Table of Contents
2024 VW GTI Review, Interior & Specs – The Volkswagen GTI is one of the automobiles that come to mind whenever we hear the phrase “hot hatch.” Since the late 1970s, Volkswagen has been manufacturing its sport compact, and in 2022, the company released the Mk8 edition of the Golf-based performance vehicle. Production of the automobile began in 2022.
Review
The GTI’s recipe for a turbo front-wheel-drive sport compact was further developed into the Mk8. We put both the manual and the dual-clutch automatic versions of the hatchback through its paces, and regardless of which one we drove, we were blown away by how competent and enjoyable it was. Its modernized engine generates a good deal of torque, the chassis is unflinchingly neutral, it travels at a high rate of speed, and the steering and braking capabilities are both quite good. The storied personality of the hot hatch continues to thrive in modern times.
The muscular and contemporary external appearance of the 2024 GTI is one that we, too, find appealing. In point of fact, the hazy clutch feel on manual variants was about the only thing we didn’t like about the vehicle. This, along with the preponderance of capacitive controls and the overall absence of true buttons, was also a problem. To our great relief, the infotainment system of the basic model comes with real knobs for adjustment. The Volkswagen GTI, in any of its iterations, is a joy to drive and strikes a nice mix between sportiness and utility in everyday situations.
The mechanically equivalent 2022 GTI was selected as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS in 2023. However, the headlight ratings varied from Acceptable to Poor depending on which pair of LED lights were on the car, despite the fact that it received good results across the board for the institute’s testing. These issues may be remedied by the alterations made to the lighting in 2024.
Volkswagen refers to the collection of active safety technologies that come standard on the GTI as IQ Drive. This package includes lane-keeping and centering systems, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring, and rear cross-traffic monitoring. The package does not include the technology such as adaptive high beams that come standard on the Autobahn trim, standard parking sensors, and a traffic sign recognition system that comes standard on the GTI SE. These technologies are also sold separately.
Specs
The engine of the newly revised model from the previous year is carried over into the 2024 GTI, which results in the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. A manual gearbox with six speeds is standard, while a dual-clutch automatic transmission with seven speeds is a possible option. Both of the GTI’s transaxles are fitted with a limited-slip differential as standard, and front-wheel drive is standard across the board.
The GTI S can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.4 seconds when equipped with a manual gearbox and all-season tires. The time required to do this task drops to 6.1 seconds during the summer, as determined by the results of our First Test of the highest-level Autobahn model. If the customer opts for the dual-clutch automatic transmission, the GTI’s acceleration time is reduced even more to 5.4 seconds.
When equipped with an automatic gearbox, the 2024 GTI achieves fuel economy ratings of 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. When using the manual transmission, fuel efficiency drops to 23/32 mpg. In any case, the results are a significant improvement above those obtained by the 2023 Hyundai Elantra N. The 276 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo-four Korean small car yields 22/31 mpg when it is equipped with the manual transmission; however, it gets a shockingly poorer 20/30 mpg when it is equipped with the automatic transmission. Both of these front-wheel-drive compacts feature 2.0-liter turbo-four engines under their hoods, and their base prices are within $2,500 of one another. However, due to the fact that the Hyundai is a sedan, this comparison cannot be made apples-to-apples.
Interior
Even though they are not direct rivals, the 2023 Honda Civic and Mazda 3 FWD compacts are also available in hatchback body variants, much as the 2024 GTI. The inside size of the GTI is more comparable to that of the Mazda 3, rather than the Honda Civic; yet, both of its competitors provide greater capacity.
Standard external features include rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated front washer nozzles, and all-LED exterior lighting, which includes the head-, tail-, and foglights. Additionally, illuminated door handle recesses and puddle lights are included in the side mirrors of the vehicle. Every single 2024 VW GTI has standard features such as a heated steering wheel and front seats, a pushbutton start, a 10.3-inch instrument screen, multi-color ambient lighting, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The most basic models of Volkswagen’s infotainment systems are equipped with a touchscreen measuring 8.3 inches, seven speakers, and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided through Volkswagen’s App-Connect.
When you upgrade to the GTI SE, the App-Connect feature becomes wireless. In addition to that, it has a keyless entry system, an infotainment touchscreen measuring 10.0 inches, and a high-end nine-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The top-tier Autobahn model comes standard with ventilated front seats, a 12-way power driver’s seat, heated rear outboard seats, a three-zone climate control system, and a head-up display. Other available features include heated rear outboard seats and heated rear outboard seats.
The cabin of the 2024 GTI is streamlined and athletic, but it does not have the luxurious atmosphere of earlier generations of the legendary hot hatchback. There are a number of low-quality building components that are hard to miss, despite the fact that the cabin was constructed quite nicely.
The information and entertainment system of the GTI is a hodgepodge of features. The menu system isn’t particularly simple, and it takes some time to get accustomed to, but the touch screens that come standard and that can be purchased separately are both huge, and they provide rapid reaction times and clear visuals.
The absence of tactile controls is one of the main drawbacks of the information and entertainment system. The touch screen and the tiny haptic buttons located on the steering wheel and dashboard together provide access to almost all of the system’s features and settings. Adjusting the audio and temperature settings while driving may become more difficult as a result of this.
- Standard infotainment features include a touch screen measuring 8.25 inches with wired support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging for mobile devices, four USB ports, a radio with seven speakers, and Bluetooth connectivity.
- Available entertainment options include a nine-speaker Harman Kardon premium music system, a nine-inch touch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, voice recognition, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Satellite radio is also an option.
- A digital instrument cluster measuring 10.25 inches, an automated temperature control system, and ambient LED interior lighting is also included as standard equipment.
- Other options include a keyless entry system with a proximity keypad, an automated temperature control system with three zones, and a sunroof.