2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI First Look: More Power, More AI, More Dollars

Over the past few years, Volkswagen has whittled down its plucky Golf hatchback lineup here in America to just the GTI and R performance models. You could argue the Jetta sedan exists to soak up the difference in the lower trim arena for the brand, but it had us concerned for the future of the long-running Golf hatch in the U.S. Turns out we don't need to be worried, for now, as the new year brings an overhauled 2025 VW Golf GTI with a fresh design and tech upgrades, including, yes, an integrated ChatGPT assistant.

The GTI Ain't Done Yet

The 2025 GTI adopts an updated 2.0-liter turbo power unit that's 15 hp more powerful, now making 262 hp and exclusively linked to a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. The manual transmission option is gone after the 2024 model year, sadly—mostly because only the U.S. market was interested, making this the rare case of a stick shift disappearing due to international market indifference and not the other way around. Here, the manual transmission enjoyed a 40-percent take rate; that figure was lower elsewhere.

There's updated head- and taillight units for a sharper look that's honestly not such a departure from the current car, except it has copied a bit of the outgoing R trim's look in the face, with its upward-bending lower bumper edges. It's also guaranteed to get illuminated VW badging.

Twin chromed exhausts poke out of the rear bumper, and there's up to five new wheel designs between 17- and 19-inches in size for the four corners as well. Crystal Ice Blue Metallic, Anemone Blue Metallic, Oyster Silver Metallic, and Grenadilla Black Metallic have been added to the exterior paint lineup as well, with an optional black-painted roof available.

Inside is mostly black with red accents through the dashboard, liner, and seats. The overhauled fourth-gen infotainment system is said to be running hew hardware and software, with remapped pages and updated graphics. Last year's more streamlined central touchscreen—which came integrated into the general shape of the surrounding dashboard—replaced by a new tablet-like attachment standing proud of the dash.

Volkswagen has mercifully binned the current GTI's touch-sensitive steering wheel controls, which were irritatingly easy to accidentally activate when driving the car hard, the way a hot hatch should be. Physical buttons now litter the wheel, which should eliminate unintentional heated steering wheel activations mid-corner. The volume and temperature controls remain slider-type, touch-sensitive jobs that live under the main touchscreen, but there is more of a ledge below them for users to rest their hands on while finger-sliding.

The new Golf is available globally with either 10.4- or 12.9-inch touchscreens, but it sounds like the GTI specifically gets the bigger unit, along with a standard 10.2-inch driver display. Standard equipment is said to include auto climate control with upgraded illuminated interior buttons, keyless entry, cruise control, park assist, 30-color adjustable ambient lighting, and road sign display, with an available optional carbon fiber trim.

That Touchscreen Gets Chatty

Of course, the ChatGPT built into VW's newest infotainment system—which also is headed for the Tiguan SUV and those aforementioned ID electric models, including the ID4—is the headliner. Users can query the software via Cerence Chat Pro voice integration, and it works much like Google Built-In in other cars, able to control not only impromptu question-and-answer sessions, but also ingest and digest navigation requests, changes to the climate control settings, and audio functions. Activation is as easy as saying "Hello IDA," or pressing a steering wheel button.

In a clear nod to privacy and sourcing concerns swirling around artificial intelligence bots like ChatGPT, Volkswagen is adamant that "ChatGPT does not gain any access to vehicle data; questions and answers are deleted immediately to ensure the highest possible level of data protection." Provided the results of this are similar to Google Built-In, a functionality we've enjoyed in the Hondas, Chevrolets, GMCs, and more that we've tested with that feature, this kind of voice-activated, do-it-all onboard assistant sounds great.

Let's Make A Deal

Pricing for the 2025 GTI now starts at $33,670 for the S model, which is a $1,705 increase over the 2024 GTI. (And no, the automatic transmission doesn't account for that; believe it or not, manual models were slightly more expensive.) The SE model, which adds a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, automatic high beams and 18-inch R-design wheels, lists for $38,645, and $1,300 on top of that gets you a leather-seat package with ventilation for the front seats and power adjustment for the driver. The GTI lineup tops out with the $42,105 Autobahn model, with DCC adaptive shocks and 19-inch wheels with summer tires, plus three-zone climate control, heated rear seats, and the SE's leather package. If you're eager to spend more, you'll have to move up to the improved-for-2025 Golf R.