As VAG fan, I think VAG should go back to origin, when VW cars were known for best ergonomic, reliability and reasonable pricing, Audi was known for good design. No more touch buttons on the steering wheel, bring back mechanical buttons for climate control, keep diesel and petrol engines, reduce glance surfaces. Invest more in software development, MIBs have not been a strong point of VAG cars. In some sense VAG have not been paying attention to reality, because many VAG fans have continuously given a clear feedback about EVs, touch screen/buttons, software, quality issues etc. But reality comes backs, it always comes back. As for this GTI, I like that they brought back buttons on the steering wheel, but digital instruments look cheap to me. HUD is a welcome option, IMO should be one every car because it makes driving so much easier.
Proper buttons on the steering wheel is proof that bad decisions can be changed for the better. Touch screen for the head unit is fine, but separate buttons / switches / dials for climate control is so important. The awful shifter could go as well! 8.5 is better than the 8, but the interior of this car is still nothing like the 7 or 7.5, which truly was the best interior of any generation of Golf thus far.
Very interesting outro. EV challenge one of the most complicated aspects. GTI remains iconic and in a confusing market place it's a compelling default choice
Absolutely - I still go back to re-watch the 911 GT3 Touring review with Thomas' legendary 'Holy, freaking, Sh....ow' quote.... 😅 Absoluten spitzenklasse... My other favorites are 'Harry's Garage', and 'Jay Leno's Garage'. All very knowable on tech and history 👍 Greetings from Denmark
Thomas I´ve been watching you for years and you always bring the best reviews, I love the fact that you know a lot about the cars as well as the industry, the VW situation is very interesting to me and it was great to hear your insights to this problems, thank you 👌🙂
Stop using high gloss black! I have shunned VW interior design for that reason reason alone. Putting it everywhere and the capacitive buttons and the surround for the gauges feels super cheap in the high gloss... Like Michael would say "Stop it, get some help"
In Audi you nowadays can get matt plastic as basic option for the center console... Looks much better to my eyes... I myself would wrap or buy atftermarket carbon look trim for the GTI...
The Facelift Golf still has the matte plastic center console in the lower trims. It's a SHAME! It is already completely scratched in this video next to the key holding place. Why is it so hard to just make it NOT glossy black plastic VW? WHY? Everyone is asking for it. Give the people what they want and sell your cars.
@@joetioebMaybe they have listened too much to their Chinese customers, that probably like gloss black and touch sliders and all kinds of other crap that made me dislike the Golf 8. Now their appreciated Chinese customers turn their backs on VW. The arrogance of ignoring the European customers is back firing. So after the diesel scandal, the software disaster and the shitty dsg boxes we can indeed say once more: well done VW! BMW and Merc have also been designing their cars for Chinese and US customers, so there are possibly more German car crises in the making....and oh yeah, shutting down German factories is of course the smartest way to solve them! How bright....
love that they got back to physical buttons, the upgraded infotainment system also looks cool. But man, we need to get rid of piano black plastic once and for all. If I had to buy this car, I would immediately cover the center console and the instrument cluster with matt ppf.
Very good advice Thomas on how to use Fog lights correctly. I wish my fellow compatriots in SA🇿🇦 driving VWs can do the same..on a clear day VW drivers will always have their blinding rear foglights on.
Data & facts: VW Golf GTI (& GTI Clubsport) facelift New front grill with honeycomb structure, new illuminated logo New lights LED plus, optional IQ light matrix with cascading turning indicators and 3D LED rear Rear high gloss black insert 4,29 m 169“ length Wheels 17-19“ 17“ wheels standard EU, 18“ in US or Clubsport, optional 19“, Clubsport also 19“ forged wheel Golf GTI 265 hp 5,9 Sek, 7-DSG (+ 20 hp, - 0,3 s) GTI Clubsport 300 hp 5,6 Sek and bigger brakes, optional Race Pack: Akrapovic exhaust and 267 kmh unlock Standard electric differential lock front Optional DCC New progressive steering 10“ instruments with new visualisation Optional hud 13“ infotainment with or without gps Optional harman kardon sound Fabric Sport seats with integrated head restraints, in Clubsport with microfibre, optional animal skin Optional real carbon fibre decor GTI prices Price US: 32.000 - 41.000 USD Price DE: 44.500 - 55.200 EUR Transparency note: Autogefühl videos are independent and free from editorial influence on opinion and rating. But since manufacturers enable us to do the reviews in the first place, for legal reasons this video is marked as _advertisement_.
Hi Thomas! I think it would be cool if you could make a video about the current situation and problems that the german car industry is facing these days, especially the situation with VW.
That would entail addressing the impact of suicidal sanctions against Russia and access to cheap energy which has been critical for the growth and competitiveness of German industry - rolling over and allowing the US to blow up the Nordstream pipeline without a whimper was pretty pathetic from the German politicians
I was waiting for your review of this facelift model. You all delivered and never disappoint. I appreciate the commentary about VW industry status as well.
