New Volkswagen Golf GTI is here with 20 extra horsepower

• Power increased to 261bhp
• Minor visual tweaks
• Hardcore Clubsport model to follow

Following a camouflaged teaser earlier this year, Volkswagen has fully unveiled the new Golf GTI. Revealed alongside the facelifted regular Golf hatchback, the sporty variant arrives with tweaked styling, improved interior tech and a healthy horsepower bump.

A new Golf GTI is exciting news for hot hatchback fans. Those three letters have come to define the segment, providing drivers with the practicality of a family car and the fun of a sports car. This all-in-one combination has stood the test of time since the GTI launched over 40 years ago, and Volkswagen will be looking to build upon this successful formula with the 2024 model.

What’s new with the 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI?

Externally, you’ll need a keen eye to spot the differences from the outgoing model. As this is just a facelift, and not an entirely new car, Volkswagen has stuck to minor changes. This starts with the headlights; they’re the same shape as the old ones, but now feature a hexagonal LED lighting arrangement, while LED matrix adaptive headlights are optional. The upgraded headlights come with a thin light bar that spans the width of the nose, interrupted only by an illuminating VW emblem.

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The front bumper has been redesigned, now more closely resembling the one found on the outgoing GTI Clubsport model. At the rear, there are new 3D LED light clusters, while the bumper and twin-exit exhausts remain much the same as before. There’s a new design of 17-inch alloy wheels, and the old GTI badge below the wing mirrors has been replaced by three individual letters.

The facelifted Golf, known as the ‘Mk8.5’, has been treated to a light reworking on the inside, and the tweaks have carried through to the GTI model. Most obvious is the larger 12.9-inch infotainment display, which runs a new operating system with improved graphics. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is the 10.2-inch digital driver’s display.

The touch-sensitive steering wheel controls have been replaced by traditional buttons, although the same can’t be said for the temperature and volume controls. We were never fond of these capacitive slider controls, but they’re now backlit to improve usability at night.

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What's new for the Volkswagen Golf GTI’s engine?

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in the GTI is carried over from the outgoing car, but with an added dose of performance. An additional 20bhp elevates total power output to 261bhp, making the new Golf GTI the most powerful regular GTI yet. Volkswagen has confirmed that an even hotter GTI Clubsport model is on the way, likely to bring more power and performance.

The outgoing Golf GTI dropped the manual gearbox option in favour of the seven-speed DSG automatic, and it hasn’t made a comeback in the new car. If you’re a fan of shifting gears yourself, you’ll have to make do with the gearshift paddles mounted on the steering wheel.

How much will the new Golf GTI cost and when can I order one?

Volkswagen is yet to reveal the price of the new Golf GTI, but with new interior tech and more performance, we wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a minor uplift in price over the outgoing model. The first cars are due to reach dealerships in the spring.

Buyers will have to wait until the second half of 2024 for the hardcore Golf GTI Clubsport, with more details likely to be revealed in the coming months.

There’s plenty of competition in the hot hatchback market. Read our list of the top 10 best hot hatchbacks to see the Golf GTI’s rivals…