Every generation of VW Golf GTI: which is best of all? | Auto Express

Every generation of VW Golf GTI: which is best of all? | Auto Express

All eight generations of VW Golf GTI, on the same day, on the same roads. Steve Sutcliffe is at the wheel to find out which is best.

Volkswagen released the eighth iteration of Golf GTI earlier this year, with more power, grip and tech than ever before. By modern standards, it’s a very well executed hot hatch, but we wanted to trace its lineage by sifting through five decades of Golf GTI, and testing all eight generations. Can the sparkle of the original Mk1 be found in the new model, and which is best of all to drive?

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Read more at Auto Express:
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1 review: https://aex.ae/3t8DEhn
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk2 vs Golf GTI Mk7: https://aex.ae/3gUuFNM
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk4 buyers guide: https://aex.ae/3zUZI3z
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk5 review: https://aex.ae/2TYQCCs
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk6 review: https://aex.ae/3dfT4Lw
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7 review: https://aex.ae/3gSOtBe
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk8 review: https://aex.ae/3gSOtBe

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50 Comments

  1. Evel Custom on October 9, 2023 at 12:55 am

    Why did you skip the mk2? That was the main reason I clicked on this vid because I’ve heard the mk2 was the best and I wanted to see a breakdown and how it compared. bummer



  2. J O'M on October 9, 2023 at 12:56 am

    I owned an 87 E reg Golf GTI MK2 8v back in 1996 with 100k on the clock, teardrop alloys, sunroof etc, loved it and still miss it now. No power steering, no electric windows, no aircon, stuck some yoko’s on it and it stuck to corners like glue. Acceleration was great and at age 22 it cost me £400 to insure. Would love to own a half decent one again.



  3. Cormac Ó on October 9, 2023 at 12:57 am

    Mk6 Manual was the best imo



  4. Jesus Lemus on October 9, 2023 at 12:58 am

    Mk4 mk7



  5. M4NIEK on October 9, 2023 at 1:00 am

    golf 3 gti the best



  6. Callam Gordon on October 9, 2023 at 1:00 am

    hi. mark 2 5 or7. ty for watching



  7. Hot Hatch on October 9, 2023 at 1:00 am

    I have a completely modified 2.0 mk 1 (sleeper) black GTI that I bought new in ‘84. It’s never seen winter and rarely rain. I wouldn’t sell it for the world because it gives me so much joy. I’m in love. ❤



  8. DawgPro on October 9, 2023 at 1:00 am

    I drove JETTAs most of my life. Had one major crash in a MK2… kink in the roof at the B pillar… open the door and walked out. Mk2s, GTI or not, are the best car in the world. Cheap to maintain and easy to work on… a car for the people.
    Presently, I own an MK6. It’s a freagin anvil… 1300kgs! That’s more than a mid 90s B4 Passat. My Mk2s (4 of them) were 925kgs. But don’t worry, when I’ll die, there’ll be a Jetta in my driveway. Volks lost it’s way 20 years ago. It use to be the car of the people… Atlas and Arteon ?
    Someone should tell these people they are not Audi.



  9. Gabriel Munteanu on October 9, 2023 at 1:00 am

    Mk4 is the king.



  10. Freudenberg on October 9, 2023 at 1:02 am

    The mk3 VR6 was a cool car, one of my favorite. 😊



  11. Ignatius Moela on October 9, 2023 at 1:04 am

    I own golf 7.5 I felt so good when he spoke about it



  12. Graham Musto on October 9, 2023 at 1:04 am

    Mk 6 for me. Semi-auto gearbox and paddle shift. I drove a new one in 2013; amazing car and I averaged 47 MPG! I really haven’t got over driving it and gutted that I’ll never ever own one.



  13. Mr Tee on October 9, 2023 at 1:04 am

    I’ve got the Mk7 and wouldn’t change it for the world. The best car I’ve ever driven by far. Nothing comes close. It’s perfection!



  14. Aircooled Oddities on October 9, 2023 at 1:05 am

    Mk5s are ugly change my mind



  15. MrObiwan1 on October 9, 2023 at 1:08 am

    Im biased as an ex MK5 owner but you have to say its such a great looking car !!! I miss mine so much, im definitely getting a MK7 next year. I need a GTI in my life again 🙂



  16. Martin Breeze on October 9, 2023 at 1:08 am

    So wrong about the mk4



  17. Chris P on October 9, 2023 at 1:09 am

    Why have you overlooked the Mk2 GTi? The 8v and especially the 16v deserve more than just a passing comment for such a successful car (even if the controls were heavy).

    The Mk2 GTi was perhaps the most popular car to be seen being driven around London in the late ’80s and early ’90s either in the regular VW form or the Oettinger versions – some even had Oettinger Golf Drivers.



  18. Dj Dev on October 9, 2023 at 1:09 am

    Im liking the 1st & 2nd generation over the rest….



  19. Joshua Leger on October 9, 2023 at 1:13 am

    the interior of the mk8 is so bad that my choice toward a 7.5 is now even more.



  20. Icy Touch on October 9, 2023 at 1:14 am

    Mk. 4 gang, where are you?