Looks very nice from the outside; interior however is a different story. I don't like how they've separated the central screen and the digital drivers display, the previous Golf had them connected and I thought that looked much better.
The screen should move down again, just like the MK7. HUD is a nice addition. Also remove all gloss black plastics. My MK6 GTI is 13 years old now and still looks almost new on the inside, no scratches and the leather quality is good!
Love the spec in this video, it's probably something like a "Shadow" edition with less "GTI" red accents. Really like the headlights being dimmed, thinking about doing that on my 7.5 now because of that. Lastly, the carbon trim you mentioned, that would make this car a perfect spec. Solid 9/10
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I also think the 18" wheels are the sweet spot. I wish the Golf R in the U.S. came with the 18-inch wheels. Our roads in Michigan are not great, and I've ruined my 19-inch rims and tires on my commute. A pothole is hard to see in the dark. Great review as always.
Great review Tomas/Leah.......after having many Golfs (GTI/GTD) I went electric (ID5 GTX) but very tempted to go back to 8.5 GTI. It really is a excellent allround car, and it looks great in the Kings Red. Keep up the good work, really enjoy your content, excellent reviews.
It is interesting how Vw is saving production costs. No hood strut, they don't paint inside of the bonnet and the engine bay. In the interior you can see there is no frameless car mirror. This are small things that I took for granted in the past.
Thomas, if VW wouldn't have jumped in with both feets to EV cars, they would be fine. Actually, they need their diesels back in North America! Also, if they want to be more efficient they should create hybrids, specifically plugin hybrids. Car companies should be looking at the Toyota strategy. They didn't go EV, They went with the hybrid models. It will be interesting to see how VW handles these issues.
@@Lemingtona-x5g depends on the use case. I for example never use the petrol engine in the city, as 25 miles of electric range are plenty for my use. Whereas if I didn't have a plug-in hybrid, the engine would have to start on all my journeys.
So good to see the GTI is still fun. I had an R32 at one point and loved it. Also good to see some real buttons though in my view the ever larger infotainment screen is a step backwards. VW/Audi’s business troubles are hard to ignore and in the UK the Financial Times and The Economist cover them regularly. Apart from the detail Thomas went into, the other striking thing is how slowly VW/Audi can turn around a problem compared with the Chinese or Koreans. I really hope they can get it right again because I have enjoyed much past motoring in these brands. BMW seem to have their platform strategy better sorted with platforms that can be ICE, MHEV/PHEV, or full EV as required. I think they have got their Mini sub brand especially right. Their premium stuff is now just too premium to be really useful.
Also Thomas, because of the huge investments in EV from car manufacturers and nonsense strict EU laws for Co2 emissions, all car prices went to the sky, even ICE cars are not price friendly for 'normal' people and the sales decreased and car on the roads age is going up because we cannot buy.
Your insights on automotive industry is very interesting, you can do even dedicated episodes from time to time. Also I was very surprised to see your lecture in Vilnius, like wow, really :)?
If VW are listening, please stop using shiny soft black plastic in high traffic areas. It looks cheap and feels like built in obsolescence. It’s bad enough using the stuff on the outside, although they’ve seemed to held back on this model. Least it’s not on the door handles like the iQ models 🙄
Have to say, it's really disappointing that Volkswagen has let this happen. Their closest rival (Toyota) is seeing their sales grow. Toyota invested heavily in self charging hybrids while Volkswagen decided to go on a wild goose chase with EVs and PHEVs. Volkswagen should develop and refine self charging hybrids and turns things around while providing good economy. Volkswagen has been known for solidity and quality engineering and they need to focus on that again.
Andy Mindt deserves a lot of praise for fixing the frumpiness of the MK8 on the outside, which is a design I never really warmed to despite being a life-long GTI fan. I liked this look right out of the box, so here's me hoping the North American version doesn't get a visual downgrade like it often does!
I have been a VW/Audi customer for 20 years. The reason I fell in love with the brand was because they were different. I didn't then and don't now want the same old thing I can get from any other brand. Which is the direction VW has taken. They fell into the cookie cutter mold...
It's a tuff decision.. if they put opaque plastic on all the center console, it will be scratched in 1 week, if they put glossy, it survives a bit more but when it scratches, gets even worse. To line it leather or another fabric, it wil also not stand the time..
I never owned a GTI but...damn that Tartan interior is so cool, for me it's iconic. The Golf GTI is for me "the perfect daily", powerful but usable for the every day use. And for your really cool "large conclusion" i agree with you : We wanted a cool EV golf not this ugly id3...we wanted a cool EV passat not that overpriced ugly id7... VW keep your iconic model but in EV version..why rework the wheel...
A boss at VW said they maybe only have a year or two to rescue the company! 🤯 Just imagine VW going bankruptcy!🤯 Hard to get your head around really! A big shame.
