Volkswagen Golf Mk.7 Hatchback GTI (2013-2017)

Cheap Budget Parts - Warning! – 2015 MK7 GTI 6Speed Manual Battery died in no time due to a start/stop recall - this was covered a while ago. (1-2 years ago) Then Plastic handle piece of the seat adjustment came off? Passengers side mirror fell out? Leather gear stick cover worn already? And now the back wiper decides it wants to come out intermittently and say hi to… Read more

the car behind?? Blocking my full view...

Around 80km on the clock. Ive done 50km in the past 3.5 years so not much. I have no kids? I barely ever have passengers. Spent 50k on the car and I would expect better quality items.

Nothing mechanical as yet, which is why I gave it 2 stars. I wanted to give 2.5 stars though.

Fantastic – My wife and I bought a used mk7 Golf GTI with 134,000 km on it! (manual). It still looks, feels and drives like a new car. Our family with 2 kids are very tall and we find this a fantastic, and fun, primary car. It tows well too. With the addition of a roof pod there is lots of luggage space for holidays. The only problem we've had is a flat battery. Show details

Sporty quick and fun – Bought brand new, I have modified it freely and I truly love the performance of this car, added features leather seats sun roof premium sounds system all worth the extra I paid. Bought in black is my only downfall it is hard to keep clean but otherwise this car has been a great investment tbh  Show details

Wish i bought a Toyota – I use my gti mk7 as a everyday car with modifications and iv been having issues not with my sport modifications but with simple yet expensive standard features such as corner light sensors and cruise control systems. The car just doesn't feel like a high end car after 1 yr. Feels like a old abused car although i take care of it and get it serviced. Wish i had bought a Toyota.  Show details

Great car but needs better QC – MK7 GTI owner, best hatchrocket ever driven, slick design and beautiful interior. However, continuously rattling keep bothers me so now I'm switch to a higher level brand than VW, the engine mount needed strengthen, it vibrates in an abnormal way under hard acceleration which is what this car designed for.  Show details

Great car to drive – It's fast, looks very stylish, sounds great especially when driving through a tunnel. The fuel usage is definitely not bad at all. Very comfortable to sit in for long periods, having Android Auto/CarPlay is a god send in this day and age. It handles very well, takes corners without any issues. Only issues I have is the USB port in the dash is a bit awkward to plug things into and feels a tad loose. Also not a huge fan of the seat cover pattern.  Show details

GTI rocket! – Bought an ex demonstrator GTI from Leichhardt Golf in Sydney. Have been using it for day to day for a few months and I have to say it's a little ripper! It's a manual, with optioned leather seats and sunroof. Performance wise, you couldn't ask more for a little hot hatchback. First gear is a bit underwhelming, but second gear races out and… Read more

takes you above 100kmh with ease.

The different driving modes do actually make a difference to how the car drives, surprisingly. Sport mode tightens up the steering considerably, and the suspension is much less forgiving. Comfort mode and normal mode are pretty much the same feel.

Internally the looks are great. The red trim and LEDs on the front internal doors all add up to a great looking car. The optioned leather bucket seats are very comfortable and do their job when racing round a corner. The infotainment unit has Apple Car Play, and works reasonably well. The gear stick has the golf ball top which is a nice touch.

Economy wise, I get around 11l/100km, but I do tend to thrash the car a bit. I'm sure you could get down to 7 or 8 if you tried, but then you'd have to question why you bought the car in the first place.

Issues so far:

1) the Apple Car Play will occasionally start up and play music with no volume, and I am unable to turn the volume up. Tuning to radio then back to Car Play seems to get it working.

2) I have had the sunroof fail to close on two occasions. It seemed to be detecting something trapped, but there was nothing there.

3) Twice so far I've put the car into reverse gear and it didn't engage properly, causing a grinding and need to set to neutral then back to reverse to recover.

Overall definitely 5/5 stars, if you want a pocket rocket to whizz around town, this car won't disappoint.

