Latest News
2025 Buick Enclave vs Honda Pilot2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI & R: Classic Hatchback
Volkswagen celebrates 40 years of the Golf with new editions and an upgraded infotainment system. We look at powertrain, trim levels, and more.
What’s New for the 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI & R?
The 2023 VW Golf goes almost entirely unchanged after an all-new version was introduced for 2022. The GTI and R offer classic lines and solid drivetrains across all five trim levels.
Buyers can spec either a manual or automatic transmission and will get either front or all-wheel drive depending on the trim level they choose.
A recently redesigned infotainment system integrates with a wide digital gauge cluster and strong safety suite as well. The only addition to the lineup is a pair of anniversary editions with unique badging.
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI – vw.com | Shop 2023 Volkswagen Golf on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Cool plaid seats
Great engine
Above average warranty
Understeering is still an issue
Priced higher for the segment
Lackluster infotainment system
Lots of room for improvement
2023 Volkswagen Specs
- 241 horsepower from base engine
- 273 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 6 available trims
- 19.9 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 8.25-inch infotainment sytem and a digital gauge cluster
- IIHS Top Safety Pick
- Two years complementary maintenance
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI & R Powertrain
All five trims of the 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI and R use the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine dubbed EA888 by the automaker. It’s unequivocally one of the most flexible power plants in the business and develops anywhere from 241 hp in the GTi to 315 in the Golf R. It’s not as loud or fun as Audi’s five-cylinder engine in the RS3 (which uses the same platform as the Golf), but it’s a solid engine nonetheless.
We also really like the two transmission options that VW has on offer in the Golf. A six-speed manual is standard while a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic costs about $800 more. They’re both great in their own way but if it’s our money we’re buying the stick as it’s more engaging and may very well hold its value better over time.
Sadly, where the Golf tends to fall down in terms of driving performance is when it hits a bend or two in the road. Just like previous generations, this one is prone to serious understeer. The Golf R mitigates that some with its all-wheel drive, active torque-vectoring rear differential, and adaptive suspension but it doesn’t eliminate it entirely.
We hate to bring up the RS3 again but Audi uses a similar setup and has managed to kick understeer to the curb. Why Volkswagen can’t do it we don’t know.
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI & R Fuel Economy & MPG
The 2023 Volkswagen Golf gets up to 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway according to the EPA. The Golf R with a manual transmission gets the worst scores including 20 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
The Golf is a largely comfortable hatchback during most trips. Both rows are spacious enough for adults but the rear seat room is a little more cramped than in Golf competitors.
Ergonomically, we like how the controls are laid out and love the excellent visibility. In general, the dash pleasingly mixes old-school simplicity with modern lines. Cool little features like plaid inserts for the seats are available too.
At the same time, we’d love to see higher-quality materials in the Golf. The piano black plastics get dirty just by looking at them, the hard plastics on the door panels and dash don’t look or feel great, and the touch controls are too sensitive.
When we first learned about the Golf R we were stoked. In fact, we expected the interior to nearly rival luxury cars. Sadly, that’s simply not the case. There are noticeable cost-cutting measures like how the front passenger seat slides manually or how there’s only one choice of interior color.
There’s still no denying how practical the Golf is. The large hatchback provides 19.9 cu-ft of cargo space and expands to 34.5 once the rear seats are folded out of the way.
Entertainment & Technology
Low-level trims of the Golf start out with an 8.25-inch infotainment system and a digital gauge cluster. In everyday use, it’s not as quick or as easy to operate as we’d like. The capacitive buttons aren’t responsive the same way that physical buttons or knobs can be. Sadly, that experience carries over to the 10-inch unit found in higher trims of the Golf.
At the same time, we couldn’t like the digital cockpit much more than we already do. It’s bright, easy to understand, informative, and lightly configurable. It’s worth noting too that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay both make appearances here so that helps to mitigate the fussy infotainment system.
Safety Features
The NHTSA has yet to release safety data on the Volkswagen Golf GTI but that hasn’t stopped the IIHS from making it a top safety pick. We also really like the full suite of driver safety aids including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and more. Including these technologies as standard features is a great move that we wish other brands would follow.
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI & R Trims & Pricing
S – $31,625
The base Golf GTI comes with 18-inch wheels, heated mirrors, push-button start, heated front sport seats, LED headlights, an 8.25-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, seven speakers, a digital gauge cluster, and safety equipment like parking sensors, lane-keep assist, forward collision mitigation, and adaptive cruise control.
40th Anniversary – $34,150
A new 40th-anniversary edition includes unique badging, exclusive red, gray, white, and yellow paint color availability, adaptive dampers, speed-sensitive steering, 19-inch wheels, and summer tires.
SE – $36,425
The SE includes adaptive headlights, normal dampers, a sunroof, a 10-inch infotainment system, integrated navigation, and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. Those who want it can spec a luxury package that includes leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, driver’s memory settings, and power-adjustability for that driver’s seat.
Autobahn – $40,165
The top-spec version of the normal GTI gets 19-inch wheels, adaptive dampers, heated rear seats, rear-seat climate controls, an automated parking system, and a heads-up display.
R – $45,835
The big party trick in the Golf R is the more highly strung 2.0-liter engine that develops 315 hp in this application. On top of that, the R also gets standard AWD with rear-axle torque vectoring, 19-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, tri-zone climate control, adjustable ambient interior lighting, and adaptive headlights.
R 20th Anniversary – $45,035
The 20th-anniversary version of the Golf R adds unique badging, black 19-inch wheels, and the choice of three paint colors, black, blue, or white.
Warranties
Commendably, Volkswagen offers a full four-year or 50,000-mile limited and powertrain warranty package on every Golf. In addition, it stacks two years or 20,000 miles of complimentary maintenance on top of that to sweeten the deal.
What we think
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI 40th Anniversary Edition – vw.com | Shop 2023 Volkswagen Golf on Carsforsale.com
For the money, the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R could be a better value. Other performance hatchbacks, like the Toyota GR Corolla, offer a better driving experience and better interior quality. Buyers could also consider a used Golf and save some cash for upgrades.
We recommend the 40th Anniversary edition as it offers attractive options like adaptive dampers and 19-inch wheels while being just as capable of making Golf R power with a simple ECU tune.