VW in North America has a horrendous product line. I would love to see Thomas come to America/Canada and review our Jetta, Taos, Atlas, Tiguan, etc. They are significantly lower quality than the VW European product line, in my opinion even below Seat and Skoda. The GTI and Golf R are the only Golf’s we can get. North America is VWs most stable high volume market, I hope they wake up and put more effort into their products here.
@@autogefuehl they have put all their effort into Audi particularly in Canada. Audi has great service and good products here, and they sell very well. I just think they would be better served by putting the same effort into VW.
I like what they've done overall and it looks good with a nice bump in power so it's evolving well. I like the welcome and goodbye lighting feature! It's too bad the Clubsport isn't offered in the US! That's cool they offer a real carbon fiber interior option. I like the Clubsport seats a lot more than the plaid ones. That's too bad they got rid of the physical button to change drive modes. It's really unfortunate they decided to stop producing manuals. As for VW's struggles I feel it because I invested in them when the stock was trading over 2x where it sits today! It's good to know they will have some software advantages with Rivian and Xpeng partnership. I'm not sure if I should get out now or hold on to see if they can recover. You covered most all of their financial hardships! If you can give a nice overview in another 6-8 months on where they stand that would be awesome. I've lost a lot being a VW loyalist.
we'll keep u updated. Well at least their financial situation is pretty stable in general, the negative prospects are already included in the price. I'm no wizard but I think it should recover a from the current price, but it probably wont reach new highs pretty soon.
from my perspective, hood is not painted in red. door panels do not line up with dashboard. but in polo they do. there is no option to pick electric seat with gti pattern fabric. I just ordered this car two weekes ago for my fiance and i am happy ( i wast told they do not have cooled charged) that you told about it. also club sport has nicer break calipers in front. Sunroof still haptic. i took the same wheels car as you tested but these rims looks like alfa romeo ones. you have black trim on this one (black mirrors and tinted glass back)
VW needs to install a kick plate on all four doors. Absolutely necessary. Would be nice with VW logo. Installed some aftermarket on my 2018. Saved the paint
Maybe the reviews were also a bit too harsh on VW. Driving a ID3 for more than 2,5 years. Yes the software isn’t what you expect for VW standards but it also isn’t so bad compared to the t-roc we also had. The latest update 6 months ago is a huge improvement. Also showing more info like consumption on the screen behind the steering wheel. If you don’t drive a different car every week you get used to it very quickly and there are some shortcuts in the software, for example by pressing the cold and warm button at once you can turn on or off the heated seats. Same for the steering wheel, you also get used to it. Although I do sometimes push the acc distance button first instead of + for speed. You then don’t + the speed but increase the acc distance. But in the end the ID3 is a great car. More space than a golf and also quicker. Range is also fine if you drive between 50-200km a day. If it could tow a small trailer definitely would choose for one again, that is for us the only downside.
sadly there is no club sport equivalent in the U. all gti models have the same power. our choices a gti S, SE, and autobahn. if we want more power we must step up all the way to the much harder to get golf R. Also it is a delight to se such a great couple put out another wonderful review! keep up the great work.
Pro tip. You just have to click the shifter down from drive mode to put it into sport. Then click it down again to put it back into normal mode. Don't need to press the mode button.
Love your reviews. It looks better on the outside, the interior controls are improved a little bit... But because a manual is no longer offered, there is really no reason to consider this car. The joy has been removed.
So pretty...always find my way back to these videos....as a former MK6 GTI and MK7 R owner, who can blame me....sadly, I doubt those lights will make it to NA, or they will in a very dumbed down version and the excuse will be DOT compliancy, whilln we all know that's not true.... but, again, a GTI will run you under $40K in CAD, and in Europe north of $60K with conversion...trust me, go price it..... many will get shades of an old school Lambo with those rims, but for Golf OGs, you will remember the wheels on the MK5 GTI... biggest shame is no more manual...momemt of silence.....DSG is badass tho, I must admit...
Nice review Thomas! Can we please start a new police force called "Piano Black Police" similar to the "Fake Exhaust Police"? I don't think a worst material was used in cars in the past 30 years. Everyone dislikes it, it scratches easily, catches all fingerprints and dust, it's simply a bad choice.
In China GTI still use the last gen Evo3 Engine. With the same price you can get a electric car with a better acceleration, track time, hardware and software even with lifetime battery warranty. Even the VW ID3 in China needs to lower the price to 17k USD to push up sales.
I must be OCD or smth, but I still can't get over the double-fraimed piano black instrument cluster. This is always in front of the driver, why, oh why? Great that they kept the gear lever in normal location and covered rear view camera is worth every penny.
Worrying times for VW - hope they turn it around. I think we saw this with the EQ line at Merc vs BMW's i cars looking like the regular cars. Maybe why BMW's EV's are more profitable than VW's. They need to launch that ID2 GTi, make it weigh 1400kg and cost as much as a Golf GTi... I'm asking too much maybe 😅
Should have fitted the MK7.7.5 GTI performance , TCR , CS or R callipers from factory . Fitted mine with one since new MK8 GTI .265 bhp this reminds of my MK2 pre facelift and facelift Blackedition Audi S3 .
