So Great To Drive, But Not Perfect (Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk 8 2024 Review)

Detailed review of the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk 8, the current manifestation of the classic hot hatch. It’s great to drive but some elements aren’t perfect.
Volkswagen has already acknowledged many of the Mk 8 Golf’s flaws. Physical buttons are coming back while the tech is getting another revamp. But the fact remains: this hot hatch is excellent to drive, with a brilliant ride and handling balance and good power.
When the Golf GTI was recently on sale it sold out again quickly. But an upgrade is coming soon. Rivals to the Golf GTI include the Hyundai i30 N.
Time codes:
0:00 - Intro
1:07 - Interior
4:05 - Back seats
5:27 - Our test car
5:54 - Boot space
6:33 - Running costs
7:40 - Driving dynamics
15:32 - Verdict
As always, we don’t accept advertising from car manufacturers, and we’re powered by Budget Direct.
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[@chasingcars]

This week, VW revealed the interior of the future Golf Mk 8.5 with hard physical buttons and ChatGPT integration. We'll get that GTI as a 2025 model here in Australia.

[@Bruhnaccia]

At this price point if you really want to have a good bang for your buck car just go with the Hyundai i30N

[@ggegeRGr]

So the 8.5 won't actually be sold in Australia until 2025?

[@katiecannon8186]

Personally, I think the screen is way too big. I prefer smaller, well integrated screens. And I really don’t want ChatGPT in my car. For lots of reasons

[@user-zy3nf5qf4b]

I worked for VW for 12 years so I have a lot of experience with the GTI’s. The MK8 is a huge step up from the 7.5 in terms of driving dynamics. The steering is a lot more direct, you feel a lot more connected to the road and you can really push it through corners with a lot of pace. They did a fantastic job with this car. A lot of people complain about the infotainment but if you own the car, you get used to it very quickly. I think the interior looks nicer than the 7.5 as well. The seats are fantastic.

[@bonk352]

The mk 8 is definitely a look that grows on you. Again, VW have again been clever with Golf design and this model will probably take many years before it starts to look dated.

[@mrb2643]

In South Africa, Golf, GTI, R lines were absolutely popular until the 8 came through. You dont see many on the roads as previous gens...people used to go crazy for Golf. VW has lost the appeal on the Golf... pricing, cost of extras, hijacking risk and of course other car competition in the market with good offers on service, maintenance plans etc

[@fatdoi003]

@@mrb2643 VW jacked up mk8 prices to the point buyers don't consider them good value anymore and no matter how good it is compared to 7.5, wallet is the most important factor afterall...

[@coreyfreeman6226]

That's why I'm waiting for 2025 to pick up a used 22 - 23 model for cheap. A guy I follow on KZbin has owned it for 1 year and he said the infotainment isn't as bad as people say. Personally, I only care about the driving dynamics and upgraded EA888 version 4. Had a 2017 and loved the high-quality interior vs the Japanese cars i'm used to.

[@fatdoi003]

@@coreyfreeman6226 if in my country there will not be many 2nd GTi 8 to choose from as I hardly see one on the road...

[@katiecannon8186]

As a former mk7.5 owner, I absolutely love my mk8. It just *is* a better car. From the chassis to the beautiful interior.

[@maximusinus]

Got myself a GTI 2024 Autobahn 3 months ago. Such a joy. Went from Jetta 2017 TSI 1.4 to this. No regret so far.

[@bonk352]

Definitely two different cars

[@DynamicAttraction]

owner of a 2024 Golf-R here, love the car. nearly everything about it is lovable. I haven't driven the GTI but i assume its similar. Driving dynamics are fantastic, this thing is a near perfect daily driver. AWD in canada is always a + for me too. The infotainment system did take me about 1 week to get used too but now its like 2nd nature/doesnt bother me, especially when your realise 50% of the actions can be used from the steering wheel.

[@asdpoi121]

Well done suave review

[@victorkf9388]

Hi Chasing Cars, given the several reliability issues of both VW cars in general and in the earlier Golf GTi versions, what would the projected reliability rating be for the Mk8, please?

[@carlpalmer879]

Great real workd review

[@themarvel2004]

Curpa Leon? If you want the "clubsport" spec then that has it with the VZx, and leather seats, etc?

[@denislejeune9218]

Like it a lot. Testdrove it twice and was able to hire it for a week. Shame there's no Akra option like on the R.

[@final_mile_music9713]

I got a mark 8 manual 380. S. All the dynamic options from the autobahn (LSD. Adaptive dampers, 19” wheels and autobahn brakes) and it’s the last manual to be sold in the USA ever. So I wasn’t waiting for the 8.5. I don’t mind the buttons fine and the infotainment is fast and snappy now. There are also volume and tuning knobs on the S because it has a smaller screen. It’s a fantastic car.

[@davelospinoso9022]

Congrats on the purchase. Is the clutch hard to push or is it soft and light?

