Pros
- Excellent levels of performance
- All the practicality of a Golf hatchback
- European class and good looks
- Perfect for almost any scenario
Cons
- Major reliability concerns
- Tech is starting to feel its age
- Expensive repair bills
- Questionable longevity
Verdict
We wouldn't...
We'd be cautious
We would...
We’ve genuinely lost count of how many horror stories we’ve heard regarding the Mk7 Golf GTI. Interiors leaking, engines imploding, catastrophic and hugely expensive failures are becoming almost common.
If you’re ok with that level of stress and impending doom and you can find a GTI with some factory warranty...
Publish: April 16, 2021
The Mk7 Volkswagen Golf GTI, when new, was quite possibly the perfect car.
A perfect blend of performance and practicality, an understated yet sporty aesthetic, a comfortable yet purposeful interior, the GTI was (and still is) a classless and immensely enjoyable car.
But this was when the GTI was new, which it no longer is. Does it still live up to its new car reputation? Hopefully this Cheat Sheet will answer that question.
The seventh generation Golf and GTI received a mild cosmetic and equipment mid-life update in 2017 (commonly called the Mk 7.5) as well as incremental upgrades each year.
The Mk7 Volkswagen Golf GTI, when new, was quite possibly the perfect car.
A perfect blend of performance and practicality, an understated yet sporty aesthetic, a comfortable yet purposeful interior, the GTI was (and still is) a classless and immensely enjoyable car.
But this was when the GTI was new, which it no longer is. Does it still live up to its new car reputation? Hopefully this Cheat Sheet will answer that question.
The seventh generation Golf and GTI received a mild cosmetic and equipment mid-life update in 2017 (commonly called the Mk 7.5) as well as incremental upgrades each year.
The Mk7 Volkswagen Golf GTI, when new, was quite possibly the perfect car.
A perfect blend of performance and practicality, an understated yet sporty aesthetic, a comfortable yet purposeful interior, the GTI was (and still is) a classless and immensely enjoyable car.
But this was when the GTI was new, which it no longer is. Does it still live up to its new car reputation? Hopefully this Cheat Sheet will answer that question.
The seventh generation Golf and GTI received a mild cosmetic and equipment mid-life update in 2017 (commonly called the Mk 7.5) as well as incremental upgrades each year.
- Turbo failures on early year models
- Water pump failures
- Thermostat failures
- Inlet tract issues
- Injector faults
- Oil pan faults
- Excessive oil consumption
- Intercooler issues
- Clutch concerns in manual versions
- DSG issues
- Subframe bolts have stretching issues
- Hood cables and release handles can fail
- Engine bay plastics fail
- Water incursion and leaking issues
- Infotainment systems known to fail
- Interior and exterior trim can age badly
- Turbo failures on early year models
- Water pump failures
- Thermostat failures
- Inlet tract issues
- Injector faults
- Oil pan faults
- Excessive oil consumption
- Intercooler issues
- Clutch concerns in manual versions
- DSG issues
- Subframe bolts have stretching issues
- Hood cables and release handles can fail
- Engine bay plastics fail
- Water incursion and leaking issues
- Infotainment systems known to fail
- Interior and exterior trim can age badly
- Turbo failures on early year models
- Water pump failures
- Thermostat failures
- Inlet tract issues
- Injector faults
- Oil pan faults
- Excessive oil consumption
- Intercooler issues
- Clutch concerns in manual versions
- DSG issues
- Subframe bolts have stretching issues
- Hood cables and release handles can fail
- Engine bay plastics fail
- Water incursion and leaking issues
- Infotainment systems known to fail
- Interior and exterior trim can age badly
Body style:
- 5-door Hatch (GTI, GTI Performance, 40 Years, TCR)
- 3-door Hatch (GTI Performance Edition 1, Original)
Engine & outputs:
- 2.0-litre, 4 cyl turbo-petrol
- 162kW (GTI until 2018)
- 169W (GTI until 2019, Performance and Original)
- 180kW (GTI from 2019 and Performance Edition 1)
- 195kW (213kW on overboost) (40 Years)
- 213kW (TCR)
- 350Nm (GTi, Performance, Original)
- 370Nm (Performance Edition 1 and TCR)
- 380Nm (40 Years on overboost)
Transmissions:
- 6-speed manual (GTi, 40 Years, Original)
- 6-speed DSG (GTi until 2018, Performance, 40 Years, Original, TCR)
- 7-speed DSG (Performance Edition 1, GTi post-2018)
