Home Automotive AdviceMarket Advice & Buyer's Guides Golf Vs GTI: What Are The Differences?

Golf Vs GTI: What Are The Differences?

by Jordan Harris
Golf Vs GTI

Volkswagen is one of the most reputable and leading car manufacturers globally. They have made a name for themselves by giving you great vehicles that are solid and well built at very affordable and reasonable prices. Even in this modern times, with technology being packed into every car, Volkswagen is still sticking to its ideology. Both the Volkswagen Golf and the Volkswagen GTI are amazing cars. Keep on reading to find out which one suits you more, Golf Vs GTI!

They are now also leading in constructing tech-savvy cars at affordable prices. They also offer a bunch of options for their customers. One of them is the classic and popular Volkswagen Golf. This small car rivals others such as the Toyota Camry and even the Honda Civic. Moreover, now the Volkswagen Golf also has a cousin called the Volkswagen GTI.

While the Golf and the GTI may have quite a bit in common, there are also some key differences. Differences that might appeal to some more than others. If you want to know which one of the Golf vs GTI you should go with, then read through our detailed reviews and differences of both.

Review Of The Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf has always been a vehicle of the people. When you’re out for buying a car, there are a lot of factors that you need to consider. And almost all of them work for the VW Golf.

Here is a quick and detailed review of the Volkswagen Golf.

Overview Of The Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf is a car that is not just fun to drive, but it is also a car that is great for a small family. Moreover, compared to many other family cars, the Golf comes in at a lower cost. The manual transmission offers you six speeds, and with the automatic version of this car, you can even get up to 8 speeds.

Volkswagen E Golf

The latest version of the Volkswagen Golf offers you a lot of enhancements such as a rear cross-traffic alert system, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and it also comes with artificial leather seating surfaces (it’ll be handy to figure out how to clean leather car seats). These are features that every car owner wishes they have in their vehicle nowadays.

The unique chassis of the car makes sure that you will have a composed ride and also be able to get athletic handling of the car. Since it is an excellent car for families, the Golf interior is also quite spacious and roomy. While you might be right by arguing that the boxy feature of the car is not very eye-catching, however, this car offers you a lot more features than its competitors could with their flashy designs.

Pricing Of The Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf has turned itself into a favorite by many people. However, when customers are out buying Golf, they often face a tough decision. The decision is whether or not they should spend an extra $800 to get themselves the eight-speed automatic or stick with the manual transmission.

It does boil down to which one suits you better. If you are looking to get the most engagement out of your car, then going with the manual will be your best bet. And those who are not familiar with the three-pedal system should go for the automatic instead.

The base Volkswagen Golf comes in at around $23,000.

Transmission, Engine, And Performance

The Golf comes with an inline turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This ensures that you are provided with the necessary power to push the small hatch properly and ensure that it is reliable and refined.

You will not need the power when you are driving around town with the Golf; only when you are on the highway and going at high speeds will you notice that your car engine is starting to run out of breath.

Golf vs GTI

The Volkswagen Golf also ensures that you will have a drive that does not get tiring even when driving on rough roads or out on a long drive. The car does not slouch when you are going around the corner, either. It gives the driver an athletic feeling and hugs the road tightly.

The steering of the Volkswagen Golf is always accurate and very quick for the price it comes in at. What makes the affordable Golf such a great car to drive is the responsive helm.

Real-World MPG And Fuel Economy

It is estimated that with the standard manual model, the VW Golf, on the highway, will get 39 MPG, and in the city, it will earn about 29 MPG. If you are going with the automatic version of this car, you will get 33 MPG on the highway and the same 29 MPG in the city.

Even though the results may seem reasonable, they do not set any standards in their range and class. You can get almost identical results with the hatchback Honda Civic as well.

The Interior Of The Volkswagen Golf

The interior of the Golf is something that you would expect from the design ideals of Volkswagen. It might be plain, but it is functional and comfortable. While you will not find yourself facing any poorly planned design themes, you will not find yourself to be pampered either.

Volkswagen Interior

The interior of the Golf emphasizes spaciousness. It comes with a composed color palette and has straight and clean lines. The rear seats on the Golf are quite comfortable. Even adults would be able to enjoy long drives in them. Due to the bottom cushion height, you can rest your knees perfectly fine compared to most other small cars.

Behind the back seat, the Golf can hold around five carry-on bags. However, the cargo area of the Golf can easily fit taller items. If you fold the rear seats, you will fit in around 15 carry-on suitcases.

Connectivity And Infotainment

The infotainment system of the Golf comes with your standard 6.5-inch touchscreen display. It provides a physical volume knob and has menu buttons that run along the edges of the display. However, the infotainment system of the Golf is somewhat lazy.

It gives slow responses to your inputs. The great thing is that the infotainment system does support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has USB connectivity options for your use.

Review For The Volkswagen GTI

Here is a quick and detailed review of the Volkswagen GTI.

