2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI 0 60 – The Wait Will Be Worth It – Please know that this whole post is a massive tease. This is a foreshadowing of sorts, as the eighth-generation GTI and Golf R are still miles away from getting on sale united states, along with the Golf R’s more powerful brother, the GTI R. However, if you ensure to maintain this in your pants, the prize will be worth it just because VW’s hot new hatch is such a joy.
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI Changes
Exterior Design
The 2023 GTI style of the Volkswagen Golf reaffirms it was not a vehicle of radical reinvention. With its more trapezoidal taillights and additional bumper creases, the hatchback appears more like a redesigned seventh-generation model. Newness really begins to emerge from behind the A-pillars. However, the car’s sloping front end, which lends it a Geico caveman appearance, has yet to win me over. However, the filled running LEDs and five-hexagon fog lights are interesting upgrades. In addition, the 19″ aluminum wheels look fantastic, and despite their size, they don’t look cartoonish, so there’s plenty of room for more sidewall meat.
Inside, there’s even more revolution than evolution, and the revolution certainly came for the buttons since they’re practically all gone. Virtually all of the vehicle’s physical switchgear has been replaced by touch-sensitive panels, including the steering wheel as well as the dashboard. If you’re okay with it, it gives you a more tidy appearance. Although the dashboard’s general design has altered, the inside still seems as spacious as it was previously, with plenty of glass allowing for plenty of sunlight and strong vision from all directions. GTI plaid seats are back, and they’re just as soft and supportive as ever. Leather is overrated, guys.
Interior Design
Other sections of the inside are a touch iffy, to put it kindly. Even if the center platform’s armrests space is still modest, VW went all out and made the cup holders even less functional. As a result, there are now only two places for smaller-diameter drinks in this odd indentation that pops out such a spring-loaded plastic cup when you press the button.
Even if it’s feasible to squeeze a second cup in there, anything larger than Red Bull’s smallest can will shatter into the beverage next to it, which can lead to trouble. Compared to the previous generation, a few of the plastic appear a little flimsier on this model. The “phone house” forward of the shifter, by example, has a lid that always feels like it’s about three seconds away from coming off. Fingerprints will nearly always be evident due to the usage use piano-black on all surfaces that are touched.
It’s not just the touch-sensitive parts that provide a challenge. While the GTI’s steering controls are a little clicky, they can also be used with a gentle touch to make bigger adjustments to the volume. Your eardrums can get about they bargained for because the precision isn’t that great. For one thing, VW failed to illuminate the audio as well as temperature sliders on the dashboard so adjusting them in the dark is a real pain in the neck.
There is a noticeable improvement in both the aesthetics and the boot time of VW’s new infotainment system when used cold. Multiple forms of information can be displayed on the home screen at the same time, and switching between them is as simple as tapping on the home button just on the left edge of the screen.
Even if you haven’t updated your phone cords to USB-C, the wireless Apple CarPlay, as well as Android Auto features, are a pleasant perk. As a result, the gauge cluster has been transformed into a touchscreen, providing a wide range of customization options and interesting graphics. Although the gauges do a great job of conveying vital information, a HUD would be a nice addition to my cockpit.
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI 0 60
As soon as you get behind the wheel of the 2023 Volkswagen GTI, all of your worries will fade away. When it comes to high-quality caning, the eighth-generation GTI doesn’t make any significant tweaks. A turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine delivers 242 horsepower and 273 of torque to the front wheels via a limited-slip differential and a 6-speed manual as well as a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, making it more enjoyable than just some sports vehicles that cost twice as much.
With a light foot and a short shift in town, the 2.0-liter EA888 engine returns smooth, steady forward momentum, but if you dig a bit further into the pedal stroke, the hatchback will propel itself forward with surprising quickness. The clutch lever has just the proper amount of dip as it slinks through gates, and the pedal is well-weighted with a clear bite point. 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI 0 60
Besides the DSG-equipped vehicle we drove in California, it’s further evidence that Volkswagen’s dual-clutch gearbox is among the best. Starting out in first gear still results in some hesitation, but after that, the gearbox moves smoothly and quickly. Small and responsive, the paddle shifters located on the steering wheel are a welcome addition. Sport mode in the DSG gearbox allows you to keep shifting speeds if pedals aren’t your thing, and each shift is accompanied by a nice little farty brapp. 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI 0 60
Even so, whenever it’s time to unwind, the Comfort mode makes the car seem almost wholly different. In contrast to the GTI’s strong damping, the GTI’s smoothness allows it to handle potholes and freeway expansion joints with little movement transmitting to the occupants. Isolation in the cabin is also a noticeable improvement over its predecessor. In fact, the entire package has a more mature air to it without losing track of the GTI’s intrinsic childlike qualities. Whether there’s one recipe that we’re pleased to see repeated without much modification, it’s this one.
The EPA hasn’t issued fuel-economy estimates for the 2023 GTI in the US yet, and indeed that is what the trip device is for. We get about 26 or 27 mpg over a few hundred miles of city and highway driving, it’s what the federal government rated the previous GTI in mixed-use. It’s possible to get up to about 30 mpg on longer freeways, as long as you don’t keep your foot firmly planted on the accelerator merely to feel the torque. 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI 0 60
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI Price And Release Date
To meet its rivals, the GTI’s price is expected to rise by around the same amount despite the addition of some extra power and features. This 2023 Volkswagen GTI is worth the wait. The driving experience remains as thrilling and rewarding as ever, despite the dramatic reworking of certain components of the vehicle. If anything, it’s fair to say that this is going to be the hot hatch to beat for the foreseeable future.