Skip to main content

2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI review: Stick with the classic

With more power and more tech, the 2019 GTI is still the VW you should buy

2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review
Ed Oswald/Digital Trends
2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI review: Stick with the classic
MSRP $28,490.00
“The 2019 GTI is the hot hatch that Volkswagen says it is, and is one of the best hatchbacks on the market.”
Pros
  • So fun to drive
  • Useful driver assistance tech
  • Great throttle response
  • Large Infotainment display
  • Throaty, yet subdued exhaust note
Cons
  • High cost of higher-end models

“Why you can trust Digital Trends – We have a 20-year history of testing, reviewing, and rating products, services and apps to help you make a sound buying decision. Find out more about how we test and score products.“

Over the past four decades, Volkswagen has seen many models come and go, including the iconic Beetle, the enthusiast favorite Scirocco, and the much-maligned Fox. But one model has managed to weather the ever-changing preferences of the American car buyer: the Golf GTI.

Recommended Videos

The car is a blast to drive. While the GTI certainly isn’t the fastest hatchback on the road, it is by far the most practical. It’s aggressive, but not obnoxious. It’s pricey, but not out of reach. In the 2019 model, the GTI gets an 8 hp bump to 228hp, and great driver assistance tech makes it all the way down to the base model, including forward collision warning and pedestrian detection with automatic braking, and blind spot monitoring with rear traffic alert.

The Base GTI S starts at $28,490 (the driver assistance tech is a $450 option), while the special Rabbit Edition comes in at $29,790 adding LED headlights, keyless access with push-button start, and an exclusive and sharp Urano Grey and Cornflower Blue paint option. Stepping up to the SE for $32,690 adds a panoramic sunroof, leather seats, and an 8” touchscreen infotainment system. You can opt for the Experience package with the SE, which adds the great sounding Fender premium audio system and dynamic chassis control to customize ride experience for an additional $860.

2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review
Ed Oswald/Digital Trends

The top-of-the-line Autobahn gives you everything plus adaptive cruise and dual-climate control for $36,890, but if you’re looking to spend that kind of money on a hatchback, we’d argue the Golf R is a better option all around for about $4,000 more.

We chose to test the SE with the Experience Package over the Rabbit Edition to get the better seats, that impressive panoramic sunroof, and better tech inside and out. MSRP on our test model was $33,550.

Interior and exterior design

The current design of the GTI is somewhat long in the tooth, as we’re nearing the end of the model generation. Regardless, the MK7 GTI finally strikes a balance between aerodynamics and the traditional hard lines of a Volkswagen exterior. This is what gives Volkswagens their personality, and it’s what Volkswagens lost in their unimaginative bubble-like exteriors and interiors of the mid-to-late 2000s.

2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review
Ed Oswald/Digital Trends

In the Mk7, you still get the trademark red lines across the grill and front fascia, extending across the bottom of the headlights. A sportier suspension sits the GTI a little over a half inch lower to the ground than its Golf brethren, and when combined with now standard limited slip differential and larger brakes means you’ll be able to drive this car aggressively without fear of body roll or losing control.

On the inside, while we miss the trademark GTI Clark Plaid seats in the SE (this previously was an option), the leather seats are comfortable and of good quality, accented with red stitching. The interior makes good use of a small space, and in this smaller interior the 8” touchscreen looks sizeable – although the 6.5” screen found in the Rabbit Edition we also got a look at was underwhelming, especially in a car this expensive.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI constantly monitors your surroundings.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the infotainment system sports an easy-to-use menu system navigable via steering wheel controls, with select information including navigation displayed in the center display so you’ll be able to keep your eyes in front of you.

While the interior might feel a little cramped, especially in the backseat, it’s because you’re getting an expansive cargo area in the rear for a hatchback. The rear seats fold down nearly flat, offering plenty of storage space.

Tech features

The decision to make driver assistance tech standard (or a cheap option for S buyers) is a great call. This is not just limited to a rear backup camera: the car constantly monitors your surroundings, applying the brakes if you appear to be heading for a collision, and warning you if you’re drifting out of a lane or if a vehicle is in your blind spot.

2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review
Ed Oswald/Digital Trends

These alerts are both auditory and visual, either in the center dash display or illuminated alerts on your side mirrors for the blind spot detection.