Great Car – I have had this car for 2 years now and have not had any major issues with it. Runs smooth and handles what you would expect in a golf. Fuel economy is also great & for a small car has reasonable leg space in the back. Only downfall is maybe too small a boot but that is expected. 9.10.  Show details

Good fun car, if you can handle the bugs – The mechanics are reliable, however the electrics are another thing... Radar needs re-calibration, safety settings turn off by themselves, entertainment system locks and the 'Modes' also freezes. The radar will sometimes detect something that isn't there and locks up the brakes, not great at higher speed and with vehicles close behind. When it… Read more

works it works well. Great on fuel, quiet, comfortable. When it comes to the electrics, don't expect anything from the dealers, they just point you to VW service line...

Beware the fake fixed price service – Nice car, great drive, trouble free after 2 years although has more turbo lag than Mark VI GTI. Unfortunately the poor experience with the dealer has diminished my ownership experience. After being given a copy of the fixed price service plan by the salesman, I took it in for first service 10 months later and they charged $40 more than the… Read more

scheduled fee. Reason given:- FPS has been replaced by FBS every calendar year. If VW want to drop their integrity for a hypocritical statement to score a few extra dollars, then they can kiss my loyalty good-buy.

October 26th 2017 Update: GTI

I'll compare this 2014 model to Mk6 GTI which I previously owned. The Mk 7 is very refined and quiet on the new MQB chassis and quality build. Tech and standard inclusions are a vast improvement on the previous model, but still with some glaring omissions such as keyless entry and a smallish display screen (this has been upgraded recently). Nav voice has trouble with pronunciation (eg:road is rue-ad). Big concern is my belief that VW toned down the GTI to sell more of the GTI performance variant, as the handling isn't as balanced as the Mk 6 and despite more power and torque, it's got more turbo lag. Came fitted with Bridgestone S001 tyres which are rubbish. Next set was Michelin Pilot sport 4 which improved the car's comfort and quietness without sacrificing grip. Reliability wise, just had the one problem in 3 years- thermostat housing. My biggest concern is poor dealer service.

September 5th 2018 Update: GTI Underdone

Have owned 4 golfs, including Mk 6 GTI, Mk 7 GTI and currently Mk 7.5 R. So in comparison:-

The Mk 7 GTI was a step forward in Tech over the Mk 6, with its Bluetooth, Reversing Camera (albeit 5.8" screen)and adjustable suspension all as standard. The MQB chassis in the 7 was certainly a step up in refinement. It felt rock solid and proved to be reliable, the manual gearbox is a gem. That's just about where the pluses end. The Mk 6 was simply a better drive than the 7, with sharper handling and more useable power. Dare I say it, the 7 actually had noticeable understeer. The engine had more power (just) at the top but more turbo lag than the Mk 6. As a daily driving device it just didn't do it for me. It seems VW reconfigured this engine to improve fuel economy and emissions for Euro 6 requirements (you could potter round with low turbo boost due to the increased torque and get 6 l/100km). You could also accuse VW of toning down the suspension settings so they could sell more of the GTI performance edition with its trick differential. So now into another golf, a 7.5 R which is in another world for power and AWD handling. VW make quality cars for the enthusiast who appreciates refinement (hence my latest 3 buys), but as a hot hatch, the Mk 7 GTI went in the wrong direction.

Hate this car so much – Words cannot express how much I hate this car - bought it new late last year and it is worst decision I ever made. The camera does not work properly, Bluetooth cannot connect all the time and that is just two issues. I was never a fan of the interior of this car but thought the standard equipment and drive would be worth it but the driving… Read more

experience does not come close to making up for the sub-standard feel.

We are going on holiday at the end of next month for five weeks and the first thing we are doing upon our return is putting the car up for sale.

Mk7 Golf GTI – Had this car for approx 9 months now and driven just over 20,000Kms, Also took a road trip from Victoria to Queensland and back which was 5,000kms round trip in 2 weeks. I can say the Golf was a pleasure to drive on the open road (handles well without being bone jarring - no aching back) with 3 adults and full loaded with luggage including the… Read more ·  1

back seat. Averaged 6.7k/l00L. Around town its just as good. Seen a few complaints about the start/stop system but you can easy control this once you figure it out and the 15,000km service cost me $250.00 at VW dealer. All I can say its worth every penny I paid for it. Love it.. Excellent finish, power, ride and fuel economy. Still waiting for tow bar.