I can get this car with 19 queenstown wheels, kings red color, dcc, heated seats and steering wheel, harman kardon, 360 camera and keyless access for 37500 eur in my country... Waiting time 2-3 months they said. Seems like a good price, don't know if I should buy it or not. I have booked a test drive in 2 weeks and I'll see from there I guess... We don't get clubsport version in my country. I also can't pick real carbon fiber in konfigurator, it's just not there.
@ I ended up not getting it. The price was good yes, but the financing option was less than favourable (interest rate too high) and I currently own VW Tiguan bought new in March 2024 so I would just lose too much money trading it in/selling it. Keeping my Tiguan for now...
Ich finde es echt schade, dass VW den GTi Motor nicht in den Variant einbaut. Der Skoda Octavia vRS gefällt mir optisch nicht allzusehr, wie der 8er Variant als Facelift. Sonst scheint es endlich mal top gelungen zu haben. Mal hoffen, dass es sich gut verkauft und VW vom EV Schlamassel lernend da raus kommt.
So sad they took away the Golf lineup in Canada 😢 (except GTI and R). I have a Taos 4Motion with the DSG... Meeeeh! 🙄 2025 going to have the normal transmission, but besides the size that I like, I think I'm going to switch back to a Golf GTI.
5 seconds watchtime and a comment that I want my leather steering wheel back. This is an enthusiast car so it deserves more attention for the details - or does VW want to shut down even more plants due to missing what the market demands.
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This is our in-depth review of the 2025 VW Golf GTI facelift. We're taking a look at Exterior, Interior and the driving experience.
00:00 GTI facelift changes
01:18 Length, wheels, DCC
03:06 Exhaust note
03:15 Engine
03:48 Interior quality
05:00 Seats and comfort
05:40 Cockpit
08:36 Driver POV
09:29 Rear seats
10:28 Boot / trunk
11:30 Acceleration Autobahn
13:18 Handling and fun
14:40 DCC suspension
19:23 Assistance systems
21:10 Fuel economy mpg
22:02 The VW crisis
#VWGolf #GolfGTI
They fixed the kind of goofy headlights with the facelift. Very nice. I also like the updated 3d rear lights. Best looking VW imo.
they did good to remove the climate controls, no need for them very nice n clean plastics
I like this facelift alot compared to pre-facelift...
More automotive industry analysis from Thomas in the future, please! I enjoyed that segment.
Yeah, excellent overview of all their issues!
Hot hatch, giggling Fraulein and unlimited speed limit on the autobahn: heaven
I'd rather be on my WAY to her place. lol.
Best timing ever! I just bought today the same Kings Red GTi 8.5 and going through all possible reviews on TH-cam. Good work!
Congrats bro , low-key jealous of you , my dream car. Have fun
did you opt for Black Style pack or without ? I like the darkened headlights but would probably miss the red stripe in front..
@@DB-tv7kfThank you! I’m so excited to pick it up in a couple of days.
@@FeN1xDDIt is actually without Black Style pack. Red stripe looks really cool together with Kings Red colour.
Congrats, sweet car! 🚗🥳🔥
As VAG fan, I think VAG should go back to origin, when VW cars were known for best ergonomic, reliability and reasonable pricing, Audi was known for good design. No more touch buttons on the steering wheel, bring back mechanical buttons for climate control, keep diesel and petrol engines, reduce glance surfaces. Invest more in software development, MIBs have not been a strong point of VAG cars. In some sense VAG have not been paying attention to reality, because many VAG fans have continuously given a clear feedback about EVs, touch screen/buttons, software, quality issues etc. But reality comes backs, it always comes back.
As for this GTI, I like that they brought back buttons on the steering wheel, but digital instruments look cheap to me. HUD is a welcome option, IMO should be one every car because it makes driving so much easier.
Proper buttons on the steering wheel is proof that bad decisions can be changed for the better. Touch screen for the head unit is fine, but separate buttons / switches / dials for climate control is so important. The awful shifter could go as well! 8.5 is better than the 8, but the interior of this car is still nothing like the 7 or 7.5, which truly was the best interior of any generation of Golf thus far.
Very interesting outro. EV challenge one of the most complicated aspects. GTI remains iconic and in a confusing market place it's a compelling default choice
The best youtube channel from Germany 🤙 thank you Thomas for Great content as always ❤
watching here in the UK I'd not say just in Germany!
@@itismeyaknow greeting from Sweden here 🤙
@@itismeyaknowHe said “From Germany”!
Absolutely - I still go back to re-watch the 911 GT3 Touring review with Thomas' legendary 'Holy, freaking, Sh....ow' quote.... 😅 Absoluten spitzenklasse... My other favorites are 'Harry's Garage', and 'Jay Leno's Garage'. All very knowable on tech and history 👍
Greetings from Denmark
And here from AU. Just learned the news of VW from Thomas so not just car reviews - car news too.
