Volkswagen Golf GTI First Drive Review

Pros

• GTI-specific styling is clean yet distinctive
• Comes fully loaded with ADAS and safety tech
• Powerful engine and DSG performance

Cons

• Priced ridiculously high for a hatch
• No powered front seats or high-end sound system
• Manual seat adjustment in a ₹50+ lakh car is just absurd

For most Indian enthusiasts, the term “GTI” is more than just a badge — it’s a symbol. A reference point. It’s what you grew up hearing about from international car shows, YouTube videos, and NRI friends who swore the Golf GTI was the perfect car. After years of hoping and a few false alarms, Volkswagen has finally brought the Mk 8.5 Golf GTI to India. But the catch? It’ll cost you ₹52.99 lakh (ex-showroom). And that changes the story.

Golf GTI – Design

The Golf GTI hasn’t forgotten where it came from. You look at it and instantly recognize that classic VW shape. The proportions are tight and athletic — this is a hatchback that isn’t trying to look like an SUV or a sports coupe. It’s proud to be what it is. At 4,289 mm in length, 1,789 mm in width, and 1,471 mm in height, the GTI is more compact than it seems in photos. The 2,627 mm wheelbase is just right to keep it agile in corners while offering reasonable cabin space.

Visually, this is the most aggressive Golf GTI yet. The illuminated front VW logo, honeycomb fog lamp inserts, dynamic LED headlamps with that iconic red strip across the nose, and diamond-cut 18-inch Richmond alloys give it just enough flair without going overboard. Around the rear, twin chrome exhausts, a subtle spoiler, and 3D LED lamps with animated indicators wrap things up. It looks premium, sporty, and unassumingly European. You can get it in three colour options — Kings Red, Oryx White, and Deep Black Pearl.

Golf GTI – Interiors

Volkswagen doesn’t do drama inside, and that’s a good thing. Step into the Golf GTI and you’re greeted by a cabin that feels focused, clean, and surprisingly analog in how it makes you feel. The “Scalepaper”plaid fabric seats — with integrated headrests and red accents — scream Golf GTI heritage. They’re manually adjustable (which is a bit of a joke at this price), but well-bolstered for spirited driving.

You get a 12.9 inch infotainment touchscreen that supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, paired with a 10.6 inch Digital Cockpit Pro behind the steering. It’s all responsive, sharp, and user-friendly, even though the learning curve can be annoying at first. There’s wireless charging, three-zone climate control, ambient lighting with 30 colours, and the usual USB-C ports up front and back.

The sunroof brings in light, and the red-stitched, flat-bottomed steering wheel with paddle shifters feels meaty in hand. Rear seat space is okay for two adults, but don’t expect magic — headroom is just about adequate, and the 380-litre boot will do the job just about right.

Golf GTI – Features

VW hasn’t held back when it comes to kit. You get adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, lane keep assist, travel assist, park distance control, and a 360-degree safety suite that includes 20 Level 2 ADAS functions. There are eight airbags (including a centre airbag), ISOFIX child seat mounts, a drowsiness detection system, and all the modern crash mitigation systems you expect at this level.

Other creature comforts include rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming IRVM, voice control, paddle shifters, drive mode selector, rear AC vents with independent controls, and power-folding ORVMs with welcome lighting. The only real miss? The lack of powered seats. In a car that costs over ₹53 lakh on-road, that feels stingy.

Golf GTI – Driving Experience

We first drove the Golf GTI on a handling circuit, on a tight technical course, the GTI feels completely in its element. Turn-in is razor sharp. Steering is quick, communicative, and well-weighted. It doesn’t overwhelm with feedback, but what you get is accurate and confidence-inspiring.

The electronically controlled limited-slip differential (VAQ) works wonders. Even when you get aggressive with the throttle mid-corner, the GTI keeps pulling itself in tighter. There’s barely a hint of understeer unless you’re deliberately provoking it.

Body roll is minimal, and the suspension tuning is excellent. It manages to be firm enough for precise control, but not so stiff that it skips or crashes over bumps. You can feel the car working with you, corner after corner — the chassis balance is that good.

Power delivery from the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine (265 hp, 370 Nm) is smooth and linear. The DSG gearbox is snappy and intuitive, especially in manual mode. There’s a satisfying urgency to the way it gains speed, even if it’s not theatrical.

Brakes? Strong, progressive, and fade-free across multiple hot laps. In short, the GTI handles like a car that was engineered by people who love driving. Right after the handling track, VW took us to the high-speed track where the GTI really impressed us  at high speed — and on NATRAX’s massive test track, it had the room to stretch its legs.

The 2.0 TSI pulls cleanly past 200 km/h without breaking sweat. At 230+ km/h, the car remains composed, quiet, and almost too civilised. There’s very little wind or tyre noise, and it never feels like it’s straining. The aerodynamic efficiency is obvious, and so is the high-speed stability. And here’s the kicker – while the official top speed is rated at 250 km/h, we clocked a staggering 267 km/h on the high-speed track! Yes, you read that right — 267 km/h. What’s even more impressive? The GTI felt composed and effortless, barely letting us feel the insane velocity we were actually doing.

Unlike many “sporty” hatches that get twitchy at three-digit speeds, the GTI tracks straight with minimal steering correction. Even minor undulations and joints in the tarmac are soaked up without drama. The adaptive suspension firms up at speed but doesn’t get crashy. It’s Autobahn engineering, and it shows. Braking from high speeds is equally impressive. No fade, no wandering — just solid, controlled deceleration.

Golf GTI – Verdict

And now we come to the tough part — ₹52.99 lakh (ex-showroom). By the time you add registration, insurance, and a few accessories, you’re looking at ₹60 lakh on-road in most metro cities. For a hot hatch. Let that sink in. You’re now deep into luxury sedan territory, rubbing shoulders with the BMW 330i, Audi A4, and even entry-level EVs from premium brands.

You could argue that this is a CBU and Volkswagen is catering to a niche audience — and you’d be right. But there’s no getting around the fact that this is a car priced out of reach for the very people who once dreamed of owning one. It’s the right product, brought in the right spec, but with a sticker that feels almost cruel.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is not a rational purchase — and it doesn’t try to be. The kid who grew up watching it on a screen and now wants one in the garage. If that sounds like you, then logic be damned. Buy it.