[@final_mile_music9713]

@@davelospinoso9022 it’s quite light. Perfect for everyday use with a bite point at the mid point so it’s easy going. This is my daily driver. I have a manual Cayman 718 for weekends etc. The gearbox itself is positive and quite precise but the shifts are smooth and easy. Again perfect for what it is. Not as mechanical and snickerty snick as my Cayman of course, but that’s fine with me for everyday and it’s much better than any BMW manual box (eg that found on the M3 currently). With the car being manual and having adaptive suspension and drive modes, it mirrors what I have on the cayman (that also has LSD, torque vectoring, sports Chrono and PASM (adaptive suspension)). So it’s the daily driving version of my Cayman but front drive and engined. Clearly a different proposition but rides beautifully, easy to live with and a car you can fully exploit as it’s quick but not over powered. As for the front drive architecture, it’s like peak FWD to me. Dioesnt rotate like my Porsche but it’s nimble chuckable and had little to no understeer. Great performance, fun to drive, economical and bags of mid range punch. Cars like this are going away. Don’t let the infotainment and buttons stop you. They’ve fixed the lagginess, there are knobs for volume and tuning (on the S), and I find the steering wheel haptics fine. Not perfect, but not a deal breaker. The ONLY pain for me is you have to push a shortcut to get to climate control and then make your adjustment. Clearly rotary physical controls are better. But at least the S doesn’t have the stupid touch sensitive sliders. In 380 form, the car is the last of its kind and irresistible to me. Hence going for it while I can still get a manual gearbox.

[@donjohnson2428]

what color did you get? I'm thinking about purchasing a black one

[@final_mile_music9713]

@@donjohnson2428 pearl black.

[@donjohnson2428]

@@final_mile_music9713 nice! that's the color I'm leaning towards right now. Also thinking about reflex silver

[@katiecannon8186]

We don’t get the pure white in America. That’s kind of funny. I love my pearl white, but would have preferred pure white.

[@scollyutube]

Presume the 8.5 will have the 200kw motor like the new Tiguen and Kodiaq VRs too?

[@davejohn3820]

Picking up my new mk8 gti in couple of days. Changed over from the S3....

[@r3games1985]

Love mine.

[@tonycoz2309]

Looking forward to separate tactile climate controls in future models. PS....The wheels on the mark 7.5 were better than those.

[@GTI.OWNERSCLUB]

Best GTI ever made ❤

[@Dan4096]

If you want the 220kW VW engine, it's available in the Cupra Leon VZx!

[@daviddrummond489]

Its rather loud inside .... no microphone other than the camera mic?

[@davelospinoso9022]

Is the clutch soft in your car compared to the 11th Gen SI? Looking to trade my SI in (oil dilution at 18k, good job Honda), and get something with a similar easy to press clutch besides an mx5

[@itslucien]

The GTI clutch is softer and easier to modulate but definitely has a longer throw than the one on the Si from my own experience

[@user-rs6zf9ep4j]

Cupra Leon VZ??

[@GEE819]

Congratulations on another intuitive car revue but for the price of the gti I would add a few more dollars and purchase a civic type R instead.

[@mightyg6383]

I have a mk7.5. It's a shame that the standards of all GTI's having heated seats, hand e-brake, and a tailgate with a proper GTI badge are over.

[@vsboy2577]

Yes expensive but certainly looks nice and classy

[@carcrazyguysa4059]

My opinion, I think this car looks better than the facelift

[@Bahle_Gaji]

The facelift revealed a while back? I’d like to see both side by side first but I’m mostly with you too 😅

[@carcrazyguysa4059]

@Bahle_Gaji I'm talking about the Golf 8. The one we saw in a camouflage a few days ago. We won't see the 8.5 in SA at least until the beginning of 2025.

[@atolfree]

I could make a case for a Formentor VZ over this GTI

[@BaconSandwich72]

I don’t hate it. VW really need to stop with the twisty style rims. They look low rent and like a child’s version of what sporty rims should look like.

[@DwainDwight]

can you get it with the six speed manual?

[@jacrispy9703]

Yes 2024 is the last year for a manual

[@Posy13]

How can there not be electric adjustment for driver and passenger seats? Also those rims aren’t great why can’t they give you an option to choose which rims you want without the luxury pack stuff!

[@davejohn3820]

Because VW group needs to differentiate VW golf gti and Audi S3. Lol...

[@katiecannon8186]

I really like the capacitive buttons. I don’t have any idea why reviewers don’t. It’s truly a mystery to me.

[@altinkrasniqi908]

I think it’s because reviews give the misconception that they’re activated by the slightest touch, when really they need the same pressure applied as a regular button. All they do differently is add swipe functionality for volume/skip

[@katiecannon8186]

@@altinkrasniqi908 In other words, they’re just making things up. Honestly.

[@jbowgo9599]

Yes, I like the cap type buttons too. They work without issue. The infotainment system is all seamless after a while. Nice ride for sure!

