2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8.5) | PH Review
The petrol-powered GTI is on a countdown timer. Is now the time to finally buy?
I have a very distant, decade-old memory of driving the entry-level Mk7 Golf GTI when it had 220hp and a manual gearbox, and thinking that while it didn’t make for a deeply thrilling hot hatch - certainly not when compared to the competition at the time - it was a first-rate advert for all things Golf. By that I mean it was well made and nice to look at and thoughtfully laid out and fundamentally pleasing to drive. And though it didn’t seem hugely fast in an expressive or boastful way, you could still tear into it and make very fluid, mostly infallible headway. Not a car for the white-knuckle crowd, sure - but persuasively good for everyone else.
Since then, while keeping well clear of the R above it, Volkswagen has progressively bumped up the GTI’s output to keep pace with its rivals (even if it has rarely sought to overshadow any of them). Now, with the introduction of the updated Mk8 - the Mk8.5, to you and me - it has reached 265hp; hardly a novel number for the MQB-underpinned GTI broadly speaking (the Mk7 Clubsport delivered the same total back in 2016) but 20hp more than the base Mk8 came with and 45hp more than it had in 2013. Alongside the now standard seven-speed DSG, this is sufficient for its maker to claim a 5.9-second 0-62mph time for the Mk8.5. Previously you would’ve needed one of the more senior trim levels to crack the six-second mark.
Be that as it may, the appearance of slightly more power is a sideshow in terms of the wider Golf facelift: the main thrust of the transition from Mk8 to 8.5 (minor exterior confetti aside) is the introduction of what VW calls its fourth-generation modular infotainment matrix (or MIB4). We’d all call it a 12.9-inch touchscreen with yet more functionality stuffed into it, including ChatGPT integration on the IDA voice assistant, which is apparently still not clever enough to know when you’re actually talking to it. Or rather it is still not great at distinguishing between legitimate commands and you arguing with your other half about where and when to go shopping.
Its sporadic interjections are not the only tedious things about the new interior. The MIB4 system is undoubtedly an improvement over the UI that preceded it (no great achievement) but it still requires inordinate amounts of eyeballing to get to grips with - a problem ironically highlighted by its predilection for locking you out when it thinks you’re not paying enough attention to the road. I’ll spare you a retread of familiar gripes, but suffice it to say that the GTI’s issues with needlessly fiddly HVAC controls, too few physical buttons and frustrating haptic response have not been completely solved. Nor has the underlying issue of the dashboard and centre console being too plasticky and unappealing in the first place.
One impeccable step in the right direction (i.e. backwards) is the return of proper, pushable switchgear on the steering wheel - although this bright spot does also serve to remind you how naff almost everything else is to press. Evidently, this usability issue (not dissimilar to other areas highlighted by owners) was deemed relatively easy and affordable to fix. Elsewhere, not so much. No doubt the Mk8.5 GTI is cleverer and computationally swifter than the Mk7 by a factor of about a billion - but I know which generation I’d rather be sitting in if you asked me to turn the blower down a fraction. Or the stereo up.
Or, for that matter, change gear. The absence of a manual transmission will likely trouble many fewer people than a repeat appearance of the dreaded touch sliders (illuminated now, at least); although it's hard not to lament the demise of the old golf ball gear knob. Hard not to resent it either. As you might expect, you don’t get a sense of the additional power when mooching about (the torque output is unchanged), and with the DSG doing is job adequately well, there’s precious little encouragement initially to delve deeper. This is partly a factor of heft-free steering feel in its default setting, but also the quality of the throttle response, which continues a running theme of fuel-saving mushiness under part load.
Even the suspicion that the eighth-generation GTI is still fractionally too stiff for its own good at slow speeds doesn’t necessarily have you charging at corners. You tend to drive unthinkingly; the chief emotional response being exasperation at needing to turn off the VW’s ridiculously intrusive lane-keep assist, lest it steer you into a verge. Simmering frustration is not a good vibe for any hot hatch, least of all the one that’s supposed to blend into your life like Coffee-Mate. Happily, things do get better if you find the right road and take the time to recall where VW has located the drive mode selector (we know it’s on the new UI, VW - but FFS, just assign it to a steering wheel button).
