The Volkswagen Golf came to America (notably as a replacement for the Beetle) during the 1970s. That hatchback, which ushered in "hot hatch" nomenclature, is now in its eighth generation as it nears 50 years on sale in the United States.
The regular Golf is no longer available, but the legendary Golf GTI and new-age, all-wheel drive Golf R are still on sale, with a manual transmission. For the last 49 years, VW has offered the Golf with a human-shifted gearbox. Soon, it will be no more.
For 2024, the VW Golf is sending off the manual transmission into the sunset with a new "380" option package included on all versions with a six-speed. The name is a nod to a fourth-generation special, itself a nod to the original.
The GTI 380 tested here wore an exclusive color called Graphite Gray Metallic; all come with an adaptive suspension, gloss black 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and summer performance tires. The 380 also adds a gloss black painted roof with gloss black mirror caps.
The GTI was redesigned in 2020 but it kept its signature red strip on the front to denote its sportiness. An optional light bar behind the VW logo adds a bit of flair while newly standard LED headlights sit above X-shaped fog lights for a unique signature in rearview mirrors.
All 2024 Volkswagen GTI hatchbacks are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 241 horsepower (hp) and 273 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque.
The engine is plenty powerful for fun, daily driving and the gear shift is enjoyable to move through the gates though the throw, the distance between the gears, seems long for a sporty vehicle.
The clutch is easy in or out of traffic and the brakes are progressive, though again with a longer stroke than many sports cars. It's one of the easiest cars on the market to wiggle around a tight parking lot.
It looks and feels quick, and the handling is excellent with the summer tires included with the manual. They seem to make no noise no matter how hard you punish them, and the balance of the hatch is perfect.
The 2024 GTI 380 also has a front limited-slip differential that sends power to the wheel that needs it most when under stress. But between the adaptable suspension (with Comfort, Sport and Custom driving modes), clutch and gear shifter, it all feels very digital when the Golf for a long time was analog. Despite that, the GTI is still more fun to drive than 80 percent of vehicles on the road today.
Inside, the GTI 380 has a golf-ball inspired manual shift knob and other honeycomb accents. Less expensive trims have classic plaid cloth seats; leather-wrapped seats are standard on the Autobahn trim and are optional on the SE. The perforated seats look high fashion with black, gray and red accents and feature stiff bolsters to hold the driver in place around corners.
The 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system (base models get an 8.25-inch screen) now features backlit slider hard buttons on the lower surround for climate and volume adjustments. Previously those icons would disappear at night. The system still takes a lot of getting used to, though connecting right to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto makes it easier. Wireless charging is also standard as is three-zone climate control.
The rear seat area is more spacious than expected for this size of vehicle but still small. The seatbelts were fine for the kids, as was the space with two booster seats. Behind the second row, the trunk has about 20 cubic feet of storage space.
Volkswagen's IQ.Drive safety system is standard on all trims and uses front and rear radar, a front camera and several ultrasound sensors to monitor traffic. It comes with emergency braking and pedestrian monitoring, blind spot monitors, adaptive cruise and lane keeping. Travel Assist uses the adaptive cruise and lane keeping to steering the vehicle at speeds of up to 95 mph. It's a hands-on system that requires the driver to move the steering wheel to let the vehicle know they're still paying attention.
The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI 380 starts at $32,485 while the most expensive Autobahn version tested here is $40,626. The base price is comparable to something like the Honda Civic Si at $29,100 though the Civic only has 200-hp to the GTI's 241 hp. The more powerful Civic Type R is $44,795. The Toyota GR Corolla hatch also has 300 hp and starts at $37,195, however it goes up into the $50K range. The Hyundai Elantra N, which also offers a manual transmission, starts at $33,700.
The Elantra N doesn't come as a hatchback, which means it has slightly less daily usability than the GTI. The Civic Type R looks a little less wild than it used to, which could be good or bad, depending on the buyer.
The Hyundai, as usual, is by far the best deal and just as fun as the rest of the group. The GR Corolla is the perfect medium here, with utility, efficiency and unending enthusiasm, even for regular roads. After being on American roads for almost 50 years, the Golf GTI is now the refined grown up in the class, and it might be the only one.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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