Thomas always the best reviews. Greetings from the US
Thomas I´ve been watching you for years and you always bring the best reviews, I love the fact that you know a lot about the cars as well as the industry, the VW situation is very interesting to me and it was great to hear your insights to this problems, thank you 👌🙂
Stop using high gloss black! I have shunned VW interior design for that reason reason alone. Putting it everywhere and the capacitive buttons and the surround for the gauges feels super cheap in the high gloss... Like Michael would say "Stop it, get some help"
In Audi you nowadays can get matt plastic as basic option for the center console... Looks much better to my eyes... I myself would wrap or buy atftermarket carbon look trim for the GTI...
The Facelift Golf still has the matte plastic center console in the lower trims. It's a SHAME! It is already completely scratched in this video next to the key holding place. Why is it so hard to just make it NOT glossy black plastic VW? WHY? Everyone is asking for it. Give the people what they want and sell your cars.
Exactly, VW leadership need to listen to their customer base. Sadly, they are convinced that they are right and the customers are wrong.
The are not convinced of nothing mate.
This is just cost cuttings for you@@joetioeb
@@joetioebMaybe they have listened too much to their Chinese customers, that probably like gloss black and touch sliders and all kinds of other crap that made me dislike the Golf 8. Now their appreciated Chinese customers turn their backs on VW. The arrogance of ignoring the European customers is back firing. So after the diesel scandal, the software disaster and the shitty dsg boxes we can indeed say once more: well done VW!
BMW and Merc have also been designing their cars for Chinese and US customers, so there are possibly more German car crises in the making....and oh yeah, shutting down German factories is of course the smartest way to solve them! How bright....
love that they got back to physical buttons, the upgraded infotainment system also looks cool. But man, we need to get rid of piano black plastic once and for all. If I had to buy this car, I would immediately cover the center console and the instrument cluster with matt ppf.
you can order the plastics from a lower spec golf, the normal ones get Matt plastic around the center console.
Very good advice Thomas on how to use Fog lights correctly. I wish my fellow compatriots in SA🇿🇦 driving VWs can do the same..on a clear day VW drivers will always have their blinding rear foglights on.
Data & facts:
VW Golf GTI (& GTI Clubsport) facelift
New front grill with honeycomb structure, new illuminated logo
New lights LED plus, optional IQ light matrix with cascading turning indicators and 3D LED rear
Rear high gloss black insert
4,29 m 169“ length
Wheels 17-19“
17“ wheels standard EU, 18“ in US or Clubsport, optional 19“, Clubsport also 19“ forged wheel
Golf GTI 265 hp 5,9 Sek, 7-DSG (+ 20 hp, - 0,3 s)
GTI Clubsport 300 hp 5,6 Sek and bigger brakes, optional Race Pack: Akrapovic exhaust and 267 kmh unlock
Standard electric differential lock front
Optional DCC
New progressive steering
10“ instruments with new visualisation
Optional hud
13“ infotainment with or without gps
Optional harman kardon sound
Fabric Sport seats with integrated head restraints, in Clubsport with microfibre, optional animal skin
Optional real carbon fibre decor
GTI prices
Price US: 32.000 - 41.000 USD
Price DE: 44.500 - 55.200 EUR
Transparency note: Autogefühl videos are independent and free from editorial influence on opinion and rating. But since manufacturers enable us to do the reviews in the first place, for legal reasons this video is marked as _advertisement_.
Your conclusion at the end was great
Hi Thomas! I think it would be cool if you could make a video about the current situation and problems that
the german car industry is facing these days, especially the situation with VW.
That would entail addressing the impact of suicidal sanctions against Russia and access to cheap energy which has been critical for the growth and competitiveness of German industry - rolling over and allowing the US to blow up the Nordstream pipeline without a whimper was pretty pathetic from the German politicians
they keep using same old parts from 10 years ago, over priced vw cars with basic standard equipment
Letting China access your IP and then watching as they pump out cheap cars, not clever.
We should all boycott Chinese cars.
@@simonhughes7141Germany has been a US hegemony vassal state for decades
iT LOOKS GORGEOUS !
I was waiting for your review of this facelift model. You all delivered and never disappoint. I appreciate the commentary about VW industry status as well.
Good test as usually. I have checked the pricing, my sons said YES. My wife said I have the middle age crisis…Greetings from Poland
cheers ! hehe
I just got my 2024 GTI last night and I luv it. Got the S model for the audio knobs and it comes very well equipped for a base model. 😎
Great review,bought mine last week and loving it , a superb all rounder.
Congrats
Looks very nice from the outside; interior however is a different story. I don't like how they've separated the central screen and the digital drivers display, the previous Golf had them connected and I thought that looked much better.
Kind of agree…looks like
A laptop in the middle of the car.
The screen should move down again, just like the MK7. HUD is a nice addition. Also remove all gloss black plastics. My MK6 GTI is 13 years old now and still looks almost new on the inside, no scratches and the leather quality is good!
@@tubejorrit MK6 had the best interior quality in my opinion. MK7 had better tech but cheaper materials in places.