But the car’s tech is not only limited to improving your driving, the infotainment system with integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allows you to use select apps right from your car radio, and Car-Net allows you to lock and unlock your car via VW’s app, and automatic crash detection will have help should you end up in an accident.

The Car-Net app is certainly a low point – it isn’t well designed and is often laggy. But in a pinch it works.

Driving impressions

What can we say about driving the GTI other than it will put a smile on your face. In an aggressive test drive, we whipped the car around some of Pennsylvania’s windy roads, and at no time did we feel like the car was getting away from us. While certainly a bit of a stiffer ride than the Jetta or the Golf (you’ll feel those Pennsylvania potholes more, too), it’s not uncomfortable by any means.

In highway driving, you’ll appreciate the responsiveness when making a quick pass, and those driver assistance features come in handy in traffic and busy city streets – although you’ll enjoy this car much more out on the open road, that’s for sure.

For the driving performance of the GTI, we’ll take the middling fuel economy.

Acceleration is smooth and spirited and the exhaust note sounds great for a stock car. For a sportier feel, we’d appreciate a little less clutch and shift travel – but it’s more of an annoyance than a deal breaker.

One area that might be a bit of an annoyance is the fuel economy. From our experience and what we’ve gathered, you should expect about 27mpg on average – which is a bit on the low side for its class, and with the need for premium gas, may put a dent in your pocketbook.

But for the driving performance of the GTI, we’ll take the middling fuel economy. This car isn’t meant to be Sunday driven anyway.

Rivals

Up until recently, we would have mentioned the Focus ST as perhaps the closest American-made car to the GTI, however the Focus is no longer available in the US. Perhaps the next best alternative currently out would be the Hyundai Veloster N, which we got to take a look at late last year.

The Veloster N has a more power (23 hp to be exact) at its base model, you’ll get the limited slip differential, and it’s got a fair amount of tech for its $27,820 base MSRP. It’s biggest issues however is a lack of refinement. We would recommend test driving both if you’re in the market for a performance hatchback, though.

Peace of mind

Yes, Volkswagens certainly has a reputation for issues in reliability, but the GTI seems to survive these rumors pretty well. That said, Volkswagen’s six-year 72,000 mile warranty is generous. We’d also opt for the Car-Net just in case, which will set you back $199 for the year. Monthly and lifetime plans are also available, and you get a six-month trial with any new car purchase.

Thanks to our Pennsylvania potholes and a crappy stock jack that is a pain to use, we’ve used this service far too often on our own VWs. Service response times are outstanding. In our three service calls, we’ve never waited more than 30 minutes.

Our Take

Volkswagen is busy planning its next generation GTI – due in Europe later this year and here in America in 2020. But in this final year for the MK7 generation, there’s enough here to give a good enough reason to make the jump a year early. You’re getting a little more power and an overall more refined car.

But regardless of whether this is this generation’s swan song, it doesn’t take away from Volkswagen’s continuing success in making the GTI one of the most enjoyable cars to drive. That makes it’s now nearly $30,000+ price tag for a decent feature set bearable.

Should you get one?

If you’re a fan of European cars and looking for a sporty yet affordable ride, the GTI stands alone in its capability to mix performance, price, and functionality into an attractive package. They’ve gotten almost everything right in this generation, and it will be hard to top.

Ed Oswald
For fifteen years, Ed has written about the latest and greatest in gadgets and technology trends. At Digital Trends, he's…
The week in EV tech: From sky-high dreams to ground-level drama
tesla robotaxi feud alef in transition flight

