Item: Used Volkswagen Golf GTI 2013-2020
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/used-review/n345">Ford Focus ST</a> has fine handling and a great driving position, and on top of that it’s great value for money as a used buy. It’s fun to drive and yet has plenty of room inside for the family. Its steering can fight under hard acceleration, though, and it’s beginning to feel just a little dated in this company.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i30/hatchback/used-review/n905">Hyundai i30N</a> is a new car here, so there are still relatively few used examples around. However, this is one impressive car, with a responsive engine, great exhaust note, awesome ability on a winding road and it’s well equipped too. It’s not quite as classy all-round as the Golf GTI, but runs it pretty close.

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<h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volkswagen/golf?nearlynew=true&amp;used=true&amp;derivative.trim=gti">Find a used VW Golf GTI with What Car? &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

<h3>Gearbox issues</h3>

VW had largely sorted out the most expensive of its DSG automatic gearbox problems before this generation of Golf was launched, but there are still some early cars for which problems have been reported, so make sure the gearbox changes smoothly and there are no signs of temperamental behaviour. Timing chains fitted to petrol engines have been known to snap prematurely; this can cause significant engine damage but is often mitigated by having the car serviced on time.

<h3>Oil consumption</h3>

This means a full service history is critical. GTI models can also suffer from high oil consumption, so it’s important to keep checking the oil level, even between services. If the level gets too low, it can cause damage to the engine or timing chain.

<h3>Electrical issues</h3>

Faults with the navigation and entertainment system, as well as other electrical niggles, have been reported on some models, so it’s worth checking that all the electrics work as they should.

On the whole, owners report favourably on the Golf GTI. In our most recent reliability survey, the standard Golf finished midway in the table of family cars, with a respectable score of 75%. Most issues centred on non-engine electrics, but nearly all problems were fixed within a week and under warranty. VW as a brand finished in 16th&nbsp;place out of 31&nbsp;manufacturers in our study.

According to our most recent What Car? Reliability survey, petrol-powered&nbsp;Golfs&nbsp;examples&nbsp;(of which the GTI is amongst) finished in a respectable 12th place out 24 in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey-family-cars/n20053">family car class</a>.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> as a brand finished in 20th place out of 31 car manufacturers&nbsp;in the same survey.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information

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Sports

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

GOLF

The VW Golf GTI is a superb hot hatch that’s extremely easy to live with. It can be an expensive used buy, but in this class it’s the consummate all-rounder

Used Volkswagen Golf GTI 2013-present

<h3>MPG</h3>

There’s no economy penalty for choosing either the three-door or the five-door version, since they both have the same figures. The&nbsp;standard GTI claims an average 47.1mpg under the older NEDC tests, or 44.1mpg&nbsp;for the automatic version, while the Performance Pack variant claims 47.1mpg, or 42.8mpg&nbsp;for the auto, all from the NEDC tests.

<h3>CO2 emissions</h3>

The regular GTi and Performance Pack cars with a manual gearbox&nbsp;have&nbsp;CO2 emissions of 139g/km,&nbsp;148g/km for the automatic version, and&nbsp;150g/km for Performance Pack cars with an&nbsp;auto box.

<h3>Car tax</h3>

Annual tax for cars registered before the changes of April 2017 are based on CO2 emissions (see above). Cars registered after that date will be charged&nbsp;an annual flat rate fee.&nbsp;To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.

<h3>Insurance and servicing</h3>

Insurance groupings have been kept low for the Golf GTI and range from 32 to 39, depending on power output.

Servicing costs are moderate next to some of its high-performance brethren, but perhaps more than you’d pay for the average Ford or Vauxhall. VW also offers a number of differing servicing plans that help you plan for and spread the cost of the next two services.

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Used Volkswagen Golf GTI 2013-2020

The VW Golf GTI is a superb hot hatch that’s extremely easy to live with. It can be an expensive used buy, but in this class it’s the consummate all-rounder

Although it’s possible to buy a high-mileage example for £10,000, we'd suggest you spend around £12,000 to get behind the wheel of&nbsp;an early 2013&nbsp;car with an average mileage for the year and a full service history, bought privately or from a trader.

Up this to&nbsp;£14,500 for similar 2015 cars bought from an independent dealer, while £17,500 will grab you a&nbsp;2017&nbsp;model satisfying the same criteria.&nbsp;Post-facelift cars from mid-2017 start from £18,500. Expect to pay £26,000 for a run-out GTI Performance from 2020.&nbsp;

Check the value of a used Volkswagen Golf GTI with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">What Car? Valuations</a>

Buy the standard Golf GTI and you’ll be riotously happy, but if you can find a&nbsp;car with the Performance Pack, we’d go for that, provided the premium isn’t huge. It’s a tad more fun and a wee bit nicer to punt down a winding road – in this class, such things are important.

For our money, we’d seek out the six-speed manual version of the car rather than the seven-speed dual-clutch DSG automatic one, because it’s smooth, slick and quick in operation, and lets you connect slightly more with this fine driver’s car. However, if most of your work is in town, you might want to think about the auto option.