I love this car !! Stunning exterior design!
I would like more of the automotive industry news and breakdown from Thomas. That was crucial knowledge.
Can't wait for the new GTI to get to the states.
love your review! Thorough and definitely is making me think seriously about getting this new 8.5 GTI. Thx
Love the spec in this video, it's probably something like a "Shadow" edition with less "GTI" red accents. Really like the headlights being dimmed, thinking about doing that on my 7.5 now because of that. Lastly, the carbon trim you mentioned, that would make this car a perfect spec. Solid 9/10
Great video - really interesting - thanks Thomas
Thanks!
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I also think the 18" wheels are the sweet spot. I wish the Golf R in the U.S. came with the 18-inch wheels. Our roads in Michigan are not great, and I've ruined my 19-inch rims and tires on my commute. A pothole is hard to see in the dark. Great review as always.
Great review Tomas/Leah.......after having many Golfs (GTI/GTD) I went electric (ID5 GTX) but very tempted to go back to 8.5 GTI. It really is a excellent allround car, and it looks great in the Kings Red.
Keep up the good work, really enjoy your content, excellent reviews.
cheers !
It is interesting how Vw is saving production costs. No hood strut, they don't paint inside of the bonnet and the engine bay. In the interior you can see there is no frameless car mirror. This are small things that I took for granted in the past.
Hi, Thomas I was too impressed by the red and black of this New model 2025 VW Golf GTI facelift!
I liked the automotive industry analysis.
Thomas, if VW wouldn't have jumped in with both feets to EV cars, they would be fine. Actually, they need their diesels back in North America! Also, if they want to be more efficient they should create hybrids, specifically plugin hybrids. Car companies should be looking at the Toyota strategy. They didn't go EV, They went with the hybrid models. It will be interesting to see how VW handles these issues.
VW has the best hybrids, Passat with electric range 110 km
Toyota hybrid is superior you dont have to plug it in
@@Lemingtona-x5g depends on the use case. I for example never use the petrol engine in the city, as 25 miles of electric range are plenty for my use. Whereas if I didn't have a plug-in hybrid, the engine would have to start on all my journeys.
This is the only version you really want of the only car you really need
VW is not doing very good lately, but the other brands are. Porsche, Lamborghini and Audi are going pretty strong. Hope VW get its act back!
rivals offer more for than less than vw brand
So good to see the GTI is still fun. I had an R32 at one point and loved it. Also good to see some real buttons though in my view the ever larger infotainment screen is a step backwards.
VW/Audi’s business troubles are hard to ignore and in the UK the Financial Times and The Economist cover them regularly. Apart from the detail Thomas went into, the other striking thing is how slowly VW/Audi can turn around a problem compared with the Chinese or Koreans. I really hope they can get it right again because I have enjoyed much past motoring in these brands.
BMW seem to have their platform strategy better sorted with platforms that can be ICE, MHEV/PHEV, or full EV as required. I think they have got their Mini sub brand especially right. Their premium stuff is now just too premium to be really useful.
Also Thomas, because of the huge investments in EV from car manufacturers and nonsense strict EU laws for Co2 emissions, all car prices went to the sky, even ICE cars are not price friendly for 'normal' people and the sales decreased and car on the roads age is going up because we cannot buy.
Your insights on automotive industry is very interesting, you can do even dedicated episodes from time to time. Also I was very surprised to see your lecture in Vilnius, like wow, really :)?
My father had a 'Thomas blue' 1975 Golf, 1.6 i think. What a piece of Germanic engineering - brilliant!
Much like this review. TY Thomas and Lea.
If VW are listening, please stop using shiny soft black plastic in high traffic areas. It looks cheap and feels like built in obsolescence. It’s bad enough using the stuff on the outside, although they’ve seemed to held back on this model. Least it’s not on the door handles like the iQ models 🙄
The conclusion was spot on. That is the true!
About your conclusion, 1 thing to add, the prices VW ask for their golfs are ridiculous, thats also why the mk8 gti or R models didnt sell well....
Have to say, it's really disappointing that Volkswagen has let this happen. Their closest rival (Toyota) is seeing their sales grow. Toyota invested heavily in self charging hybrids while Volkswagen decided to go on a wild goose chase with EVs and PHEVs. Volkswagen should develop and refine self charging hybrids and turns things around while providing good economy. Volkswagen has been known for solidity and quality engineering and they need to focus on that again.
This review is well-written and enjoyable to read. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
golf 8.5 does seem like a good improvement in most of the areas and it's even better in terms of pricing, so kudos to them.
Andy Mindt deserves a lot of praise for fixing the frumpiness of the MK8 on the outside, which is a design I never really warmed to despite being a life-long GTI fan. I liked this look right out of the box, so here's me hoping the North American version doesn't get a visual downgrade like it often does!
Wow - looks modern - well done VW - top cars- best cars ever !!!
It looks so good in Kings red ❤
I have been a VW/Audi customer for 20 years.
The reason I fell in love with the brand was because they were different.
