How Much Are the Refreshed 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R?
For the 2025 model year, Volkswagen’s twin attainable and aspirational hot hatches get the subtlest and saddest of refreshes. They’re subtle in that the only exterior tweaks are new head- and taillights, an illuminated VW logo in the grille and a front light bar, while the interior benefits from a new 12.9-inch infotainment screen running Volkswagen’s latest operating system. And it’s a sad refresh because the sweet-shifting six-speed manual transmission has been dropped from the lineup. (Cue mournful trombones.) The GTI starts at $33,670 (all prices include a $1,225 destination charge), just $480 more expensive than its 2024 counterpart, while the Golf R’s $48,325 base price is an increase of $1,435 from the 2024 model.
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Availability and Pricing
The 2025 Volkswagen GTI and Golf R will go on sale later this year. Full line pricing is as follows:
GTI
- S: $33,670
- SE: $38,645
- Autobahn: $42,105
Golf R
- Base: $48,325
- Black Edition: $49,640
Safety Features and Trim Levels
Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive is standard on the 2025 Golf GTI and Golf R. The safety suite features forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure steering assist, blind spot intervention, rear cross-traffic alert, road sign recognition and VW’s Travel Assist hands-on semi-autonomous driving tech, which combines adaptive cruise control and lane-centering steering.
Beyond that, notable standard equipment on the entry-level GTI S is mostly limited to its new infotainment tech. The 12.9-inch touchscreen features navigation, voice control, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Luxury touches include wireless phone charging and heated seats.
Push-button starting is standard on the S, but in order to also open the doors without touching a key, you’ll need to upgrade to the SE. You’ll also get a moonroof, synthetic suede upholstery, a Harman Kardon sound system and automatic high beams in the bargain.
The appropriately named GTI Autobahn does a convincing impression of the big-name German luxury brands. It rides on adaptive dampers and 19-inch wheels (an inch larger than those on the S and SE) wrapped in performance tires. Inside, it coddles occupants with three-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. Additional tech on the Autobahn includes a head-up display and automated parking.
The base Golf R is basically an Autobahn with a more potent four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive, although it wears finer Nappa leather. The Golf R Black Edition lives up to its name with black 19-inch wheels and exterior trim, tinted headlights and carbon-fiber interior trim.
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Powertrain Specs and MPG
The front-wheel-drive 2025 Golf GTI’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder carries over unchanged, making 241 horsepower. With the manual transmission gone, the lone transmission is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Volkswagen did, however, turn up the wick somewhat for the pricier Golf R, which now generates 13 more hp, for 328. The Golf R, too, is only available with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, but it sends its greater power to all four wheels.
Updated EPA fuel-economy estimates are not yet available for the duo, but the 2025 Golf GTI’s are unlikely to budge from the 2024 model’s 24/33/27 mpg city/highway/combined (with the automatic). If the Golf R slips from the 2024’s 22/31/25 mpg, it will be only slightly.
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