Our favourite Volkswagen Golf GTI 2.0 245 GTI Performance Pack

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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Engaging handling </li> <li>Thrilling performance </li> <li>A characterful engine with an enticing soundtrack </li> <li>Reasonable running costs </li> <li>Not hard to live with day to day</li></ul>

A popular choice with UK buyers since the days of the original Volkswagen Golf GTI, the hot hatchback mixes everyday practicality with higher performance and the sort of handling and agility that’s ideally suited to British roads. A good hot hatch should be fun and, since it’s likely to be your daily drive, it should also deliver respectable running costs.

The Golf GTI remains one of the best hot hatches on the market, along with its main competitor,&nbsp;the&nbsp;equally as responsive and cheaper to buy Hyundai i30 N. But there are some terrific options for even less money than both of these cars. We're big fans of the Ford Fiesta ST, which is definitely one of the best hot hatches ever and certainly one of the most fun to drive. It's full of character and its engaging handling makes it a bit of a hoot at all speeds.&nbsp;

If you’ve got a bit more money to spare, there are even faster cars available, such as the Honda Civic Type R. This latest version is sublime to drive, either on road or on a track, as it's so sweetly balanced. It's also incredibly quick in a straight line&nbsp;and round a corner, and yet it's as practical as a regular Civic.&nbsp;

Hot hatch

Although the Golf GTI’s a hoot on open roads, it will of course have been subjected to the ravages of supermarket car parks and school runs, so check the extremities of the car for any scuffs or dents. Look at those handsome alloy wheels for any kerb damage – they are susceptible to scraps and repair can be expensive.

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Few cars achieve iconic status and also define their own class, but the evergreen Volkswagen Golf GTI is one that has managed to do both. From its humble beginnings as a tarted-up version of the Mk1 Golf, its all-round competence and broad appeal have won the car the praise of motoring enthusiasts the world over and, in the course of a 40-year life, it’s gone on to spawn many hot hatch rivals, with some even borrowing those same three letters to emblazon their emboldened flanks.

The GTI recipe is actually pretty simple: take the standard <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/used-review/n776">Golf</a> family hatchback – solid, refined and comfortable – and turn up the wick, adding properly increased performance, sharper handling and some subtle visual updates both inside and out to support its heightened sporting air.

This&nbsp;version is based on the seventh-generation of the Golf and was launched in 2013. It stayed on sale until it was replaced by an all-new model in 2020. You can have it as a three-door or five-door and it was the first to be offered in two versions: the standard GTI, with a 227bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, and the Performance Pack version, complete with a 10bhp hike in power, complemented by a limited-slip differential and uprated brakes.

On that note, drivers looking for even more thrills can get their kicks in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hot-hatch/review/?aq=Volkswagen%20%20Golf%20R&amp;amp;type=review&amp;amp;src=SearchDropdown&amp;amp;oq=volkswagen%2520golf%2520r">Golf R</a>, a four-wheel-drive variant complete with a 306bhp version of the 2.0-litre engine and suspension tweaks including a lower ride height and a stiffened ride. Such added performance and kit actually come at a relatively small premium, so those looking for the ultimate Golf might care to give it a go.

The Golf GTI comes with high levels of kit, with cruise control, dual-zone climate control, LED headlights, heated sports-style seats, a configurable 12.3in digital instrument screen, an 8.0in infotainment screen with sat-nav, a DAB radio and Bluetooth all standard. You also get 18in alloy wheels, sports suspension, GTI bodystyling with twin exhaust tailpipes, more aggressive-looking bumpers and a rear diffuser.

Like the standard Golf on which it's based, the GTI was given a facelift in 2017, with styling tweaks and a new infotainment system, while the extra power in the Performance Pack version was upped to 15bhp. In 2019 the range was trimmed to just the Performance, with 242bhp, and the hot 286bhp TCR version.&nbsp;

But it’s on the road that even the regular Golf GTI shines. Make no mistake, there are hotter hot hatches – but the Golf GTI is the perfect combination of sheer outright fun and sensible performance. The engine is smooth, flexible and loves to rev, although most of its punch is concentrated where you would want it, in the mid-range. In the dual-clutch DSG automatic version of the Performance Pack variant, it’ll fly from 0-62mph in just 6.5sec.

It’s supreme in corners, too, with eager, variable-ratio steering, masses of front-end grip and excellent body control all leading to an ability to tackle country lanes taken quickly with confidence and make back-road blasting fun. Its handling is ultimately poised, fluid and adjustable, and its ride supple, but it doesn’t shout its intentions from the rooftops. There are rivals that are more vigorous and responsive, but you might argue that they lack the Golf GTI’s class.

It’s great to sit in, too. The driving position is spot-on and comfortable, and comes with a large range of adjustment. Visibility is excellent, and front and rear parking sensors are standard. The digitalised instruments are clear and easy to read, and the 8.0in high-definition touchscreen infotainment system is easy to operate (a 9.2in version is an option). The fit and finish is pure Golf, with impressive solidity and plenty of soft-touch plastics and good-quality materials. Added to that is a number of sporty details and reminders of GTIs past, such as the tartan-patterned seat option.

There’s plenty of space up front, and two rear passengers will have leg and head room to spare. Three abreast in the back is perfectly possible for short distances, too. There’s an easy-to-access boot of a very good size, with a height-adjustable floor and a flat loading bay when the rear seats are down.

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volkswagen/golf?nearlynew=true&amp;used=true&amp;derivative.trim=gti">used Golf GTI,</a> or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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Used Volkswagen Golf GTI 2013-2020 review

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