Welcome to Digital Trends’ weekly recap of the revolutionary technology powering, connecting, and now driving next-gen electric vehicles. 
Buckle up, folks — this week we’re taking off with a look at the futuristic dream of flying electric cars possibly gliding above U.S. roads sooner than you think. But before we get carried away, let’s bring it back down to the bumpy road of present-day realities.
Even if you’re mostly interested about the tech powering the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, it’s become increasingly hard to avoid the politics around it: You guessed it, we’re talking about this week’s public feud between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump.
What does this have to do with EV tech? Well, quite a lot actually. For starters, the technology behind Tesla’s Autopilot and Full-Self Driving (FSD) modes may return in the crosshairs of regulators: Despite the names, these are still driver-assist features that require active driver supervision, and until Trump’s election, they had been under heavy scrutiny by safety regulators for several years.
Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  (NHTSA) launched an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD. Big questions remain about the driver-assist system's performance under adverse, yet naturally-occurring conditions such as fog, sun glare, rain, and snow.
When Musk, who spent about $275 million to help elect Trump, was appointed to head a newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), it raised more than a few eyebrows about his power and influence over the regulators who are supposed to oversee traffic safety, and therefore Tesla.
It didn’t help that the Trump administration followed Musk’s recommendations and relaxed crash-reporting requirements put in place since 2021, while also relaxing rules to accelerate the deployment of fully-automated robotaxis.
The Trump/Musk clash takes place just as Tesla is due to launch its robotaxi pilot progam in Texas later this month. While Trump is now threatening to pull billions of dollars in government subsidies and contracts from Musk’s companies, it’s unclear whether he might pressure the Department of Transportation to again tighten the regulatory screws on Tesla. What is clear is that Trump has never been a fan of electric vehicles and is already trying to end federal subsidies on EV purchases and leases. And while he had made a big deal about buying a bright red Tesla Model S back in March, Trump now says he wants to sell it.
Back to the tech
Meanwhile, Tesla is still required to respond to information and data requests from NHTSA regarding the safety of its robotaxis by July 1. And ultimately, it should come down to the performance of the technology.
For Autopilot and FSD, Tesla has opted for less expensive navigational tech relying on multiple onboard cameras that feed AI machine-learning models. But especially for so-called adverse driving conditions, it’s the more expensive technology relying on a blend of pre-mapped roads, sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar (a laser-light radar) which has received the nod of regulators.
Waymo, the sole robotaxi service currently operating in the U.S., and Zoox, Amazon’s upcoming robotaxi service, both use that blend of navigational tech.
For its robotaxis, Tesla is said to have upped its game in terms of autonomous driving with its Hardware 4 (HW4) technology, which does include radar sensors and promises enhanced environmental perception.
Will that be enough for Tesla to convince regulators, catch up with Waymo, or compete effectively with Zoox?
We’ll have to wait and see.
Flying cars
In a recent edition, we noted that while consumer confidence about robotaxi technology is on the rise, most people also want more data before they hop into a self-driving vehicle.
What about flying taxis? According to a recent survey by Honeywell, nearly all U.S. airline fliers, or 98%, said they would consider using a so-called electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle, or eVTOL, as part of their travel journey.
But while the buzz around flying electric vehicles has mostly focused on air taxis— like Archer Aviation’s Midnight, expected to fly athletes around the 2028 LA Olympics, or Joby’s slick air taxi, backed by Toyota — one California startup is shooting for something a little more... driveable.
Meet Alef Aeronautics, a Bay Area company that wants to put the “car” back in “flying car.” This week, Alef announced it has received over 3,400 pre-orders for its electric flying vehicle, the Model A — and get this: it’s not a futuristic prototype gathering dust in a lab. Alef says production could begin by the end of 2025, or early next year.
On the ground, the Model A operates like a low-speed electric car, complete with hub motors in the wheels and—wait for it—a real steering wheel. You can legally drive it at up to 25 mph on public roads, parking it in a normal garage like any other EV. It’s refreshingly manual in an increasingly hands-free world.
But when it's time for lift off, the steering wheel takes a backseat. For vertical takeoff and flight, the Model A transforms into a drone-like aircraft. Its cabin rotates sideways to create lift, and eight electric rotors—controlled by a flight system and joysticks—take over. No pedals, no yoke, just a bit of joystick magic (or autopilot, if you prefer).
The Model A has already received the nod from regulators for test flights.
While the $300,000 price tag won’t fit everyone’s budget, the company is clearly betting on a future where you don’t have to choose between a car and a flying machine—you can have both.

Read more
8 key things you need to know from Apple’s WWDC 2025 event
From a fresh look and updated names, to new features, more intelligence and live translation
iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 shown on devices.

The WWDC 2025 keynote ran for just over an hour and a half. For those of you who don't fancy sitting through the whole presentation, we've pulled out the key things you need to know from the latest Apple event.

1. Welcome to the 26 club

Read more
Tesla’s robotaxi service is almost here, but it’s not the car you want to see
Silver Tesla Model Y Juniper side

Tesla chief Elon Musk has said that the automaker is aiming to launch its robotaxi service on June 22, in Austin, Texas.

“Tentatively, June 22,” Musk said in a post on X on Tuesday, adding: “We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.”

Read more