Overview Of The Volkswagen GTI

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is not just practical and affordable. It is also just a great driving machine overall to most people. The GTI can run at incredible speeds with its 228 horsepower four-cylinder engine. It also comes with both automatic and manual transmission options. Of course, you should know that you do not get the engagement just because the car is quick.

Golf Vs GTI

Volkswagen does, however, make sure that you get communicative feedback and quick handling from this car. While the conventional styling and the price being above average is not something that would appeal to many people, you can still be sure that the GTI is a fantastic sports compact with its incredible versatility and the way it approaches performance.

Some standard features of this car are that it can be started with a push-button, and it also comes with performance brakes.

Pricing Of The Volkswagen GTI

The Volkswagen GTI comes in three different trims such as S, SE, Autobahn. Going with the SE trim would be best since it is the mid-level option. The SE trim also has many other features such as blind-spot monitoring, panoramic roof, leather upholstery, and LED headlights.

It is recommended that you still go with the standard manual gearbox even if you think that the dual-clutch automatic transmission is a more affordable and a lot better option. The standard manual transmission on this car is for sure one of the best ones out there, and it does provide you with an engaging driving experience.

The prices of all of the different GTI comes in at about $29,000 for the S trim, $33,000 for the SE trim, and finally, $37,000 for the Autobahn trim.

Transmission, Engine, And Performance

The 228 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine of the Volkswagen GTI is one of the best ones out there. This engine offers you an adequate amount of power and makes sure to deliver you solid acceleration and instant response.

You will also find the clutch pedals easier to use in manual models. This means that you do not have a lot of work to do when shifting. However, if you are more comfortable with the car handling all the gear changes, you can always go with the dual-clutch automatic.

The GTI is a great car to use as your daily driver. This car is responsive and quick and can take on the corners quite gracefully. What matters the most is that this hatchback vehicle is very well coordinated and will do what you want it to do. You might be a bit surprised when you drive the GTI because of how accurately and quickly it reacts to the steering inputs.

If all that is not enough for you, the Volkswagen GTI makes sure to provide you with some firm brakes which are strong on the track and progressive on the road. The GTI also comes with an auto emergency braking system and a forward-collision warning system for your safety.

If you need more safety, you also get adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane departure warning. The Golf GTI makes sure that you enjoy a comfortable ride and a safe one.

Real-World MPG And Fuel Economy

Most compact sport class’ fuel economy goes from being just acceptable to outstanding. The GTI can provide you with some great numbers too. According to many tests, you will get the most efficiency out of the automatic model, with ratings of 32 MPG on the highway and 24 MPG in the city. Those numbers come down to 30 MPG on the highway and 23 MPG in the city if you go with the manual.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI also offers you a great deal since it outperforms most expectations when tested under real-world circumstances. From a few tests, we have seen that it could get 36 MPG on a 200-mile highway.

The Interior Of The Volkswagen Golf GTI

The Volkswagen GTI is not an exception to the well-crafted yet simple interior made by Volkswagen. Even though some of the primary selling features of the GTI are the driver feedback it offers and the agility that it provides, you can still outfit some premium features to the hot hatches.

Some of the notable options that you can go with are the 12-way adjustable leather power seats and the dual-zone automatic climate control. However, it is worth mentioning that the GTI is more than comfortable even in its base model form. You can have four people traveling in any of these cars with an adequate amount of comfort, but that does not mean that you can expect to have plenty of room in the rear seats either.

Golf Vs GTI

You can expect from all of the Golf family lineups that they all come with a ton of cargo space, useful storage cubbies in the cabin, and of course easy to fold seats. Since this car does come with a nearly flat load floor, you will easily be able to drive yourself home from IKEA or go on your beach adventure trip.

Connectivity And Infotainment

All of the models that you will come across in the GTI lineup come with a very simple to use touchscreen display. However, it was seen that there were times when the display was responding quite slowly to the inputs. The infotainment system of the GTI uses different voice and touch commands as well.

You will most likely find the infotainment system just as simple to use as your standard smartphone. It also comes compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as a standard. This allows you to connect your devices in an instant.

What Are The Differences Between Volkswagen Golf VS GTI

Now that we have looked at the reviews of both the Golf and the GTI by Volkswagen, now we can finally move on to sorting out some of the key differences between these two vehicles.

While they might be pretty similar and be considered cousins, some features separate one from the other. These differences in features of the Golf vs GTI can be the deciding factor for you to choose one between the two if you are unsure of which one to get. So without further ado, let’s jump right to it!

Golf VS GTI: Difference In Engine And Performance

One of the main and basic differences between the Volkswagen GTI vs. Golf lies in their engine. While the Golf comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with just 147 horsepower, the Golf GTI comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that offers you a whole of 228 horsepower.

The Golf can maintain its efficiency at 29 MPG in the city and 39 MPG on the highway. The GTI can go for 24 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. The GTI can also go up to 60 mph in just about 6.1 seconds.

