Volkswagen Golf GTI long-term test: report 5

The car Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 2.0 TSI 300 PS | Run by Darren Moss, deputy editor

Why it’s here To see whether VW’s iconic hot hatch remains the cream of the crop in its latest form

Needs to Be fast and fun, yet pleasingly frugal, be family friendly, and comfortable on long trips

Miles covered 3456 Price £46,583 Target Price £41,333 Price as tested £48,275 Official economy 37.4mpg Test economy 33.7mpg

8 July 2025 – Start 'em young

I now regularly travel with kids in my car, and this has opened up a whole new world of road-testing opportunities. For example, previously if I wanted to see what the ambiance was in the back seats of a car I was running from a child’s point of view I’d have to stoop down and guess. But now I can simply turn around and ask the little ones for a full report. And Elijah (10) has been impressed with how well he can see out of the windows. They’re better, he says, than the ones in the Cupra Formentor SUV I ran previously, and means he gets a better view of the scenery as we drive from his booster seat.

Meanwhile, the infotainment system of my car has been put through the Freya Usability Test (patent pending). The test is simple – can a six-year-old input a sat-nav destination into the Golf without much help? Well, being used to the controls of her iPad, Freya quickly mastered the pinch-to-zoom functions of the Golf’s map, and then was able to navigate to the address screen to input our destination. I’d say that’s a plus point for the Volkswagen, because even with small fingers and a light touch, the system responded quickly to her inputs. Plus, she awarded bonus points for the background colour being able to change through the menus.

With the weather hotting up recently, we’ve been making full use of the Golf’s panoramic sunroof. It’s controlled not by a traditional button, but by a touch-sensitive slider which you run your finger over to open or close. And unlike some of the Golf’s other touch surfaces, such as those which control the temperature, this works rather well. It lets plenty of light into the rear of the car, too, as well as the fresh air. This was a £1250 option when I ordered my Golf, but it’s one I’m glad I ticked.

Speaking of options, if I was to have my time with the Golf again I reckon I’d eschew the £615 upgraded stereo from Harmon Kardon. Don’t get me wrong, it makes my playlists sound great, but I’m just not enough of an audiophile to appreciate the difference compared with the stereo you’d find in a standard Golf. In any case, since I now travel with the kids, my music is limited to whichever TikTok dance is trending that week.

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