I didn't then and don't now want the same old thing I can get from any other brand.
Which is the direction VW has taken. They fell into the cookie cutter mold...
its the same golf from 10 years ago just with a screen stuck on
It's a tuff decision.. if they put opaque plastic on all the center console, it will be scratched in 1 week, if they put glossy, it survives a bit more but when it scratches, gets even worse. To line it leather or another fabric, it wil also not stand the time..
I just love your reviews 😅
Great car!!
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I never owned a GTI but...damn that Tartan interior is so cool, for me it's iconic.
The Golf GTI is for me "the perfect daily", powerful but usable for the every day use.
And for your really cool "large conclusion" i agree with you :
We wanted a cool EV golf not this ugly id3...we wanted a cool EV passat not that overpriced ugly id7...
VW keep your iconic model but in EV version..why rework the wheel...
A boss at VW said they maybe only have a year or two to rescue the company! 🤯 Just imagine VW going bankruptcy!🤯 Hard to get your head around really! A big shame.
VW in North America has a horrendous product line. I would love to see Thomas come to America/Canada and review our Jetta, Taos, Atlas, Tiguan, etc. They are significantly lower quality than the VW European product line, in my opinion even below Seat and Skoda. The GTI and Golf R are the only Golf’s we can get. North America is VWs most stable high volume market, I hope they wake up and put more effort into their products here.
Here we go:
Taos
th-cam.com/video/m6DOGIeZ7T0/w-d-xo.html
Jetta GLI
th-cam.com/video/E8qKVirNCmM/w-d-xo.html
And I have to agree, the portfolio is lower quality plus I heard the service is bad. They need to upgrade reliability and service massively in NA
@@autogefuehl they have put all their effort into Audi particularly in Canada. Audi has great service and good products here, and they sell very well. I just think they would be better served by putting the same effort into VW.
Good to know!
That's a fine looking Golf
I like what they've done overall and it looks good with a nice bump in power so it's evolving well. I like the welcome and goodbye lighting feature! It's too bad the Clubsport isn't offered in the US! That's cool they offer a real carbon fiber interior option. I like the Clubsport seats a lot more than the plaid ones. That's too bad they got rid of the physical button to change drive modes. It's really unfortunate they decided to stop producing manuals. As for VW's struggles I feel it because I invested in them when the stock was trading over 2x where it sits today! It's good to know they will have some software advantages with Rivian and Xpeng partnership. I'm not sure if I should get out now or hold on to see if they can recover. You covered most all of their financial hardships! If you can give a nice overview in another 6-8 months on where they stand that would be awesome. I've lost a lot being a VW loyalist.
we'll keep u updated. Well at least their financial situation is pretty stable in general, the negative prospects are already included in the price. I'm no wizard but I think it should recover a from the current price, but it probably wont reach new highs pretty soon.
@@autogefuehl I'm hoping all the bad news is baked in but hard to say. Can only hope for the best.
from my perspective, hood is not painted in red. door panels do not line up with dashboard. but in polo they do. there is no option to pick electric seat with gti pattern fabric. I just ordered this car two weekes ago for my fiance and i am happy ( i wast told they do not have cooled charged) that you told about it. also club sport has nicer break calipers in front. Sunroof still haptic. i took the same wheels car as you tested but these rims looks like alfa romeo ones. you have black trim on this one (black mirrors and tinted glass back)
VW needs to install a kick plate on all four doors. Absolutely necessary. Would be nice with VW logo. Installed some aftermarket on my 2018. Saved the paint
Amazing. They ditched the capacitive buttons‼️✅
Shame the red front stripe is deleted if you upgrade the LED lamps. A GTI is not a GTI without the trademark red stripe.
It’s only if you choose Black Style pack
Maybe the reviews were also a bit too harsh on VW. Driving a ID3 for more than 2,5 years. Yes the software isn’t what you expect for VW standards but it also isn’t so bad compared to the t-roc we also had. The latest update 6 months ago is a huge improvement. Also showing more info like consumption on the screen behind the steering wheel.
If you don’t drive a different car every week you get used to it very quickly and there are some shortcuts in the software, for example by pressing the cold and warm button at once you can turn on or off the heated seats. Same for the steering wheel, you also get used to it. Although I do sometimes push the acc distance button first instead of + for speed. You then don’t + the speed but increase the acc distance.
But in the end the ID3 is a great car. More space than a golf and also quicker. Range is also fine if you drive between 50-200km a day.
If it could tow a small trailer definitely would choose for one again, that is for us the only downside.
thanks for the feedback!
sadly there is no club sport equivalent in the U. all gti models have the same power. our choices a gti S, SE, and autobahn. if we want more power we must step up all the way to the much harder to get golf R. Also it is a delight to se such a great couple put out another wonderful review! keep up the great work.
I hope the aftermarket scene makes normal plastic (instead of high gloss) for the middle console and instrument surround. Delete all high gloss!