[@ahmeda.3198]

I think one issue without the lack of physical buttons is you have to take your eyes off the road, and in some cases focus them (not just glance) at a control. I prefer the physical buttons, and that’s one of the reasons why.

[@steveyknoxville]

Glasses, moustache, shorts with white socks pulled up... Does this guy know he looks like a 1980s serial killer?

[@weeverob]

$56,000!!!! My first Bug was $1895

[@user-ul4wy2lx2m]

In the United States it’s 40k lol 😂 I have owned the mk6 that was a leftover for 25k then the mk7.5 that was 33k but got 6k off that price and now it’s 40k lol 😂 same thing but a bit faster and drives a little better don’t know if it’s worth that much more considering you can get a audi for this price 😊

[@RealG23__]

If u acc look closely on the mk8s golf headlights they acc resemble a golf club

[@fatdoi003]

well after few years, i hardly see any Golf 8 here @ Sydney north shore, maybe they all bought Tesla 3 and Y instead and now BYD

[@nchia]

Tom doesn’t look out of place in a Monty Python sketch.

[@bruts82]

I cant believe you’re reviewing the mk 8.5 in an 8 WTF

[@leeroyjenkins7141]

Love it how vw released this product, knowing it was littered with issues - poor processing power for the ice, fit and finish problems, garbage steering wheel buttons etc. But hey, shaft customers first and then eventually fix it up....classy

[@TheCaesarChris]

Interesting Tom never mentions the Honda civic type r when talking about hot hatches

[@chasingcars]

There is a reason! In my head I think of the Civic Type R as a Golf R / GR Corolla rival (even though it’s FWD). It’s quite a bit more capable than a Golf GTI.

[@paulklp8262]

Price wise the CTR competes with BMWs and Audis. This is cheaper.

[@gregj7916]

Surely the Octavia vRS Wagon is the better buy??

[@christopherdounis6729]

That’s not the 2024 GTI 8.5 facelift model…

[@Z3NYBOY]

The base stereo is not fine. Its miles worse than the 7.5 standard stereo.

[@nikosdanelakis3613]

👌👌👌👌

[@user-kl3fp1od2i]

Definitely think the skoda octavia vrs wagon is a better option. Looks better inside and out

[@elmin2323]

I30n still for me

[@TheCarGuru]

VW just killed the manual transmission for the MK8.5 refresh. The refresh still looks horrible inside and out. The MK7.5 GTI is still the best looking version out there.

[@carcrazyguysa4059]

7.5 was peak. 8 was not so bad but the exterior design on the 8.5 is 10 steps back

[@TheCarGuru]

@@carcrazyguysa4059 Good points there. Maybe VW will learn by the time the MK9 is set to debut.

[@Alby911]

I can't get over the frumpy face of the Mk8, last gen looks so much nicer imo

[@final_mile_music9713]

I’ve got a manual M3 8 380 (US spec. All the autobahn dynamic goodies and wheels). It’s fantastic and the last manual Golf to ever come to the US. It’s my daily drive. And then I have a Cayman 718 for the summer and weekends. Also manual ;)

[@CampbellSimpson]

Tom the kind of guy to wear white shoes and white socks to review a white hot hatch

[@chasingcars]

Style

[@lukeryan559]

Skoda Octavia VRS is the Golf GTI, but better.

[@BennnWJK]

Definitely prefer my 7.5

[@AdamAus85]

Man that cluster/infotainment "binnacle" looks very shit.

[@joshpowell4970]

Vw smoking crack . 60k for a hatchback 😅

[@Alby911]

It's almost like inflation is just an oasis

[@daweigo6851]

Honda crv is $60k, cars are more expensive now....

[@deniz6476]

Golf r is about 80k. Oh well it’s a Vw I know but they seem not to

[@dennischeng4391]

I am sorry but MK7.5 is the best.

[@scugniz]

Nice while it's new, then turns into an unreliable piece of poo. All VW group products are the same, fast, good looking and unreliable.

[@ingmarlangerak8973]

Not worth the price. An ugly car and.

[@HecatombRecordings]

Never been a fan of the Golf design. Prefer my Octavia VRS everytime.

[@candlelarbra5212]

Imagine paying 60k for a hatchback... With cloth seats lololol

[@rabk2636]

Paid less than that for a MY24 specced white one with both upgrade packs & 3 yrs servicing, so anyone paying advertised prices need to have a good look at themselves.

[@antonilavin2488]

Looks like good value to me. Considering how comfortable it is and how much better it is for day to day driving and touring compared to the other hot hatches. If you want noise and slightly faster acceleration then you won’t buy it.

[@Paradoxical124]

There’s always that one person who shits on something they want because they can’t afford it 😅

[@scollyutube]

Compared to EVs that cost more again, with seats made out of plants and don't drive anywhere near as good as this....

[@thabo9218]

It’s a heritage thing