  21. TheWorks on October 9, 2023 at 1:18 am

    Why didnt you review them in chronological order and include the Mk 2? Weird video



  22. ooga booga on October 9, 2023 at 1:19 am

    pls dont tell me thats the rothschild mansion behind you. cursed place



  23. Scotty Moon on October 9, 2023 at 1:19 am

    Just picked up a 7.5. Glad to hear I chose properly 😀



  24. Rupert Diss on October 9, 2023 at 1:19 am

    No mk 2 review bizarre and the R32 needs a mention in mk 5 guise 👍



  25. Half_r_mk5 on October 9, 2023 at 1:19 am

    MK5 is the best of all apart from the MK1. MK8 is the most horrendous interior, it’s like an i-phone to your face.



  26. Gabriel Boller on October 9, 2023 at 1:21 am

    I’ve owned 2 mk5’s I absolutely love them



  27. Данаил Петров on October 9, 2023 at 1:26 am

    Every generation of VW Golf GTI: which is best of not quite all? | Auto Express



  28. Adam Voss on October 9, 2023 at 1:27 am

    Ive had 3 mk7s, a mk6 and now, 2 mk5s. Through all of them i think that the mk5 really is the sweet spot. The looks have really grown on me, the sound and feel of the 2m0 FSI, overall chassis feel and the interior are just excellent. Long live the gti no matter what your favorite is! The 7 is also just excellent



  29. A Usual Suspect on October 9, 2023 at 1:28 am

    If the mk4 was the worst then I have very very very high expectations for the others…
    Love my mk4



  30. Nyiko Gift on October 9, 2023 at 1:30 am

    This review was weird and boring



  31. crime_wav on October 9, 2023 at 1:31 am

    unfortunately the mk5 is the ugliest one imo



  32. Jack Beale on October 9, 2023 at 1:31 am

    Before watching. Mark 2 is the best, Mark 3 is the worse. Mark 5 is when they started getting back on track



  33. Crystal Clear with 8BE (Enzo Sandoval) on October 9, 2023 at 1:34 am

    I think all the VW Golfs beat the VW Beetle, New Beetle and the Beetle A5 just because the Golf is more efficient than the Beetle.



  34. Roderick Verduijn on October 9, 2023 at 1:34 am

    Elke golf wordt ooit een turkengolf



  35. Got4motion? on October 9, 2023 at 1:36 am

    Got to catch them all if you can



  36. Lifted Swimmer on October 9, 2023 at 1:37 am

    when he’s driving the car you own and proceeds with "great car" 🙂



  37. Aries on October 9, 2023 at 1:37 am

    After owning a mk2, several mk4s, a couple mk7s and now on my mk7 R, I cannot believe you said the mk4 doesn’t deserve the gti badge



  38. Andy on October 9, 2023 at 1:39 am

    My first Golf GTi i did buy around 1994 . after selling it i was having diffrent company cars . this spring i did buy a used 19 VW GOLF GTI 245ps performance with very low miles .
    My first one was fun to ride , my second now is almost like a porsche and makes even a lot more fun on country road and on german highway . pure pleasure to drive . love this car .



  39. Harold Graham on October 9, 2023 at 1:39 am

    Fantastic



  40. Christian on October 9, 2023 at 1:40 am

    After having both the Mk7.5 and Mk5, I can say that the Mk5 is so much more fun, albeit the Mk7.5 was a better car to daily drive. There’s something about the steering feel and the chassis of the mk5 that makes it a dream through twisty roads, and it responds so well to aftermarket parts



  41. me47years on October 9, 2023 at 1:41 am

    my dad used to own a gti in the 80s and he still has a picture of it but he regrets selling it because he loved it so much



  42. Dan Panther on October 9, 2023 at 1:42 am

    Mk4 interior is hands down the best. Mk5 was gross inside and out!



  43. Peter Harper on October 9, 2023 at 1:42 am

    I’ve owned 2 MK2 Golfs, the 8v and 16v GTI’s, a Corrado VR6 which I still have and the MK5 GTi and that thing was amazing to drive, I love my older 90’s cars but that thing was really was superb. Bought it with 100k on it, sold it at 200k, always had it serviced and timing belts done and sold it to a friend of the family who is a mechanic and it’s still on the road now, pure testament to how good that TFSI engine is when looked after.



  44. kano morojele on October 9, 2023 at 1:43 am

    😍 😭



  45. 3rdValve on October 9, 2023 at 1:43 am

    Wonderful video. I’ve been caught up in some kind of GTI fever lately… thinking about buying… and this will have me searching for… a Mark I by God!



  46. AudiophileTubes on October 9, 2023 at 1:45 am

    MK4 ‘337’ GTI was stunning, and the most German looking of all!



  47. kios 19 on October 9, 2023 at 1:46 am

    mk5 was really special , i think its the best looking one also till this day



  48. MB2 on October 9, 2023 at 1:49 am

    came for Mk 6 🙁



  49. 6ty8stang on October 9, 2023 at 1:52 am

    I’ve had two mk4s, one 1.8t and one vr6 and think the mk4 is the sweet spot between luxury/comfort and sport. Mk4 has an interior straight out of an Audi of the same year. Yeah it does handle a little soft but the softness is great around town. Full mechanical controls for hvac/radio/lights is great too. A clean one if you can find it can be had for around 6k too so it’s hard to beat.



  50. Kabelo Ntobo on October 9, 2023 at 1:52 am

    I enjoyed every single second of this. Wow