The base model GTI may be all the GTI the vast majority of the population will ever need but if embracing your inner racing driver is high on the priority list, you may need to look higher up the food chain.

Standard features:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Sports suspension
• Adaptive dampers
• Driver fatigue monitoring
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Leather multi-function steering wheel
• Satellite navigation
• Parking sensors
• Rear view camera
• Front fog-lights
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Multi-collision brake
• Seven airbags
• Storage compartment under driver seat
• Bi-xenon headlights (optional)
• Vienna leather upholstery (optional)
• Heated front seats (optional)
• Panoramic electric sunroof (optional)
• Drive Assistance Package (optional but standard from 2019. Including adaptive cruise control, semi-automatic parking system and low speed automatic braking)
• Active info digital instrument cluster (Optional on Mk7.5 but standard from 2019)
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (Mk 7.5)
• Traffic Jam Assist (Mk 7.5)
• Lane Assist (Mk 7.5)
• 9.2-inch Discover Pro touchscreen (Mk 7.5 optional)
• 8.0-inch ‘Discover Media’ infotainment system (from 2017)
• Automatic LED headlights with dynamic cornering (Standard from 2017)

For those that like their GTI more driver- and performance-orientated, the GTI Performance offered what we think is quite possibly the perfect hot hatch recipe.

It’s our pick of the range and offers all the fun you’ll need while still being a supremely practical and classy hatch.

GTi Performance adds:

• Electronically-controlled limited slip differential.
• Larger brakes
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Alcantara seat trim
• Xenon headlights with LED daytime lights
• Cornering lights
• LED tail-lights
• Tinted tail lights
• Extra 7kW of power

Released to celebrate 40 years of Golf GTI, this special edition was arguably the most refined front-wheel-drive hot hatch on the market at the time.

Find one of the 100 rare manual transmission models and hold onto it as it’s sure to be a future classic.

40 Years adds:

• Larger black gills and intake on the front bar
• Black “40 Years” graphic on the sides and back
• Black roof-mounted spoiler
• Black front splitter and side skirt extensions
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Alcantara-trimmed unique sports seats
• Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel
• Alcantara gear selector boot
• Alcantara interior trim
• Bespoke GTI 40 Years insignia throughout the cabin

Available as a 3-door hatch instead of the more traditional 5-door, the Performance Edition 1 received some extra kit as standard, a boost in power and with the addition of a 5-door variant, became the “standard” GTI as of 2019.

Performance Edition adds:

• Front Differential Lock and larger disc brakes
• 19-inch (Brescia) alloy wheels
• Honeycomb micro fleece/leatherette upholstery
• LED tail lights with dynamic indicators
• Active Info Display
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Lane Assist
• Park Assist
• Dynamic Light Assist
• Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert
• Dark tinted rear and rear side windows
• White silver metallic and dark iron blue metallic paint

Stripping the GTI back to its bare basics and lowering the cost of admission delivered a GTI many fans were keen for.

Available as a 3-door hatch only, the GTI Original is a fun, if slightly less practical package.

Original adds:

• 18-inch ‘Sevilla’ black alloy wheels with red pinstriping
• ‘Original’ badging
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (but no factory navigation)
• City-speed autonomous emergency braking
• Pedestrian detection

The ultimate example and final special edition for the seventh-generation Golf GTI is a very special thing.

Limited to just 300 units, the TCR (Touring Car Racing) GTI features more performance, more kit and more exclusivity than any previous GTI.

TCR adds:

• 18-inch alloys
• 19-inch alloy wheel (Optional)
• Upgraded brakes
• Front splitter
• Sill extensions
• TCR-specific rear spoiler and diffuser
• Black wing mirror caps
• Revised exhaust tips
• Unique microfibre trim
• ‘Flash Red’ interior highlights
• 12 o’clock marker on the steering wheel
• Honeycomb side decor (Optional)
• Black roof (Optional)
• Carbon-fibre mirror caps (Optional)