The Volkswagen GTI (aka Golf GTI if you’re willing to travel back into the past) is a hot hatch that has withstood the ravages of time and has always been one of the few performance vehicles on the market to offer buyers budget-friendly performance and a manual transmission to row through the gears.
However, Volkswagen is changing the status quo and confirmed that the 2024 model will be the last year buyers can get a manual before Volkswagen pitches it in favor of an automatic. However, the company is not letting the stick go with a whimper, but is instead paying homage with the all-new GTI 380 but is this farewell party worth it for buyers looking to get factory-produced manual performance one last time in their hot hatch offering?
GTI 380 is not quite a special edition but still packs the goods
Contrary to what most buyers might think, the GTI 380 is not a formal special edition model but is instead a package that buyers get on their manual-equipped GTIs and is standard on all of them too. No enhanced performance is on hand here but the package does give the hatchback adaptive dampers in the suspension and slick 19-inch black alloy wheels. The rest of the exterior styling is classic Mk8 GTI and while this version of the GTI has proven to be controversial due to its muted front end styling and some of the more restrained styling elements that Volkswagen designers chose to add to it, it still looks handsome and is especially good when paired with certain colors.
In an era where it seems that hot hatchbacks are going extinct as quickly as other non-utility vehicles, it’s good to see that Volkswagen knows that the following and loyalty GTI buyers have for their vehicles is still enough for the company to keep producing the GTI. The only real contender it has left is the Mazda3 turbo hatchback but that model is also starting to show its age and the rear styling is nowhere near as pleasing to look at as the Volkswagen’s.
Humble interior continues to be comfortable
The GTI 380 package also leaves the interior alone and slipping into the cabin of our tester proved that Volkswagen still knows how to make a comfortable cabin with the seats in our tester continuing to provide a balance of comfort and support. The shifter still feels great in the hand and the shifter can still row through the gears with commendable accuracy. Sadly, that cannot be said for other elements of the interior with the infotainment system still continuing to be a lingering source of resentment and frustration due to the way some of the menus are setup. The climate controls also lack backlit buttons and the haptic buttons on the steering wheel are still annoying to use. Volkswagen says it will be bringing traditional buttons back to future GTI models, but in the meantime, buyers will have to be patient and be vigilant about double-pushing some of them to get to the menu they want.
The backseat continues to be roomy and the GTI can haul an impressive amount of cargo. While our tester didn’t have to haul a bicycle like the last GTI we tested in Michigan, a copious amount of groceries revealed a cargo area that’s roomy and capable of swallowing a wide range of loads (Who needs an SUV anyway?) The sound system also does a good job providing good sound quality with the only blemish being that controlling the system is done through the flakey infotainment system.
GTI is still turbocharged fun
The GTI 380 package doesn’t change the GTI’s powertrain and that means the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder continues to be the lone engine on hand. It still makes 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque which allows the GTI 380 to make the sprint to 60 mph in just over 6.0 seconds. It’s a tick slower than the dual-clutch transmission but most buyers won’t notice when they are out on the track or a winding driving road with it. Launching the hatch with the stick still requires some practice, but get it right and the GTI rewards the driver with spirited acceleration and gutsy manners from the engine.
The adaptive dampers provide a noticeable range of tuning with the difference between the stiffest sport setting and the cushiness of comfort mode being like two distinct personalities. This noticeable difference in attitude allows the GTI to be the perfect fit for most driving situations with drivers having the option of either gliding over crumbled sections of tarmac or dialing the car in more to help properly navigate a sharp corner. Braking in our tester was strong and the company says a GTI equipped with the manual can get 23/34/27 mpg in city/freeway and combined driving.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the GTI 380 is reflective of its status as a package and as a result, you have to eliminate the DCT models from pricing contention. A base 380 S starts at $33,910 which includes the destination fee. As you make your way up the trim ladder, you’ll find that the GTI is still in the $30,000 range with the SE starting at $38,910. The range-topping Autobahn continues to be the range-topper and is also the only trim to go above the $42,000 barrier. Our tester was an Autobahn version but look for the SE to be the volume seller in the 380 family.
The GTI 380 may be the last expression of manual transmission performance in the GTI but Volkswagen is not abandoning it entirely with the stick still being available on the recently updated Volkswagen Jetta GLI with Jetta buyers only being asked to go automatic only in the lesser models in exchange for having the stick in that particular flavor of Jetta. Either way, the loss of the stick in the GTI is a historic moment and is reflective of how changing trends and a growing pool of automatic craving consumers are forcing companies like Volkswagen to think more carefully about what they equip with a stick.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.