It deserves to be easier to find because while the Sport setting isn’t a comprehensive solution to any of the GTI’s shortcomings, it does make the car noticeably more determined to push on a bit. And though the steering never really comes alive in the way you’d hope, it’s accurate enough to take advantage of the peppier response and firmed-up suspension (assuming you’ve ticked the £720 Dynamic Chassis Control option). The latter smooths out nicely at speed and very rarely runs short of grip or the kind of wheel control that fosters confidence in the UK. The Golf still doesn’t possess the sort of gnarly front end you revel in - but you can lean on it all day long. This makes the additional power, when you finally encounter it, easy to exploit.
This, in turn, earns the garden variety GTI a modestly higher position in the hot hatch pecking order, and makes it seem several notches more serious (and speedier) than the stock Mk7 ever did. Would it be better with a manual? Well, the Mk8 didn’t suddenly become a thrill machine with a clutch pedal in its footwell - although that won’t stop you yearning for one when its successor insists on automatically upshifting whether you want it to or not. Probably the more prominent question (one that VW likely asked itself) is would the model be better as a hybrid, and the answer to that is an emphatic ‘no’. Accordingly, the fact of the base GTI’s continued existence, in faster than ever format, for more than £10k cheaper than a Honda Civic Type R, is worth celebrating - and, given the chronic lack of competition, probably worth buying, too. It’s just a shame the Mk8.5 is still a subjectively less likeable Golf than the one VW was building ten years ago.
SPECIFICATION | 2024 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI (MK8.5)
Engine: 1,984cc, four-cyl turbo
Transmission: 7-speed DSG, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 265@5,000-6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 272@1,600-4,500rpm
0-62mph: 5.9 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Weight: 1,466kg (unladen)
MPG: 39.6 (WLTP)
CO2: 162g/km (WLTP)
Price: £38,900 (as tested, £43,330)
Will manufacturer's ever realise that non sensical control features as the ones highlighted in this article can serve as a reason not to buy the car.
Myself, when I read these reviews I find myself zooming in to see: can I use a manual rotary dial or button to change the temperature on the air con, can I use a dial to highlight buttons on the touch screen to ensure I can focus on the road ahead (similar to BMW's system) etc etc.
How ironic that it locks you out of the screen if the robot deems you are not paying enough attention to the road. Pay prolonged attention to the screen though, trying to find a setting 5 or 6 clicks into the UI, I assume it doesn't lock you out, as you career into the back of a stationary car?
Buy a low mileage Mk7, only 4 years old. Save £15 to 20k.
Get a nicer driving experience, better HMI and no annoying driver "aids"
It really is painful how the industry, with a lot of help from the EU and the safety lobby (GSR2) have made 2024 cars consistently less desirable than earlier model years with nasty HMI's and even nastier intrusive "safety" systems
I was never much inclined to buy new cars, I'm now not inclined to buy anything newer than a 2023 car !!
Buy a low mileage Mk7, only 4 years old. Save £15 to 20k.
Get a nicer driving experience, better HMI and no annoying driver "aids"
It really is painful how the industry, with a lot of help from the EU and the safety lobby (GSR2) have made 2024 cars consistently less desirable than earlier model years with nasty HMI's and even nastier intrusive "safety" systems
I was never much inclined to buy new cars, I'm now not inclined to buy anything newer than a 2023 car !!
But by far the worst is when it applies the brakes sharply for no obvious reason. Downright dangerous and I'm always relieved to jump in my older car without any of these distractions.
Whilst I do not side with the inane lack of physical buttons, I don't think I've personally encountered many modern cars that have much better set ups. The Golf seems to get the most grief for this industry wide adoption. Is it because the Golf was assumed to set some sort of standard?
I'd love to see a return to rotary switches that just require muscle memory and not some ChatGPT or voice activated nonsense that fails to understand your command if you have even a hint of an accent!
