and applies brakes when needed
— Lane keeping assistance, which steers the vehicle back into its lane if it senses drifting
— Adaptive cruise control, which maintains a distance behind the vehicle ahead
— Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning
— Airbags throughout the vehicle
— Tire Pressure Monitoring System
— Rear View Camera System
— Head-Up Display


MPG

Official fuel mileage numbers on the 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI clocks in at 24 city/32 highway/27 combined, which are solid numbers for a sporty compact ride.

My real-world testing came in a bit lower than the listed numbers, averaging closer to 20 mpg, but I was driving mainly in Sport mode, which no doubt had an impact, and a more deliberate driver could easily achieve or surpass the listed numbers.

PRICE

The 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI I tested was the top Autobahn trim level and priced over $42K. Base model starts around $34K, and the mid-level SE trim is just over $38K.

The price is decent for the segment, but not as affordable as some rival vehicles with similar power numbers. And you don’t need to opt for the Autobahn to get a solid vehicle — both the base and SE models come with a respectable amount of features.

In terms of warranties, Volkswagen give you:
— 4 year/50,000 miles new vehicle limited warranty
— 4 year/50,000 miles powertrain warranty
— Free scheduled maintenance at 1 year/10,000 miles and 2 years/20,000 miles
— 24-hour roadside assistance for 3 years/36,000 miles (longer than many rivals offer)

BOTTOM LINE

The 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI is a fun vehicle for drivers who love the hot hatch segment and aren’t worried about having a lot of space for passengers and cargo. It’s not for everyone, but will please a specific subset of buyers who love what these types of vehicles have to offer — including those in urban settings.

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AutoTechReviews.com can be found on Twitter @AutoTechReview, or stay updated at the AutoTechReviews Facebook page. Follow AutoTechReviews on Instagram at @Autotechreviews or on TikTok at @AutoTechReviews.. Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.