A revised exterior, hard buttons on the steering wheel, more power for the Golf R, and 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment are the main changes for 2025

Volkswagen has unveiled details about its 2025 Golf GTI and Golf R models for the U.S., featuring powertrain tweaks, updated technology, and expanded trim options.Following European debuts earlier in the year,

GTI makes 242 hp instead of last year’s 241 hp but R gets a 13 hp boost; both are available solely with a DSG transmission

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is a stalwart model in the hot hatchback space, and while the European market has historically gotten more radical versions, we North-Americans have nonetheless been blessed with a lot of the good stuff in recent years.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R have been staples in the hot hatch segment for decades, and the 2025 models continue that tradition. While the US-spec GTI misses out on the more potent European engine tune,

Volkswagen is refreshing what many enthusiasts consider its halo cars, the GTI and Golf R hatchbacks, for the 2025 model year.