Fuel use:
- 6.6L – 7.5L/100kms Combined (Depending on variant)
Dimension:
- Height: 1466mm
- Length: 4268mm
- Width: 1799mm
- Kerb weight: 1304kg (3-door manual) – 1357kg (5-door DSG)
Body style:
- 5-door Hatch (GTI, GTI Performance, 40 Years, TCR)
- 3-door Hatch (GTI Performance Edition 1, Original)
Engine & outputs:
- 2.0-litre, 4 cyl turbo-petrol
- 162kW (GTI until 2018)
- 169W (GTI until 2019, Performance and Original)
- 180kW (GTI from 2019 and Performance Edition 1)
- 195kW (213kW on overboost) (40 Years)
- 213kW (TCR)
- 350Nm (GTi, Performance, Original)
- 370Nm (Performance Edition 1 and TCR)
- 380Nm (40 Years on overboost)
Transmissions:
- 6-speed manual (GTi, 40 Years, Original)
- 6-speed DSG (GTi until 2018, Performance, 40 Years, Original, TCR)
- 7-speed DSG (Performance Edition 1, GTi post-2018)
Fuel use:
- 6.6L – 7.5L/100kms Combined (Depending on variant)
Dimension:
- Height: 1466mm
- Length: 4268mm
- Width: 1799mm
- Kerb weight: 1304kg (3-door manual) – 1357kg (5-door DSG)
Body style:
- 5-door Hatch (GTI, GTI Performance, 40 Years, TCR)
- 3-door Hatch (GTI Performance Edition 1, Original)
Engine & outputs:
- 2.0-litre, 4 cyl turbo-petrol
- 162kW (GTI until 2018)
- 169W (GTI until 2019, Performance and Original)
- 180kW (GTI from 2019 and Performance Edition 1)
- 195kW (213kW on overboost) (40 Years)
- 213kW (TCR)
- 350Nm (GTi, Performance, Original)
- 370Nm (Performance Edition 1 and TCR)
- 380Nm (40 Years on overboost)
Transmissions:
- 6-speed manual (GTi, 40 Years, Original)
- 6-speed DSG (GTi until 2018, Performance, 40 Years, Original, TCR)
- 7-speed DSG (Performance Edition 1, GTi post-2018)
Fuel use:
- 6.6L – 7.5L/100kms Combined (Depending on variant)
Dimension:
- Height: 1466mm
- Length: 4268mm
- Width: 1799mm
- Kerb weight: 1304kg (3-door manual) – 1357kg (5-door DSG)
Warranty:
3 years/unlimited kms
5 years/unlimited kms (From 1/10/2018)
Servicing:
15,000kms or every 12 months
Model range, pricing and features
We’ve genuinely lost count of how many horror stories we’ve heard regarding the Mk7 Golf GTI. Interiors leaking, engines imploding, catastrophic and hugely expensive failures are becoming almost common.
If you’re ok with that level of stress and impending doom and you can find a GTI with some factory warranty remaining, that has been completely cared for, that includes a faultless service history, then yes, buy one. When they’re working, they’re quite possibly the perfect car. Just make sure you sell it before the warranty is up.
However, if you require a completely reliable and dependable hot hatch that will provide many years of trouble-free, practical and performance motoring, even when it’s out of warranty, sorry, it’s a no, you shouldn’t buy one.
We’ve genuinely lost count of how many horror stories we’ve heard regarding the Mk7 Golf GTI. Interiors leaking, engines imploding, catastrophic and hugely expensive failures are becoming almost common.
If you’re ok with that level of stress and impending doom and you can find a GTI with some factory warranty remaining, that has been completely cared for, that includes a faultless service history, then yes, buy one. When they’re working, they’re quite possibly the perfect car. Just make sure you sell it before the warranty is up.
However, if you require a completely reliable and dependable hot hatch that will provide many years of trouble-free, practical and performance motoring, even when it’s out of warranty, sorry, it’s a no, you shouldn’t buy one.
We’ve genuinely lost count of how many horror stories we’ve heard regarding the Mk7 Golf GTI. Interiors leaking, engines imploding, catastrophic and hugely expensive failures are becoming almost common.
If you’re ok with that level of stress and impending doom and you can find a GTI with some factory warranty remaining, that has been completely cared for, that includes a faultless service history, then yes, buy one. When they’re working, they’re quite possibly the perfect car. Just make sure you sell it before the warranty is up.
However, if you require a completely reliable and dependable hot hatch that will provide many years of trouble-free, practical and performance motoring, even when it’s out of warranty, sorry, it’s a no, you shouldn’t buy one.
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of April 16, 2021.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
Read our full terms and conditions here.
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