Known for its performance and fun-to-drive character, our yearlong review 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI brought a smile to our face every time we got behind the wheel. Although it’s far from perfect, this hot hatch was a practical, exciting vehicle that always surprised us with its roomy interior despite its compact body. But although we were always happy to get behind the wheel, we were constantly aware of its stiff ride, particularly when driven over broken pavement. Even so, our GTI brought many happy moments, and while we look forward to our next vehicle, part of us wishes the GTI could remain.

Only a Handful Can Deliver This Kind of Performance

After driving our long-term 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI for 18,283 miles, several aspects stood out, particularly under its hood. Volkswagen’s mighty 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 generates 241 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and delivered exhilarating performance whenever we demanded it. The relentless torque pressed us back into our seats, while the exhaust note filled the cabin with a symphony as the revs soared. Although we had lingering regrets over not opting for the six-speed manual transmission, our GTI’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic was always quick to respond, perfectly complementing the engine’s character. On long road trips, we appreciated the swift acceleration that made overtaking slow-moving vehicles a breeze, and during spirited drives, the powertrain consistently impressed. On winding roads, its hot-hatch spirit truly came alive. Despite a firm ride, the VW’s suspension gave it great body control, and it felt nimble on twisting mountain passes, with the summer tires providing excellent grip.

The Golf GTI’s compact body style was perfectly suited for navigating its home city of Los Angeles. Fitting into tight parking spaces was a snap, and although the cabin felt cozy with four adults aboard, we were pleasantly surprised by its impressive cargo capacity, thanks to the hatchback design. With the seats folded down, the interior transformed into a spacious area capable of accommodating multiple suitcases and boxes. On a trip to the airport, we managed to fit three large suitcases and one carry-on, all while carrying three adults. That was certainly pushing the limits and required a bit of Tetris to arrange, but it was remarkable to see how much the Golf GTI could hold.

We Had Fun, But It Wasn’t Perfect

One of our biggest complaints was the Golf’s ride quality on the optional 19-inch wheels (18-inch wheels are standard). Although it’s natural that any hot hatch delivers a stiffer ride, the GTI’s ride quality is affected by the big wheels, and that became a constant criticism. When driven over L.A.’s poorly paved roads, the ride quality suffered, even when we selected the adaptive suspension’s most comfortable setting.

Our 2023-only 40th Anniversary Edition model, positioned between the S and SE, came equipped with the small 8.3-inch touchscreen, which is too small for today’s standards. (The 2025 model will have a larger screen for all variants.) The lack of keyless access meant we had to take the key out of our pockets every time we locked or unlocked the vehicle, and we had occasional issues with the infotainment system, although we enjoyed having Apple CarPlay.

Overall, our GTI’s interior design was unimpressive. We appreciated the digital driver’s display and having four USB ports (two in the front, two in the back), but there wasn’t anything that really stood out about its cabin design. We’re fans of the plaid sport seats but missed having a real shift knob. For a $35,246 sticker price, the cabin felt spartan, but we clearly saw Volkswagen invested its budget in making the GTI a fun-to-drive hot hatch first and foremost.

Like the interior design, the GTI’s tech game was subpar. Although we liked having the small screen in favor of volume and tuning knobs, there were a few instances when a song or the radio would play but no sound would come out of the speakers. Volkswagen recommended we delete all the Bluetooth devices from the infotainment system and to try to use only one for some time; that helped some, but the problem eventually came back a few months later. 

Service, Wear, and Tear

An accident by a former staffer caused us to get a front and rear alignment early in its cycle, which cost us $149.95. Thankfully, this was the only non-routine stop at the dealership. Given that Volkswagen recommends servicing the GTI every 10,000 miles, we only visited the dealer once again for its scheduled checkup, which was free. Volkswagen includes two years or 20,000 miles of complimentary service. However, tire rotation isn’t included in the service, so we opted for the $29.95 service during our maintenance visit, but it’s not listed in our official cost tally.

At 15,342 miles, we swapped out the worn and damaged Hankook Ventus S1 Eco3 summer tires for the Bridgestone Potenza S005. Instead of replacing the Hankooks, we chose an aftermarket option that promised to enhance the ride quality, and although the Bridgestones were a nice upgrade, it was the 19-inch wheels that hurt it the most. We paid $637.76 for a set of four Bridgestone Potenza S tires, plus $114.08 to get them installed.

In total, we spent $0 on service and $751.84 for tires. That’s a bargain compared to our long-term 2018 Honda Civic Type R, for which we paid $369 in maintenance and another $1,881 in tires. But it looks downright pricey compared to our long-term 2022 Subaru WRX Limited, which we cost us just $456.41 in routine maintenance during its one-year stay (unlike its fellow sport compacts, our WRX didn’t need new tires during its stay with us).

Our average fuel economy for the year was an impressive 29.6 mpg, just above the Golf GTI’s 28-mpg combined EPA figure. That beat the 24.0 mpg we saw in our Civic Type R and the 22.6 mpg our WRX achieved. The Honda, it’s worth pointing out, made significantly more power than the GTI (306 hp vs. 241, though torque output is close between the two cars), while our Subaru WRX had all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual.

We’ll Miss our GTI

It was tough to say goodbye to our long-term Volkswagen Golf GTI once the year was up. This hot hatch delivered in meaningful ways, providing a performance-oriented drive every time we got behind the wheel. To our surprise, we spent many conversations chatting about it with friends, telling them what we liked and what we wish it did better, but at the end of the day we will miss seeing it in our garage, standing out with its Tornado Red paint and beautiful silhouette.

Our time with the GTI may be over, but the memories it created will remain with us forever. There are few cars that provide that kind of experience behind the wheel, and the GTI, known as the godfather of hot hatches, certainly delivered. 

For More on Our Long-Term 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI 40th Anniversary Edition: