Volkswagen recently announced a price reduction for the Golf GTI, making it more accessible to car enthusiasts. The facelifted Golf GTI is set to hit the market on June 20th with a starting price of £38,900, which is £1,000 less than the previous version. The new model boasts a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that produces 261bhp and can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in just 5.9 seconds, thanks to the additional 20bhp it received during the mid-life refresh. However, the GTI is only available with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.
In terms of design, the facelifted Golf GTI features a new front bumper with a honeycomb grille, an illuminated VW logo, redesigned headlights and taillights, and 18-inch ‘Richmond’ alloy wheels. The iconic red stripe on the upper grille remains intact, maintaining the GTI’s distinctive look. Inside, the car comes equipped with a 12.9-inch touchscreen, premium sports seats with GTI check pattern, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, and keyless access, heated front seats, three-zone air conditioning, a rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and traffic jam assist as standard features. The new Golf GTI will be available for order starting June 20th, with the even faster Golf GTI Clubsport set to launch later this summer.
Additionally, Volkswagen is introducing plug-in hybrid versions of the Golf on June 27th. The new Golf eHybrid in Style trim will start at £36,760, while the performance-oriented Golf GTE will be priced from £39,750. Both models are powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter TSI evo2 petrol engine, an electric motor, and a larger 19.7kWh battery compared to the previous 13kWh unit. This upgrade allows the Golf eHybrid to achieve an impressive pure-electric range of 89 miles, while the GTE can travel up to 82 miles on electric power alone. The 19.7kWh battery can be charged at up to 40kW from a DC rapid charger or up to 11kW using a home wallbox charger.
Volkswagen believes that the expanded electric range will allow most customers to drive on battery power throughout the day. Furthermore, the new plug-in hybrid powertrain offers a Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate of just 5 per cent for company car drivers, making it an attractive option. With electric cars falling into the 2 per cent BiK band, the Golf eHybrid and GTE offer a compelling alternative. These new models are expected to enhance Volkswagen’s lineup and provide customers with more sustainable and efficient options.