2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Overview
If you’re looking for a sports car with a spicy kick and a side of practicality, the 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI is the way to go. The iconic hot hatch is in its 40th year of U.S. production, giving buyers a thrilling driving experience with loads of innovative features, including a 10-inch touchscreen display and VW’s IQ.Drive safety and driver assistance suite. You’ll find the GTI in S, SE and Autobahn trims and a new 40th Anniversary Edition trim.
The Perfect Ride For…
Avid hot hatch lovers with a flair for the Teutonic. The 2023 GTI gets you going with styling that just screams “sporty.” The aggressive stance, sleek profile, and aggressive exterior trim give the GTI a look that stands out from others in the segment. The hatchback body style also pays dividends in the practicality department, giving you up to 34.5 cubic feet of usable cargo space with the back seats folded down. Inside, the GTI sports a more sophisticated image with piano-black accents throughout. Available red stitching and ambient lighting with up to 30 configurable colors help lighten up the mood to your liking. In a nod to GTIs of old, the 2023 model comes standard with sporty cloth seats in the classic Scalepaper Plaid livery. Moving up to the Autobahn trim level gets you leather seating surfaces along with extra goodies like 12-way adjustable front seats, heated front, and rear seats, and 3-zone automatic climate control.
Drive and Handling
As you’d expect, the 2023 GTI is all about performance. Pop open the hood and you’ll find VW’s turbocharged 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, rated at 241 horsepower. With 273 pound-feet of torque on tap, the GTI has plenty of low-end grunt to get you going in any traffic situation. All this power and torque goes through your choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or a snappy 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Unlike the all-wheel drive Golf R, the GTI is strictly a front-wheel drive affair. Nevertheless, you’ll get several features that help optimize the GTI’s traction for enhanced grip and performance, including the standard VAQ Limited Front Slip Differential Lock. Standard GTIs receive an attractive set of 18-inch alloy wheels shod with all-season tires. Upgrade to the Autobahn and you’ll find your GTI with flashy 19-inch alloys complete with summer performance tires.
Key Features
Vehicle Dynamics Manager
The GTI’s Vehicle Dynamics Manager brings man and machine closer to harmony than ever. This unique feature combines a suite of monitoring and personalization tools to tailor the GTI’s handling and power characteristics to suit your driving desires. You can control these features and view live performance data from the convenience of the GTI’s 10.25-inch digital dashboard display.
DCC Active Chassis Control
This available feature further enhances the 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI’s already-stellar handling prowess, taking those winding road drives to the next level. DCC Active Chassis Control constantly scans the road underneath, quickly reacting to changes in surface conditions up to 200 times per second. The feature even adjusts damping forces individually, resulting in a more controlled ride without the harshness that often comes with upgraded suspensions.
40th Anniversary Edition
For 2023, the Golf GTI gains a special trim level to celebrate the hot hatch’s 40th year in the U.S. market. As expected, the 40th Anniversary Edition gives the GTI several special touches not found on any other trim, including unique graphics on the rocker panels and illuminated grille spotlights. The interior also gains several unique features, including a 40 badge in place of the standard GTI logo on the steering wheel.
Alternative Options
Those on the lookout for something a little more compact should consider the Volkswagen Tiguan, which shares its MQB bones with the Atlas. A stylish, capable crossover that sports an upscale design that is equal parts sophisticated and sporty, the Tiguan delivers on all fronts. Looking for something a little more sedan-like? Consider the Jetta. Designed to be just as approachable and stylish as the original, the Jetta boasts excellent fuel economy, while resembling a more family-friendly midsize sedan. Like the Atlas, it comes packed with technology and safety features designed to make any road trip a breeze.
For more information or to schedule a test drive, contact Heritage Volkswagen Catonsville & Parkville today.