Volkswagen Golf GTI vs MINI Cooper

2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$31,965MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2023 MINI Cooper
2023 MINI Cooper
$27,400MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$31,965MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2023 MINI Cooper
$27,400MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
Overview

Years produced

1985-1992

Years produced

1978

MSRP

$31,965

MSRP

$27,400

Average price

$24,324

Average price

$21,531

Listings

581

Listings

596
Ratings & Reviews
User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

7.8 out of 10

Expert reviews

6.3 out of 10
Pros
  • Great handling
  • Manual transmission available (for now)
  • Excellent value for money
Cons
  • Potentially polarizing design
  • Poor ergonomic design
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Powerful engine
  • Manual transmission available
Cons
  • Not much cargo space
  • Poor value for money

Reviews Summary

The eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI was introduced for the 2022 model year and enters 2024 essentially unchanged. The main news is that 2024 marks the last year a manual transmission will be available in this classic hot hatchback. Volkswagen is making a 380 special edition package standard on all stick-shift GTIs to commemorate that. A more substantial update is expected for the 2025 model year.

Verdict: The GTI is a great all-rounder held back by poor interior design choices and a staid personality.

Reviews Summary

You either join the MINI camp or shake your head “no.” There has never been a middle ground with a MINI. That’s the point—to drive a fun-looking, fun-to-drive small car that’s unlike anything else in the neighbourhood. For 2023, the MINI Cooper offers a limited-run Resolute Edition and a few new paint colours. Our test drive was with a two-door Hardtop John Cooper Works (JCW) while participating in a rally with more than 700 MINI owners. Maybe next time you’ll join them with your new MINI.
No video found
No video found
Popular Features & Specs

Engine

2.0L 241 hp I4

Engine

1.5L 134 hp I3

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

FWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

4

Horsepower

241 hp @ 5000 rpm

Horsepower

134 hp @ 4500 rpm

MPG City

24

MPG City

29

MPG Highway

33

MPG Highway

38
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$31,965MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2023 MINI Cooper
2023 MINI Cooper
$27,400MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$31,965MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2023 MINI Cooper
$27,400MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
Overview
Years produced
1985-1992
1978
MSRP
$31,965
$27,400
Average price
$24,324
$21,531
Listings
Ratings & Reviews
User reviews
4.6
4.6
Expert reviews

7.8 out of 10

Read full review

6.3 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Great handling
  • Manual transmission available (for now)
  • Excellent value for money
Cons
  • Potentially polarizing design
  • Poor ergonomic design
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Powerful engine
  • Manual transmission available
Cons
  • Not much cargo space
  • Poor value for money
Summary

The eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI was introduced for the 2022 model year and enters 2024 essentially unchanged. The main news is that 2024 marks the last year a manual transmission will be available in this classic hot hatchback. Volkswagen is making a 380 special edition package standard on all stick-shift GTIs to commemorate that. A more substantial update is expected for the 2025 model year.

Verdict: The GTI is a great all-rounder held back by poor interior design choices and a staid personality.

You either join the MINI camp or shake your head “no.” There has never been a middle ground with a MINI. That’s the point—to drive a fun-looking, fun-to-drive small car that’s unlike anything else in the neighbourhood. For 2023, the MINI Cooper offers a limited-run Resolute Edition and a few new paint colours. Our test drive was with a two-door Hardtop John Cooper Works (JCW) while participating in a rally with more than 700 MINI owners. Maybe next time you’ll join them with your new MINI.
Video
No video found
No video found
Popular Features & Specs
Engine
2.0L 241 hp I4
1.5L 134 hp I3
Drive Train
FWD
FWD
Seating Capacity
5
4
Horsepower
241 hp @ 5000 rpm
134 hp @ 4500 rpm
MPG City
24
29
MPG Highway
33
38
CarGurus logo

By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

Popular vehicle comparisons

2023 BMW 5 Series vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2023 Acura Integra vs 2024 MINI Cooper2023 Acura Integra vs 2023 MINI Cooper2023 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Subaru Impreza2023 Hyundai Elantra vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2023 Honda Civic vs 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback2023 Kia K5 vs 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI2023 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Honda Civic2023 Kia K5 vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2024 MINI Cooper2023 Acura Integra vs 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI2023 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Kia K52023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2023 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI2023 Subaru Impreza vs 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI2023 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2024 MINI Cooper2023 Honda Civic vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2023 MINI Cooper2022 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class2022 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Chevrolet Malibu2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2023 MINI Cooper2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2023 Acura Integra2022 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback2022 Honda Civic vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2022 Honda Accord vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2022 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Toyota Prius2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class2022 Toyota Prius vs 2023 MINI Cooper2022 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Subaru Impreza2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Hyundai Elantra2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback2022 MINI Cooper vs 2022 BMW 5 Series2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback2021 BMW 5 Series vs 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 Kia K5 vs 2022 MINI Cooper2021 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Honda Accord2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 MINI Cooper2021 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Kia K52021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 MINI Cooper vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class2021 MINI Cooper vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Subaru Impreza2021 MINI Cooper vs 2021 Hyundai Sonata2021 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Toyota Prius2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Chevrolet Malibu2021 Audi A4 vs 2022 MINI Cooper2021 BMW 5 Series vs 2022 MINI Cooper2020 Kia Optima vs 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 Subaru Impreza2020 MINI Cooper vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI2020 BMW 5 Series vs 2021 MINI Cooper2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2021 MINI Cooper2020 Honda Accord vs 2021 MINI Cooper2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2021 MINI Cooper2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 Kia K52020 MINI Cooper vs 2020 Chevrolet Malibu2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 MINI Cooper2020 MINI Cooper vs 2021 Honda Accord2020 Hyundai Sonata vs 2020 MINI Cooper2020 MINI Cooper vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class2020 Audi A4 vs 2021 MINI Cooper2020 Hyundai Elantra vs 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI