- Volkswagen’s two hot hatchbacks, the Golf GTI and Golf R, are both refreshed for 2025.
- VW had previously revealed the Euro-spec versions of these cars, but this is our first time seeing the U.S.-spec versions.
- The 2025 Golf GTI starts at $33,670, and the 2025 Golf R starts at $48,325.
VW’s updated hot hatchbacks have finally landed in the U.S. We spotted the new 2025 Golf GTI and Golf R today at the New York auto show, and Volkswagen confirmed that this is the first appearance of the U.S.-spec versions of these refreshed models. The big news for 2025 is that both Golfs sadly lose their manual transmissions. VW has also made changes to the sport compact cars’ infotainment systems, equipment, and powertrains.VolkswagenThe GTI Autobahn pictured here is painted in a new color called Slate Blue. In addition to that, you can spot several small changes that VW made to the U.S. car when compared to the Europe-spec models revealed last year. We can see amber turn signals in the headlights and yellow reflectors on the front fenders; the U.S.-spec car’s taillights also appear to be unchanged from those on the previous GTI, as they don’t adopt the new design seen on the Euro cars. These same tweaks apply to the U.S.-spec 2025 Golf R, which was shown in its new Black Edition trim.VolkswagenVolkswagenVW had already announced U.S. pricing and specs for the 2025 Golf GTI and Golf R. The GTI starts at $33,670 and will be offered in S, SE, and Autobahn trim levels, and it carries on with the same 241-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four from before. The Golf R gets a 13-hp increase for its turbo-four and now produces 328 horsepower; it starts at $48,325, and the Black Edition costs $1315 extra. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is now the only choice across the board for both models.More on the GTI and Golf RDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.
Source: caranddriver.com