Pro tip. You just have to click the shifter down from drive mode to put it into sport. Then click it down again to put it back into normal mode. Don't need to press the mode button.
The Golf GTI is probably the only VW I would consider to buy.
Love your reviews. It looks better on the outside, the interior controls are improved a little bit...
But because a manual is no longer offered, there is really no reason to consider this car. The joy has been removed.
I can’t wait for the new golf R review 😊
13:31 XD
hahah! Good catch ;)
More auto maker analysis, please!
So VW are sticking with sliders,show many factories must they close
So pretty...always find my way back to these videos....as a former MK6 GTI and MK7 R owner, who can blame me....sadly, I doubt those lights will make it to NA, or they will in a very dumbed down version and the excuse will be DOT compliancy, whilln we all know that's not true.... but, again, a GTI will run you under $40K in CAD, and in Europe north of $60K with conversion...trust me, go price it..... many will get shades of an old school Lambo with those rims, but for Golf OGs, you will remember the wheels on the MK5 GTI... biggest shame is no more manual...momemt of silence.....DSG is badass tho, I must admit...
LOVE THIS IS CAR
Thomas nailed what is wrong with VW!
Really nice, I love the seats.
Have you tested the base GTIs with 18inch wheels without the DCC on the standard suspension? If yes, what do you think about the comfort?
Nice review Thomas! Can we please start a new police force called "Piano Black Police" similar to the "Fake Exhaust Police"? I don't think a worst material was used in cars in the past 30 years. Everyone dislikes it, it scratches easily, catches all fingerprints and dust, it's simply a bad choice.
No, my keyfob looks fine, you are just trolling!
Yes please, bring on the "Piano Black Police".
In China GTI still use the last gen Evo3 Engine. With the same price you can get a electric car with a better acceleration, track time, hardware and software even with lifetime battery warranty. Even the VW ID3 in China needs to lower the price to 17k USD to push up sales.
Best euro reviewer in EU
Agree， Lea’s legs looked nice too.
I must be OCD or smth, but I still can't get over the double-fraimed piano black instrument cluster. This is always in front of the driver, why, oh why? Great that they kept the gear lever in normal location and covered rear view camera is worth every penny.
Love the new clubsport, sadly not sold in the Netherlands because its just to expensive. I hope to import one in a couple of years.
How much does the import cost?
Worrying times for VW - hope they turn it around. I think we saw this with the EQ line at Merc vs BMW's i cars looking like the regular cars. Maybe why BMW's EV's are more profitable than VW's. They need to launch that ID2 GTi, make it weigh 1400kg and cost as much as a Golf GTi... I'm asking too much maybe 😅
Top Auto und Video🤙🤙
Should have fitted the MK7.7.5 GTI performance , TCR , CS or R callipers from factory . Fitted mine with one since new MK8 GTI .265 bhp this reminds of my MK2 pre facelift and facelift Blackedition Audi S3 .
6:48 I take it the phone still charges even though you can't close the lid? Would it close without the case?
I love the exterior, bit disappointed with the enterior though.
Great review. . you’re the man when it comes to performance VW’s 👌 . . you randy old dog Thomas! 🤨😂
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I can get this car with 19 queenstown wheels, kings red color, dcc, heated seats and steering wheel, harman kardon, 360 camera and keyless access for 37500 eur in my country... Waiting time 2-3 months they said. Seems like a good price, don't know if I should buy it or not. I have booked a test drive in 2 weeks and I'll see from there I guess... We don't get clubsport version in my country. I also can't pick real carbon fiber in konfigurator, it's just not there.
That's an almost impossible price to reach and is at least 10k less than anywhere else. Of course you should get it.
@ I ended up not getting it. The price was good yes, but the financing option was less than favourable (interest rate too high) and I currently own VW Tiguan bought new in March 2024 so I would just lose too much money trading it in/selling it. Keeping my Tiguan for now...
Great review
I have to say, exterior design is lovely but inside even new seats look nicer. Yet the car will be quick:)
Wonder what's going to happen to Volkswagen as a company. Hope whatever closures inevitably occur will improve quality rather than the opposite.
Pops and bangs on over run in 2024?! Impressed.
Programmed pops and bangs are fake.
Ich finde es echt schade, dass VW den GTi Motor nicht in den Variant einbaut. Der Skoda Octavia vRS gefällt mir optisch nicht allzusehr, wie der 8er Variant als Facelift.
Sonst scheint es endlich mal top gelungen zu haben. Mal hoffen, dass es sich gut verkauft und VW vom EV Schlamassel lernend da raus kommt.
So sad they took away the Golf lineup in Canada 😢 (except GTI and R). I have a Taos 4Motion with the DSG... Meeeeh! 🙄 2025 going to have the normal transmission, but besides the size that I like, I think I'm going to switch back to a Golf GTI.
5 seconds watchtime and a comment that I want my leather steering wheel back.
This is an enthusiast car so it deserves more attention for the details - or does VW want to shut down even more plants due to missing what the market demands.
I ordered mine today 😊
enjoy!