You should keep in mind that with the sport-tuned suspension of the Golf, you can take on all of the large ditches and potholes on the road with grace. This means that you can enjoy a nice ride even if the roads are bumpy.

With the dynamic adaptive control system equipped on the GTI, you can always make sure that your car does not have any torque steer and keeps your car close to the road. The GTI also comes with a performance monitor with a G meter and adjustable driving dynamics to measure how fast the car is turning at sharp curves and bents.

Golf VS GTI: Storage And Cargo Space

Golf vs GTI, which one has more storage? The difference in storage is also another apparent difference between these two cars. Well, to be fair, they do not have any difference between them. Anyone looking to have some fun driving while also carrying a bulk load of stuff can choose either.

This is because both cars offer you the same amount of storage in the front and the rear (with the back seats folded). So if storage is your main concern, you should not worry. Both of these cars offer identical storage spaces for your suitcases and travel bags.

Golf VS GTI: The Appearance

When comparing the physical appearances of both the Golf vs GTI, you will notice that they are almost the same. Both of these cars come up with a new way of approaching the hot hatch. While they are both quite compact, they still offer a lot of space inside the car itself and give you a refined exterior as well.

Golf Vs GTI

These cars do not come with any other external flourishes. The hatch means business. With their simple and uncluttered approach, these cars are great to look at. Keeping up with the ideology of Volkswagen, both the Golf vs GTI, come out to be entirely modern classics.

While the GTI comes with basically the same looks as the Golf, it still has some aggressive styling that adds a bit of aerodynamics to the classic look. You know that this car means speed when you face the red line that runs across the grills of the car. Here is Golf vs GTI. And GTI turns out to be the speedy cousin.

Golf VS GTI: Internals Of The Cars

Starting with the GTI, it comes with some plaid seats. This is to match up with the modern look of the car. Apart from that, most of the other internal features such as the ambient lighting, the touchscreen system, Bluetooth, and audio streaming are the same in both cars. There’s not much of a difference in those. The internals of the Golf vs GTI doesn’t have that big of a difference.

Golf VS GTI: Safety

Safety is a primary concern no matter what vehicle you are buying. You would want to have a certain set of features depending on how you use your car. In this case, both the Golf and the GTI offer you several available and standard safety features.

Both of these models provide you with blind-spot monitoring, a forward-collision warning system, adaptive cruise control, rear traffic art, lane assist, park assist, and parking pilot. With all of these features available, the driver can constantly be informed about the world around them. This also allows the drivers to go over the limits without worrying about going over the line.

Volkswagen Reliability

Both the GTI and the Golf are 5 star NHTSA built. They also have a very sturdy build with a sturdy frame and steel B pillars forged in a thermos. Both the cars can get their driver from one place to the other, both quickly and safely.

Volkswagen Golf vs. GTI: Facts You Need to Know

  1. The VW Golf and VW GTI are closely related, but the GTI is a performance-oriented trim of the Golf.
  2. The biggest difference between the two cars is the engine: the Golf has a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that gets 147-hp, while the GTI has a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that gets 228-hp.
  3. The GTI also has performance enhancements such as a performance monitor and adaptive chassis control, which make it a more exciting car to drive.
  4. The GTI is significantly more expensive than the Golf, with an MSRP of over $25,000 compared to the Golf’s MSRP of about $20,000.
  5. While the GTI is the more popular car, the Golf has fewer flaws, with no reported flaws according to Consumer Reports.
  6. The GTI, on the other hand, has a single flaw related to spotty reliability.
  7. Consumer Reports liked the Golf, stating that it would be the only car most people would need if car buying were a rational process.
  8. Unfortunately, the 2021 model year will be the last for the Golf in the US, as it is not selling well, with only about 22,000 units sold in 2020.
  9. The GTI will still be available in the US, as it is more popular than the Golf, and is not being discontinued.
  10. New GTIs will be available in America in the near future, while the 2021 Golf will be the last model year for the foreseeable future.

Golf VS GTI: Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Golf vs GTI

1. Which One Is Better? The VW Golf Or The VW GTI?

This question mainly depends on the person. While the GTI is more modern and aggressive, the Golf maintains the classic VW looks. If you are looking for speed, the GTI would be the best choice, and if you want to save on fuel, Golf should be your first option.

2. Why Does The GTI Cost More Than The Golf?

The GTI comes with a bit more features and a nicer exterior. Moreover, it also has more horsepower and efficiency in the automatic transmission option.

3. Is The VW Golf Any Good?

The Golf is a great family car that is sure to provide you with a fantastic driving experience. The potholes and ditches on the road will feel almost nothing against the Golf. It is a car to make those tedious long drives enjoyable.

Final Words

Volkswagen makes some of the best cars at the most reasonable prices. They have all the necessary modern features while also reminiscent of Volkswagen classics. Both the Golf and the Golf GTI are great cars with a few differences that set them apart.

Make sure to take care of your car properly so that they last a long time. We hope this helps you conclude which Golf vs GTI is better for you!

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