Buy a low mileage Mk7, only 4 years old. Save £15 to 20k.
Get a nicer driving experience, better HMI and no annoying driver "aids"
It really is painful how the industry, with a lot of help from the EU and the safety lobby (GSR2) have made 2024 cars consistently less desirable than earlier model years with nasty HMI's and even nastier intrusive "safety" systems
I was never much inclined to buy new cars, I'm now not inclined to buy anything newer than a 2023 car !!
king heating settings but to do that I have to take my eyes off the road for several seconds. The fresh air vents are mounted far too low - I don't want to chill my nipples. And then we come to the "driver aids". The lane assist is on by default. The first time I changed lanes I nearly went off the bloody road as the car grabbed control of the steering. I've now disabled it. And as for the adaptive cruise control? I have ACC on my Superb and it is really good. The Golf? The ACC appears to be linked to the GPS so if you are passing a junction to a road with a lower speed limit, it reduces the ACC setting to match that limit. You're sitting on a motorway at 70mph on the ACC and suddenly you are being slowed to 30mph. Dreadful.The car is also as dull as ditchwater!
Mercedes "lost it" at the turn of the century, as their management struggled with the merger with Chrysler. BMW had similar problems when it took over Rover.
I think VAG are struggling at the mo, as they have to deal with the repercussions of Dieselgate which I imagine is a big distraction and strain on the balance sheet. Money will have to be saved elsewhere, and this is evident in some of the latest models, such as the Golf. They have also lost the "guiding" hand of Piech ( suspect it was a bit firmer than that ). Put this on top of probably the most difficult time in the industry in generations as it tries to manage the transition to EVs against growing consumer reluctance, and you get a very tricky situation.
Don't envy them in the slightest....
Whilst I do not side with the inane lack of physical buttons, I don't think I've personally encountered many modern cars that have much better set ups. The Golf seems to get the most grief for this industry wide adoption. Is it because the Golf was assumed to set some sort of standard?
I'd love to see a return to rotary switches that just require muscle memory and not some ChatGPT or voice activated nonsense that fails to understand your command if you have even a hint of an accent!
t buried in the iPad gradually became more and more irritating. Worst was the HVAC stuff. Adjusting the (dual zone) temperature would have been a billion times better with good old rotary knobs. Same for the fan speed.As would the drive modes; there are only 3 so a 3 way switch would have been childs play. But no; it's Google Maps => Home => Settings => Features => Driving Mode => Home => Google Maps. Hugely distracting on the move. To the point I just gave up.
I tried a Cupra Leon a couple of months ago and that was a lot better as you could use steering wheel buttons to select/deselect a lot of options and there were physical buttons for heat and fan speed.
This is surely what all manufacturers should be doing. As it is, the distraction factor is awful.
Whilst I do not side with the inane lack of physical buttons, I don't think I've personally encountered many modern cars that have much better set ups. The Golf seems to get the most grief for this industry wide adoption. Is it because the Golf was assumed to set some sort of standard?
I'd love to see a return to rotary switches that just require muscle memory and not some ChatGPT or voice activated nonsense that fails to understand your command if you have even a hint of an accent!
That’s a bit bland, but it is only the entry level GTI (there are levels within levels now)
t buried in the iPad gradually became more and more irritating. Worst was the HVAC stuff. Adjusting the (dual zone) temperature would have been a billion times better with good old rotary knobs. Same for the fan speed.As would the drive modes; there are only 3 so a 3 way switch would have been childs play. But no; it's Google Maps => Home => Settings => Features => Driving Mode => Home => Google Maps. Hugely distracting on the move. To the point I just gave up.
I tried a Cupra Leon a couple of months ago and that was a lot better as you could use steering wheel buttons to select/deselect a lot of options and there were physical buttons for heat and fan speed.
This is surely what all manufacturers should be doing. As it is, the distraction factor is awful.
Also
-> You can likely add options/Settings to a shortcut menu
-> Voice control works very good for things you don’t change often which are buried in menus.
If you continue to use old methods on new tech then you will struggle with the systems.
New tech requires different thinking
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