EIGHTH HEAVEN(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 47

The eighth generation version of the Volkswagen Golf GTI takes another step forward with this mid-term enhancement and with each update, it just becomes more polished. There's more power, a sharper look and a more connected interior. And a little of the original GTI DNA still remains.

Background word count: 121

Before Volkswagen dreamed up the Golf GTI, there was no such thing as a 'hot hatchback'. Now the phrase has entered everyday parlance and virtually any manufacturer that has a hatchback also has a hot one - or a warm one at the very least. It was 1976 when the original version of this car was born and since then, through seven generations and with the help of countless imitators, it has brought performance, handling and fun to the masses on an unprecedented scale. The current Golf GTI is the mark eight and was first launched in 2019, before being updated in mid-2024 to create the car we're going to look at here. By rights, it should be the best yet.